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At Johannesburg In Your Pocket, we like to flip the script. Rather than simply telling people what makes Joburg great, we take hospitality professionals out to experience it for themselves. Our Concierge Experience series is designed to bridge the gap between hotel teams and the city’s visitors. For each event, we carefully curate the route and hand-pick the stops, working closely with our partners to create a fully hosted, immersive experience that showcases the best of Joburg
In 2019, we hosted our very first Concierge Walk and kept the adventures rolling until lockdown hit in 2020. We revived this event series in 2024 and hosted our first Concierge Experience of 2025 in January (read about the day here), where we toured one of the most walkable districts in Joburg, Rosebank. Now, for this second Concierge Experience of 2025, we were taken to the inner city and explored the streets of Braamfontein.
If you are keen to join us or be a host at future events, please contact us here.
We kicked off our day bright and early at 08:00 at 54 on Bath hotel in Rosebank with a round of tea, coffee, and a few ice breakers to shake off the yawns. After some mingling, we were warmly welcomed by Suzette Pather, the hotel’s Rooms Division Manager, who set the tone for a day full of Joburg charm and surprises.
Keep reading for a recap of our day and the people we met along the way.
A Braamfontein adventure with City Skate Tours
KITCHENER'S BAR AND LITTLE KITCHENER'S PIZZERIA
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Our first stop in Braamfontein – or Braam, as it’s fondly known – was the iconic Kitchener's Bar and its new neighbour, Little Kitchener's Pizzeria. Originally built in 1902, Kitchener’s Bar is the second-oldest bar in the city and has seen many incarnations over the decades. In 2024, a new chapter began under the ownership of Play Braam, ushering in a fresh look and the addition of Little Kitchener’s Pizzeria (read more about our visit and review here). The bar is now part of a collection of venues curated by Play Braam, the creative property venture helmed by Adam Levy, which brings energy, culture, and artistic flair to four intersecting blocks in the heart of Braamfontein.
Here, we met Ayanda Mnyandu of City Skate Tours, our guide for the morning’s adventure. City Skate Tours is the brainchild of Joburg-born Mnyandu and his fellow ‘skater boy’ Daniel Monegi. What began as two friends showing their crew around the inner city on wheels has grown into a full-blown (and seriously cool) urban experience. It offers a safe and exciting way for people to explore the inner city, especially those who might feel hesitant. Our Braamfontein walkabout covered just under 2km of city sights and stories.
BOYS OF SOWETO
From Kitchener's Bar, we made our way over to 99 Juta, a mix of office and creative spaces. Tucked inside is the headquarters of Boys of Soweto, the fashion label known for blending vintage flair with sharp, modern tailoring. Founded in 2011 by stylist Vusumuzi “Bob” Ndima, the label draws inspiration from township and esbhujwa culture to create a polished, cosmopolitan aesthetic. With features in GQ magazine and collaborations with brands like Palladium and Markham, Boys Of Soweto has earned both local and international acclaim. Signature to the brand? The monogram logo appears on almost every piece.
ENTERTAINMENT SPOTS
Our next quick pitstop was on Reserve Street, home to Untitled Basement and The Artivist and The Commune – what Mnyanda highlights as some of Joburg’s top entertainment and culture hubs. Untitled Basement stood out as the go-to spot for live jazz, offering an intimate, electric atmosphere below ground. Just above it, The Artivist serves up great food and drinks in a stylish setting. Around the corner, The Commune – a cosy, non-profit bookshop, café, and reference library – describes itself as “community-centred, collectively run”, and is known for its rich selection of Pan-African literature.
STREET ART IN BRAAM
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
While walking the streets, we passed Hannelie Coetzee’s striking mural, The Nzunza Portrait, on the side of North City House at the corner of Melle and Jorissen Streets. Created by an all-women team and unveiled in 2018, the 10-storey piece featuring the side profile of an African woman is made from over 2,000 salvaged ceramic plates and celebrates Ndebele heritage and African identity. As beautiful as the photos may be, nothing compares to witnessing it in person.
GRAYSCALE STORE AND GALLERY
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
We then went into Grayscale Store and Gallery, tucked away on the second floor of 33 De Korte Street. This was the first gallery in Joburg to champion alternative and once-called ‘lowbrow’ art forms. Founded by graffiti artists, it’s become a platform for emerging creatives working in street art, illustration, tattooing, and other subcultural styles. We hear tourists love getting a flash tattoo here as a permanent souvenir. On show during our visit was Playground, a cheeky, colourful solo exhibition by artist Motelseven7 inspired by childhood play areas – think hopscotch, alphabet posters, and animated characters.
Though we did not visit on this day, the nearby Wits Art Museum is a leading institution dedicated to African art, housing over 13,000 works across various mediums. Established in 2012 as part of the University of the Witwatersrand, the museum features both historical and contemporary pieces by renowned artists.
The Braamfontein walkabout tour stood out as a highlight for many of the concierges on the trip. Theodora O’Neill from The Peech Hotel shared, “I really liked the Braam tour that we went on. I felt like we went to a lot of cool places, and a lot of our guests also like going to urban places, learning about culture and our history, and exploring the city.”
