“Regardless of whether you’re from Joburg or not, these 21 things, people, buildings and places give you a subjective view of what makes this city great. Despite its troubles, this city has energy, kind people, a multitude of cultures, amazing foods, beautiful landscapes, some seriously good architecture and exudes wild, inventive joy,” says Deckler.
Here’s their list of 21 cool things in Joburg, originally published on 26'10 South Architects' blog.
This piece is republished with permission.
1. Brixton
It's where we live and work – a colourful, diverse place where we know neighbours, walk to work, the gym, the park, or Breezeblock, our local coffee shop. Brixton is where Heather and I met and have created our home: the Flamingo Palace.
Further reading: Walk through Brixton with Thorsten and Mason.
2. Sentech Croozers
These local youngsters, often spotted in Brixton and beyond, are inventing a fresh, beautiful subculture. Keep an eye out for them "croozing" around town, on their self-built custom bikes, looking extremely cool.
Further reading: Spinning bikes in Soweto with the Sentech Croozers.
3. Linksfield Ridge
For a city with no river, harbour, or lake, the ridges running east-west through Joburg give the city its identity and structure. These formations are super old, the result of a meteor impact two billion years ago which ultimately led to the discovery of the world’s biggest gold deposits and the beginnings of Joburg in 1886. Linksfield Ridge is one of the city’s lesser-known ridges, offering a different perspective on the city.
Further reading: 2Summers' guide to the Vredefort Dome.
4. Bev’s Burgers
We talk a lot about food in the 26'10 office, and we would be remiss not to include food on this list. Bev’s Burgers was voted second-best burger in Joburg (in a 94.7 FM round-up), but we think Bev’s is the best. Originally located at the Irish Club in Linden, Bev’s now occupies a larger, somewhat hidden space at the Roosevelt Park Bowling Club.
Further reading: A review of Bev's Burgers.
5. Fordsburg
There’s not enough space here to talk about all the amazing places to visit, shop and eat in Fordsburg, one of Joburg’s most bustling neighbourhoods. So here are some tips on where to find masala coffee, great Syrian food and a hidden dive bar.
6. Roadhouses
A few years ago, 2Summers did a survey of roadhouses around the city, and I got to tag along. From a romantic Valentine's date at The Fireplace Roadhouse in Boksburg (watching Dirty Dancing on a big screen with the sound playing through our radio), to trekking way past Joburg’s far limits to Uncle Harry’s Roadhouse in Randfontein. This is a unique way to drive and eat your way through the city.7. Jacarandas
For a few weeks in October, Joburg’s streets are bathed in pale purple when the jacaranda trees bloom, and blossoms rain down with every gust of wind and early summer thunderstorm.
Further reading: 2Summers' ode to Joburg in October and dispatches from a Kensington jacaranda walk.
8. Louis Botha Ave
Look past the grit, and you’ll discover some truly awesome, inventive buildings from Joburg’s heydays. Pop into Super Sconto to stock up on Italian foods (they have a great cheese section), or go for pizza and beer at the iconic Radium Beerhall.
9. Salvage yards
Heather and I have traversed the city from east to west to north in the process of doing our home renovations and have made significant savings buying second-hand doors, windows and lights. Salvaged items are not just cheaper; they’re more sustainable and tell a story.
Further reading: Mason and Deckler's favourite salvage yards.
10. Eduardo Villa House
This is one of our all-time favourite houses in Joburg. It captures a no-nonsense kind of modernism from the 1960s and 1970s, characterised by simple materials, great proportions and a laid-back attitude that evokes holiday-in-the-city vibes.
Further reading: a blogger's take and an architect’s take on Eduardo Villa House.
11. Delta Park
Once a sewerage treatment plant, this park is huge and has great views back towards the city. Delta Park is also one of the best places in the country to photograph the fields of pink and white cosmos flowers that bloom across the South African Highveld in early autumn.
Further reading: 2Summers low-down on Delta Park with loads of photos.
