Johannesburg Guide

Johannesburg is also known as Jo’burg or Jozi, and is the financial and cultural capital of South Africa. It is located in the Gauteng province, the smallest in South Africa. The city is very dynamic in nature, and has been rebuilt in its entirety, four times within one century.

Shopping

Jo’burg may not be the cheapest option for branded items like fragrances, but has a much richer set of items to offer. Food and design of the best South African quality are winning purchases. Wine and craftwork are among these, representing the cultural dimension of the city. Sandton City and Mandela Square (the largest open air outlet in the Southern hemisphere) are brilliant shopping outlets and have the benefit of being adjacent to each other saving traveling time. If it is homeware and collectables you are interested in, for yourself or to take back as souvenirs, Parkhurst’s Fourth Avenue is the place to go. There is a specialized African Crafts Market right next to the Mall of Rosebank. Moreover, a Rooftop market is held at the Mall of Rosebank on Sundays and public holidays. Numerous items can be found here, from collectables to souvenirs and food and traditional craftwork as well.

Restaurants and Bars

Owing to the multi-national nature of South Africa, it is possible to find virtually any cuisine serving authentic food whether it be Argentinian, Chinese, Indian or Greek. In fact, it is said that it is easier to find great international cuisine than it is to find traditional African cuisine. A pan-African scenario is created by Moyo, with all things designed architecturally from Cape-to-Cairo.

For the best variety of high-end eating outlets, Greenside is the famous district in Johannesburg. It is where you can find one of South Africa’s top ten restaurants, managed by the celebrity Dario de Angeli, known by the name of Yum. Icon is famous for it’s modern Greek menu and Addictions is another one famous for its creativity and imaginative feel.

Another cluster of restaurants can be found at Mandela Square in Sandton. Wangthai is a Thai restaurant which is known for its delicious flavours and was described by the Thai ambassador to South Africa as the best Thai food he has ever eaten outside of Thailand itself. Bukhara is a famous Indian restaurant which is greatly adored by South Africa’s large Indian population. An outlet with a twist is the Italian Al Dente, situated inside a Ferrari and Maserati showroom. There are also many steakhouses in almost every area. The recommended on is The Grill House in Rosebank on Oxford Road.

Nightlife

Hitting the town in Jo’burg can be quite an adventure because of the interesting mix of bars and outlets and the encounter with locals relaxing away. Melville’s Seventh Street is a happening strip which covers almost five blocks. Here you can find all types of restaurants and coffee shops and bars are not uncommon either. Rats is a famous university students hangout, Xai-Xai is known to attract what we call the ‘media types’ and Statement is where the gay crowd can be found. Another popular gay bar is oh! located in Fourth Avenue a few blocks away. Thursdays are best spent at Katzy’s (in Rosebank) to enjoy some live music and indulge in some crowd watching.

Kilimanjaro is the club where all the top players in the city hang. Bitch is a very renowned club where everyone wants to be and is a busy night out owing to its capacity of 2000 people. A mixed crowd can be found in Milpark where the Color Bar is located. This is a funky outlet which is loved mostly by the artsy type.

Situated in Loveday Street is the Johannesburg Civic Theatre where a range of art productions are staged. It is led by the infamous Bernard Jay. Situated alongside are an art gallery, a ballet theatre as well as a News Café outlet, which belongs to a South African chain of fancy dining experiences.

Sights

The Apartheid Museum is a chilling experience. Visitors are allotted a card based on their race as they enter through an allotted gate, to discover the details of the segregation experience the country underwent in its history.

Constitution Hill is another popular sight, located within the Old Fort which was a notorious prison in its time in the 19th century.

Gold Reef City is a theme park that takes you back to history and is often enjoyed by children.

The Johannesburg Art Museum showcases European and African work based on landscapes and figure drawings. Contemporary work is also exhibited here.

The Johannesburg Zoo is also an interesting experience, especially the wild dogs area which is immensely enjoyed by children. Night tours of the zoo are also an exciting adventure although children are not allowed on these.

The Mandela Museum is the small home he shared with his first wife Evelyn. It is where some memorable photos and hangings are displayed along with a lot of other clutter that can be quite fascinating to some.