Bites, beats, and democracy: Food, I Love You at Constitutional Hill
After a quick drive, we arrived at Constitution Hill for a well-earned breather and a mid-morning bite at Food, I Love You – the charming eatery tucked inside the historic Old Fort. Founded by former ad exec turned self-taught chef Mpho Phalane, the restaurant serves up a vibrant fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and African flavours, all made with seasonal produce. We were lucky enough to be welcomed by Phalane herself as we tucked into chicken sandwiches and equally delicious brinjal versions for the vegetarians – plus banana muffins so good, our concierges were ready to buy a case of six to go!
Vuma Makinana from The Maslow Hotel was pleasantly taken aback by this hidden gem of a restaurant at Constitution Hill: “I enjoyed the restaurant, Food, I Love You – that was stunning! I enjoyed the space, I enjoyed the story behind the whole thing. I didn’t even know there was a restaurant there, so it was a wonderful surprise.”
While at Constitution Hill, we took a quick detour to Flame Studios – a world-class creative hub inspired by the Flame of Democracy that burns outside the Constitutional Court, where powerful local stories and sounds are brought to life.
Swan Lake sneak peek: Behind the scenes with Joburg Ballet
Fuelled up and ready to continue our day, we headed to Joburg Ballet studios just behind the Joburg Theatre in Braam for an exclusive sit-in at a rehearsal of Joburg Ballet’s upcoming production of Swan Lake running from Fri, Jul 4 – Sun, Jul 13, 2025 at the Joburg Theatre. This iconic ballet will be performed in Johannesburg, Durban, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town as part of a nationwide collaboration between Joburg Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet. We also had the pleasure of meeting Joburg Ballet’s CEO, Elroy Fillis-Bell (read his #MyJoburg interview here), and learned more about the production under the direction of acclaimed South African choreographer and producer, Veronica Paeper. This was a welcome respite from the fast pace of the city outside, and a highlight for many of the concierges who joined us on the tour.
Sky-high hoops, city views, and a splash of sand at Play Braam
We returned to Play Braam on De Beer Street for our final stop in Braamfontein, where Marcel Cronje, Play Braam’s Head of Hospitality, Development, and Growth, guided us through the dynamic precinct. We headed up to the rooftop basketball court – a Joburg first – painted in African sunset-inspired hues by artist Seth Pimentel. This sky-high court is perfect for a game of three-a-side or for enjoying the glass-floor observation deck 50 metres above ground. Cue plenty of shooting and selfies as we took in sweeping views of Braamfontein and the Nelson Mandela Bridge.
We got a sneak peek at a new jazz club set to open at the end of June 2025, promising to spotlight the best of the city’s live music scene. While the club won’t be serving food, a brand-new steakhouse is opening just steps away between KFC concept store and The Playground on De Beer Street – ideal for grabbing a bite before a live show. A touch of the coast in the city – we also made a beachy detour to the City Beach Club. No flip-flops required at this urban and sandy (yes, actual sand) escape, with sweeping views of Joburg and music as the backdrop.
A feast to remember at Turkish Kebab House Rosebank
Turkish Kebab House in Mayfair started as cosy gatherings for 20 to 30 guests, which quickly grew into a bustling restaurant and a testing ground for what would come next. Now, they’ve brought their flavour to Rosebank. Opened in December 2024, Turkish Kebab House Rosebank blends sleek interiors with warm hospitality, overlooking Bath and Tyrwhitt Avenues. It’s stylish yet relaxed – perfect for a lunch stop on our concierge experience.
We kicked things off with a feast of starters: Turkish flatbread, Şi̇ş Köfte (a mix of vegetables and grains, similar in consistency to a pâté), a spicy Ezme (a finely chopped tomato and chilli blend with pomegranate concentrate), and chicken, beef, and spinach pide. “It was really delicious, freshly prepared, so tasty, very nice,” said Astrid Dressler from Riboville Boutique Hotel, summing up the table’s unanimous feeling.
There was so much on the table we thought that was the main event – until the mixed grill platter arrived. Served on a charcoal dish to keep things toasty, it came piled high with juicy doner (so authentic that Turkish guests have taken it home), some of the most succulent chicken we've tasted, lahmacun, Beyti Sarma (ground beef or lamb wrapped in lavash – flat bread), steak, and lamb chops. On the side? Fluffy rice and thick-cut chips, perfect for soaking up every last bite.
Mind games and selfie gold at the Museum of Illusions
After a very filling lunch, we took a short stroll to our final stop of the day – the world-famous Museum of Illusions. Having landed in Joburg in July 2024 at The Zone @ Rosebank, this mind-bending spot joins over 50 locations worldwide and has wowed more than 120 million visitors since its original opening in Zagreb in 2015. Far from your typical museum, it’s a full-on optical playground. Our brilliant guides, Bahle and Nella, led us through an hour and a half of brain-benders, sensory illusions, and selfie gold that left us questioning everything – in the most fun way possible.
Our concierge day exploring Braamfontein and its surrounds offered more than just a change of scenery – it challenged our perceptions of Johannesburg’s inner city and revealed an interesting mix of culture, creativity, and community. From rooftop courts and graffiti art to ballet and rewriting history, the city showed off its many layers.
As Vladimir Kovatchev from Riboville Boutique Hotel reflected, “I would say that my highlight of the day was definitely being able to explore Braamfontein and immerse myself more in our South African culture. [What] I loved about Turkish Kebab House was the atmosphere, the food, and just the family, awesome vibe that it provides.” A reminder that Joburg is always full of surprises – and stories worth sharing.
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