A Couple of Days in Joburg: Rosebank
A design-led guide to Rosebank, Johannesburg. Where to stay, eat, and wander on foot in the city's most walkable and overlooked neighbourhood. There's a Google Map at the bottom of the article for you.
Tourists to South Africa very often skip Joburg. They'll fly directly to Cape Town. Or, land at OR Tambo International and move straight to another plane, heading, again, to Cape Town, or some sort of safari destination. The most they will see of Joburg is the city outskirts and outlying areas from the sky, or the dreadful grey walk from OR Tambo international arrivals to domestic departures.
There's a lot missed.
In this edition, a couple of days in Rosebank.
The first suggestion is: don't be afraid to walk around. Joburg has a bad rap for being unsafe, and truly, no city is safe everywhere. Choose where you go. Rosebank is a great place to begin.
Everything below is walkable. This is the itinerary:
STAY
Hyde Johannesburg - in the centre of it all. Excellent location combined with a great restaurant, Proud Mary, and secret bar, Nine Lives, in the same building. It's a solid choice.
Radisson Red - a simple stay in a precinct on the side of Rosebank. There are a couple of close restaurant options, including Pink Mama's on the site of a tree-lined Padel club, so you can have a game then stop for a drink and a pasta. Highly recommended.
Park Hyatt Johannesburg - a little away from the main Rosebank precinct. At night you might be taking a chauffeur or Uber Black around, but it's a peaceful, luxury option, and most definitely walkable to and from the main Rosebank area during the day.
54 on Bath - not the coolest, but a good option. Perfect location.
EAT
Marble - great meats cooked on open fire. A hefty wine selection and really good cocktails, plus an amazing sunset view, set this one apart. Our suggestion: sit at the bar counter at the kitchen and see the chefs in action.
Proud Mary - we've mentioned that it's the in-house restaurant of the Hyde Johannesburg. But don't expect hotel-food-vibes. Excellent menu, lovely bar, and an all-round great experience.
Modern Tailors - Indian food in a cool setting. Properly tasty dinner with a bit of spice. Excellent restaurant.
The Grillhouse - old-skool-style meat restaurant with unbeatable steak and potato offerings and deep whisky menu. White tablecloths, steak knives, the whole hog. Or cow.
1920 - family-owned, Portuguese home cooking and always tasty. Cosy. Did we say delicious? Delicious.
Che Argentine Grill - this one is a little walk from the main area. Worth it. Steaks done right every time. Cool, fiery and smoky vibes, concrete floors, loud. Perfect.
Don't let this list stop you from trying other restaurants. Rosebank is packed with great places to eat. For brunch, Tashas can't be beaten. And of course, South Africa is the home of Nando's, right?
DRINK
Father Coffee/Wine Bar - the Rosebank outpost of arguably the best coffee roasters in Johannesburg. Excellent selection of some of South Africa's greatest wines. Right in the heart of it all. Definitely one to be visited. To shop their wines head here.
Here - wide open coffee shop with enough space to have a little dance. Excellent coffee and matcha options.
Nine Lives - late-night bar with some tunes. Solid cocktails.
Sin + Tax - a hidden bar worth seeking out. Often with DJs playing records, and always a delicious drink.
Obscura - a bar for premium cocktails of the highest order.
CLUB
Eight The Nightclub - there are actually quite a bunch of clubs in Rosebank, but not the best clubs. So we'll save the Joburg club area for another article. But, The Naked Wolf restaurant has a great dancefloor hidden in the back, being, um, Eight The Nightclub, and on some evenings is a really good dance. You need to watch their IG to see what's happening.
SHOP
Shelflife - Joburg outpost of the Cape Town streetwear store. To-the-minute global sneaker releases plus small selections of Carhartt WIP, Thisisneverthat, Maharishi, Gramicci, Bape, Pleasures, and more. Also stocks a good selection of Montana cans in case you find yourself wanting to leave a mark.
Burnt - local activewear brand. When you need a new pair of leggings for your morning jog.
Freedom of Movement - local brand of clothing and accessories. For the chino set.
Sealand - local bag brand making recycled bits into cool stuff to carry your things. Basically.
Rosebank is pretty much a shopping area where you'll find the usual bunch of global mall stores as well as a few independent bits here and there. Worth a stroll and a look. Try the Zone, the Firs, the Mall - all shopping precincts connected to one another.
Also, there will be some touristy souvenirs around. For more on our take on South African souvenir stores, check out our article on what it could be.
WORK
Workshop 17 - there are two of these co-working spots in Rosebank. Either is good.
Mesh - in this one you get the added bonus of a cocktail bar included, in case your work gets the better of you.
WeWork - never heard of it? You get lovely views when working here.
VISIT
Everard Read - a gallery that is most definitely worth a visit. Take a peek at their website to see what is currently showing.
Goodman Gallery - another gallery that should definitely be on your to-visit list.
Gallery Momo - if you've got to Everard Read, Gallery Momo is just a short walk further. Stop at Here coffee on the way back.
City Sightseeing Johannesburg (Red Bus) - go on, you're a tourist. The main starting point is in Rosebank. We don't really suggest the safari tour - there are far better safari options available. But the hop-on, hop-off route is a cool way to get a feel for the city.
*Highly recommended! A little walk away is an area called Nine Yards and it's a perfect way to spend a morning. The spots in Nine Yards that we recommend: kumalo|turpin gallery, Salvation Cafe, Something Good Studio, and Doppio Bistrot.
What to do if you are in town for more than a couple of days?
There's a lot to see and do in Johannesburg other than Rosebank. Our favourite all-round guide to what's up: Johannesburg In Your Pocket. We'll be extending our own suggestions, so check back.
(To advise us of any changes or closures to any of the venues listed, we'd highly appreciate it if you would contact us.)
Quick FAQs:
Is Johannesburg worth a stopover on the way to Cape Town or on safari?
Yes it is indeed! Flying straight through is a mistake. There is a lot to see and do in Johannesburg. To begin, consider staying in Rosebank for a couple of nights. It's walkable, low-key, and gives you a real feel for the city before you move on.
Should you stay in Sandton or Rosebank for a business trip?
Sandton is a business district and more corporate and closed-off. Although there are hotels and a big mall with all the international shops available in Sandton, Rosebank gives you walkable dining, shopping, and co-working spaces in a more open environment. Sandton and Rosebank are connected on the underground Gautrain by only one stop. If you prefer, Uber Black is a simple and quick journey between precincts.
How do you get from OR Tambo International Airport to Rosebank?
The best way to get around Johannesburg is with Uber, and we always suggest Uber Black or at least Uber Comfort. However, Rosebank is connected directly to OR Tambo on the Gautrain, a secure, clean, highspeed link. At the airport, follow the Gautrain signs and merely tap your contactless bank card at the access gate. Take the Airport Service train to its final destination of Sandton Station, change platforms to the North-South line bound for Park Station and board the train. From Sandton the next stop will be Rosebank Station. At the station tap your card again to exit. It is super simple and safe.
Is Rosebank walkable, or do you need a car?
If you read the article above, you'll know that it is walkable. Mentioned in the article are spots that are a bit further, although still walkable. And we highly recommend you explore further than just the main shopping area. An Uber becomes useful once you want to explore beyond the neighbourhood.
Is Rosebank a safe area of Johannesburg?
Johannesburg's reputation is definitely worse than the on-the-ground reality, especially in Rosebank, being busy, walkable, and well-populated. If you're comfortable walking around in Cape Town, you'll be comfortable walking around in Rosebank. Heading out between areas at night? Take an Uber.
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