Braamfontein is the gateway to the city and home of Wits University campus, which includes an array of interesting museums. This student neighbourhood is also home to Play Braam, consisting of four blocks filled with attractions that include a rooftop basketball court, urban beach, coffee shop, pizza parlour, and on Saturdays, The Playground, a cool market-like space with regularly changing events. Dance the night away at Kitcheners or head to Untitled Basement on Reserve Street for some of the best music Joburg has to offer.
Across the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Newtown is one of the city's cultural precincts (we don't recommend walking there as it crosses a busy taxi route) and home to the famous Market Theatre. Head to neighbouring Ferreirasdorp to see Chancellor House, which features the history of this famous building on panels and photos on the outside of the building, the impressive sculpture of Nelson Mandela – Shadow Boxing, and pedestrianised Main Street, along which you can explore the city’s mining history.
To the west of Newtown is the Indian heart of Joburg, Fordsburg. The City Centre spreads out from Gandhi Square, with the immediate surrounds filled with examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. The Fashion District is where shoppers from across the continent come to buy clothing and fabrics. To the east lies Maboneng and the stadiums and sporting facilities of the Ellis Park Precinct. Beyond this is Victoria Yards with its artist studios and artisan workshops.
Unique ways to see Joburg's City Centre
ART, BOOKS, AND COFFEE
Arts on Main in Maboneng is home to world-renowned artist William Kentridge’s Centre for the Less Good Idea, a collaborative performance space that showcases new programmes annually. Check their schedule. It’s also where you’ll find one of the city’s most impressive art printing studios, David Krut Projects. For the coolest city streetwear, check out Project Inflamed. Enjoy coffee at Home of the Bean before taking a walk through Jewel City to admire the impressive murals, and then visit the famous Collectors Treasury, a paradise for book lovers with more than one million titles.
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
RUGBY AND A POST-MATCH MEAL
MAKER'S SPACES AND MARKET SHOPPING
Victoria Yards is a collection of artisan and artist spaces where making is the order of the day. A wonderland of studio spaces set amid lush gardens, you’ll find everything from beautiful African artefacts at Art of the Continent to handmade notebooks at Pulp Paperworks, and one of Joburg’s top denim labels, Tshepo, and more. This is a wonderful space to wander, or take a tour with an experienced on-site guide. On the first Sunday of each month, the space opens up to a city market with art and craft, food stalls and live music.
CITY ROOFTOPS
SATURDAYS IN BRAAM
Across the street is pizza joint Little Kitcheners Pizzeria, and Kitcheners Bar, where you can stay until late if you feel like a boogie. On a sunny day, The Beach Club is the place to hang out, or for cool tunes, head to Mamakashaka and Friends. If you feel like shopping, make sure to pop into S.W.A.N.K for the coolest Joburg streetwear and then head two blocks east to 99 Juta and snag a Boys of Soweto sweater. The street gets super busy as the afternoon lengthens, as the crowds extend their partying into the evening at the many entertainment venues.
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