The idea for Jozi Gold Brewing Company had first taken root more than a decade earlier, in 2013, when the Jardine family registered the trademark. Born and bred Joburgers, their story begins in Riverlea – less than 10kim from the City Centre, a place marked by hardship, but also by resilience and political consciousness.
The Jardines are not just entrepreneurs. They are activists and campaigners – people shaped by a legacy of non-racialism and anti-apartheid resistance, and by a belief that the city can be something other than what it has become. This thread runs through their story: from the fight against apartheid to a present-day commitment to contributing to rebuilding the cultural life of the Braamfontein neighbourhood. On the official opening night of Jozi Gold Brewing Company in March 2026, it was palpable in the room – as much in the gathering of people from across the city, many with their own histories in progressive politics but also in the sense of shared energy, and of return.
And then there was the headline performance by Standard Bank Award Winning Young Artist Nduduzo Makhathini. If there is such a thing as a "transcendental pianist", then Makhathini is its exemplar, his soothing words almost summoning up music from his fingers moving across the piano, or perhaps it's the other way around. Either way each time we see him perform we are transfixed by the power of his music and what he does as a musician. It's no coincidence he was chosen to open Jozi Gold. He performed on the opening night of The Orbit, bringing the experience full circle for many of the audience members who had been in attendance then.
“The Orbit holds a special place in the hearts of many people in Jozi,” says daughter Nadia Jardine, CEO of Jozi Gold. “To the former patrons of The Orbit we say welcome back, and to new patrons we say, please make this your home.”
A live performance space, a micro-brewery, a space for art, plus a restaurant, Jozi Gold Brewing Company has its sights set on being a venue where the creativity of the arts, food and beer converge, and the spirit and energy of inner-city Johannesburg is sustained.
A roomy two-storey space, on the ground floor you'll find a choice of seating areas, from comfy couches to a dining area, and a bar, the backdrop is the industrial gleam of enormous brewing tanks. Upstairs is the performance and listening space.
What's on tap at Jozi Gold?
Jozi Gold has a brewing capacity of 25,000 litres per month, with a variety of brews from their famed brewmaster, Thokozani Sithole, spanning from their signature lagers and ales to limited-edition and seasonal beers like their Golden Taj Basmati Rice Lager and Stage 8-Dark Lager.
What is on the menu at Jozi Gold Brewing Company?
While the selection of craft beer brews is impressive, Chef Joshua Stadt is turning out great accompaniments in his kitchen – from a much talked-about smoked brisket pizza to sorghum golden ale-battered fish and braai platters.
Finding new gold: Reviving the city with beer and music
The brewery is rooted in family history and marked by the city of gold – “Our family literally played on mine dumps and in the mineshafts next to George Harrison Park [Langlaagte] where the monument to the discovery of gold used to be,” says Jardine – and a deep passion for seeing their community thrive. “We would like Jozi Gold to be synonymous with the city’s revival – we want you to find a thriving centre for the arts, music and the togetherness of the city."Events line-up at Jozi Gold
Jozi Gold Brewing Company hosts Your Weekly Touch Up, an alternative music platform, and plan on hosting many other cultural events within their multi-purpose space. Follow their Instagram here to stay in the know. The curator of their jazz programme is Carlo Mombelli, a Wits University academic (neighbour to Jozi Gold) who is regarded as one of South Africa’s most distinctive jazz musicians – a bassist, composer, bandleader and educator whose work sits at the edge of jazz, contemporary composition and sonic experimentation – and whose work has shaped a generation of jazz musicians across the city.Jozi Gold Brewing Company: Location, hours and details
Open daily Jozi Gold Brewing Company is a good spot for breakfast, lunch and supper, and also to get some work done during the day. Music performances are ticketed and can be booked here.Open: Mon, Tue 07:00 – 19:00, Wed to Fri 07:00 – 23:00, Sat 12:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00
Where: 81 De Korte St, Braamfontein
Contact: +27 62 766 9169
To collaborate with Jozi Gold Brewing Company or book the venue, email info@jozigoldbrewing.co.za
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