Once a derelict complex of light industrial buildings, this sprawling site in Lorentzville between Maboneng and Cyrildene 's colourful Chinatown. There is also a commitment to greening that has resulted in a lush urban garden, perfect for winding your way among the artist studios and galleries, retail and food tenants, and regular open day vendors who call Victoria Yards home.

ETHOS, ARCHITECTURE AND NEIGHBOURS

The precinct is a blooming ecosystem of one of Johannesburg’s most intentional creative hubs, with an understanding that you reap what you sow: sowing the seeds of community through upliftment projects benefitting the neighbourhood, like Makers Valley and reaping the benefits with gorgeously hand-crafted wares, delightful bites, and an unflinchingly earnest creative vibe.

If you've visited the boutique shopping complex 44 Stanley in Milpark , you'll recognise elements of its cool and contemporary industrial aesthetic, as the two sites share a founder. The gardens of Victoria Yards are lush with herbs and medicinal plants – everyhting they plant is edible.

Neighbouring the precinct is the headquarters of homegrown grilled chicken giant Nando's, whose global reach has taken peri-peri chicken to new heights. Their headquarters at Nando's Central Kitchen across the road (once Nando's sauce bottling factory) is a model of contemporary South African art and design (closed to the public sadly).

ART, FASHION AND DESIGN

The gorgeous bijou studio of French jewellery maker Helene Thomas, Yol. Photo: Yol.

The Victoria Yards complex houses local artists like Mandy Shindler and James Delaney , and artisan workshops like Sonnenglas , who make practical yet magical solar-powered mason-jar lights, Flood House , a silk-screen print-making studio; and French jewellery maker Helene Thomas 's bijou studio Yol , which is an enticing cavern of exquisite hand-crafted jewellery inspired by her travels. Pop around to PULP Paperworks to see paper and bookbinding in a whole new light.

Another must-stop is Tshepo Jeans' studio. Tshepo 's first crafted pair of jeans, the 'Presidential Slim Fit', kickstarted his denim career in 2015. His star just continues to rise – and his brand is an iconic Joburg label. With stores in Hyde Park and Sandton City , Tshepo's studio sits comfortably in Victoria Yards. For all things shweshe, check out Shwe 's factory outlet shop for a colourful explosion of bags, diaries and the likes.

FOOD AND DRINK

Feast your eyes at Fama Delicatessen. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

We are great fans of Primal Spirits Distillery , a grain to glass gin label whose distillery is based at Victoria Yards. For a coffee, head to Home of the Bean 's home outside Maboneng and for the best fish and chips in Joburg, The Fish and Chip Shop is unbeaten. Fama Delicatessen is the deli of our dreams; with artisinal cold-cuts made in the traditional Spanish style. For a refreshing burst to your tastebuds, visit Sobae for ice cold sorbet made with in-season fruit bought from informal vendors at the point when their ripeness means they are about to be thrown out – it's an important factor for the guys at Sobae, whose fight against food waste is a key factor in their ideology.

SUNDAY MARKETS

First Sundays features fashion and design retailers, open artist studios, food and drink, and live music. Photo: Victoria Yards.

On the first Sunday of almost every month from 10:00 – 16:00 , the army of creatives and makers at Vic Yards and those outside it unite to show off their eclectic wares, with art, fashion, ceramics, workshops, local artisanal food and drink and of course, free entrance and safe parking. While many of the spaces at Victoria Yards are the studios of artists and makers, and are therefore not consistently public-facing, almost all of them feature their products and share their processes on First Sunday, making it the perfect time to visit.

BOOK A TOUR

The Discovery Tour is a half-hour (10:00 –10:30) mini exploration focusing on the sprawling grounds and its urban jungle, encouraging its participants to have a pop into the various studios and creative spaces Victoria Yards has to offer, and imparting the history and ethos of the space.

The Artisan Tour is an hour long (10:30 –11:30), delving into the local scene of artisans (as the name would suggest) in their creative spaces, focusing on the process of hand-making with love in South Africa, and presenting an opportunity for participants to see how products are made.

For more information on booking tours, visit their website or contact Patience (078 140 2008) or Sean (066 145 4973) directly.

OPERATING HOURS AND CONTACT DETAILS

Whilst the complex is open Mon – Fri from 09:00 – 17:00, Sat from 10:00 –17:00, Sun from 10:00 – 16:00, individual spaces may operate on their own times.
16 Viljoen Street, Lorentzville
Contact Victoria Yards on +27 10 594 5210 or +27 68 603 7180 or email hello@vicyards.co.za

Get there with the Gautrain

Victoria Yards is a short drive from the Park Station Gautrain station. See our guide to the Gautrain here and download the Gautrain app for real-time updates on when the next Gautrain and Gautrain midi-bus is due. Visit www.gautrain.co.za for more information on the timetable and fares. #YourGautrainJourneyStartsHere