12. Soweto Book Café
For a bookstore experience like no other, head to the Soweto Book Cafe in Zondi, Soweto. On the first floor of his house, Thami Mazibuko stocks thousands of books across a wide range of topics and South African languages. It's not just a bookshop but a library, book distributor, book club venue, study hall and event space for the surrounding community.
13. Hadedas (and sirens)
Joburg people are not quiet people, and neither are hadedas quiet birds. While these birds occur in other parts of the country, there is something iconic about hearing their cries mixed with the sounds of the city, perfectly captured in the Hadeda Dub by Brendan Jury and Israel Matseke Zulu for the movie iNumber Number: Jozi Gold.
14. Downtown
We could have made a list of 21 cool things to find on a single block in downtown Joburg! But here is a post by Heather about a great walking tour you can do with Joburg Places.
15. Joburg fashion
Joburg people have mad fashion sense, and one of our favourite ways to experience fashion in the city is a walk through the fashion district with Sebo Marobela, founder of the Caraci Clothing brand.
16. Immink Drive, Soweto
Introduced to us by our friend and fellow architect Tebogo Ramatlo, Immink Drive is a non-touristy, easily accessible strip where locals hang out and everyone is welcome to eat great food, buy local fashion and become part of the carnivalesque atmosphere – especially on weekends.
17. Eating out in Alexandra Township
Most Joburgers are intimidated to visit Alexandra (Alex), but there is some amazing culture and food to discover in this historic township, which is older than Soweto. One of our favorite shisa nyama experiences is at Joe’s Butchery, which we last visited on an epic food tour in Alex.
18. Yola Minnar
We could probably create a list of 2.1 million cool people in Joburg, but if we have to choose one it would be Yola Minnaar, who not only makes the best Cape Malay koesisters, but also who spends most of her time feeding the hungry, liaising with Joburg city government to keep her community’s electricity and water on and generally helping people in need.
19. 14th Street, Fietas
Just down the street from Yola is the famous 14th Street. This street might not look like much, but this is where we started our practice 21 years ago – in one of two remaining shops from when it was a world-famous bazaar-cum-street attracting shoppers from all around the country. Fietas was largely demolished during Apartheid, and most of the shops are now at the Oriental Plaza a few blocks away. The 26'10 office pictured here is now a museum that can be visited on appointment.
20. Dennis Dlomo’s Fitness Club
If you’re looking for a fun workout out in the open, accompanied by music and cheers from fellow gymgoers, come for a session with Dennis Dlomo, our fitness coach in Brixton. He trains all shapes and sizes Monday to Saturday in Kingston Frost Park.
21. The Parks
We love "The Parks" – older suburbs of Johannesburg – with their character homes, large stands and huge trees. These neighbourhoods offer massive value and are a great alternative to the cookie-cutter hellscapes created by developers. With Joburg’s recently revised by-laws, people are now able to build additional dwelling units (within limits) but without rezoning. These neighbourhoods now offer more flexibility, even income streams and best of all: you can live like a boss in one of the biggest urban forests on the planet!
Love what you got
We hope you enjoyed this list as much as we did putting it together. It reminds us of the words of author Arundathi Roy: “To encourage what we love instead of destroying what we don't. To see the beauty in a brutal, damaged world, hidden, fierce, immense. Beauty that is uniquely our own. We have to seek it out, nurture it, love it.”About the authors
Thorsten Deckler is a Johannesburg-based architect, urbanist and co-founder of 26'10 South Architects. His work explores adaptive reuse, sustainable design and the social life of buildings – with a particular focus on how people inhabit and reshape the city over time. Beyond architecture, he documents Joburg through photography and writing, often uncovering overlooked details and everyday infrastructures that shape urban life. Follow him on Instagram @thethinking_hand.Heather Mason is the voice behind 2Summers, one of Johannesburg’s most beloved independent blogs. Originally from the United States, she has lived in Joburg for over 15 years, documenting the city’s hidden corners, subcultures and stories with curiosity and care. Her work spans walking tours, photo essays and long-form writing that captures the humour, complexity and beauty of everyday life in the city. Follow her on Instagram @2summers.
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