Johannesburg, South Africa
The 8 best spots in Johannesburg’s Maboneng neighbourhood
Exploring the essence of Johannesburg’s Maboneng: 8 unique highlights
Once a collection of derelict warehouses and neglected streets, Maboneng has emerged as Johannesburg’s creative epicentre, seamlessly blending history with modernity. Maboneng, which fittingly means place of light in Sesotho, is where art galleries, eclectic eateries and entrepreneurial spaces thrive side by side, creating a neighbourhood that’s alive with possibility. What makes Maboneng special isn’t just its architectural renaissance or artistic character – it’s the community that fuels it. This neighbourhood’s creativity isn’t confined to galleries; it spills onto walls, streets and rooftops – offering some of the best street art in the city. In this guide, we’ll take you through the neighbourhood’s most iconic spots, including where to stay, shop and dine.
Table of Contents
Stay
Hallmark House Hotel
Once a 1970s diamond hub, Hallmark House Hotel now shines as a contemporary luxury getaway in the heart of Maboneng. This boutique hotel integrates local industrial materials into its sleek interiors, giving a nod to Johannesburg’s history. This reimagined heritage building houses 46 art-curated rooms, each offering captivating views over the city. We love the rooftop space – here you’ll find a bar that serves the perfect sundowner drinks, best enjoyed while lounging with the city as your backdrop! Another highlight that we love about this hotel is the downstairs restaurant and jazz bar – The Marabi Club.
Hallmark House Hotel
54 Siemert Rd
New Doornfontein
Johannesburg
South Africa
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Photography courtesy of Hallmark House Hotel
Eat & drink
The Marabi Club
The Marabi Club is where jazz, history and atmosphere converge to create unforgettable evenings. This speakeasy-style restaurant & bar pays homage to the Marabi music era of the 1920s and 30s – a style born from the townships during South Africa’s industrial boom. Inside, you’ll find an intimate setting adorned with warm lighting and vintage decor setting the stage for a soulful evening. Performances here are a celebration of South African jazz, with renowned artists and up-and-coming local jazz artists gracing the stage. The menu includes tapas-style plates of classic dishes like thai oysters and tempura mushrooms, but the main meals are the real star, they are as creative as they are tasty. Our favourites include the vietnamese duck, the lamb belly and the Notorious Naartjie – black pepper crema catalan, citrus gummies and honeycomb – a must-try!
The Marabi Club
54 Siemert Rd
New Doornfontein
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of The Marabi Club
Home of the Bean
Home of the Bean is the go-to coffee spot for the Maboneng locals. Known for their single-origin beans sourced from across Africa, this coffee shop takes coffee culture seriously and we believe they serve the best espresso in the area! The coffee shop interior has an industrial-chic edge to it, with quirky art and decor throughout that adds a pop of colour to raw walls and wooden tables. Beyond the coffee, Home of the Bean offers light snacks and pastries that pair well with their drinks. This is the perfect spot to grab a good coffee and bite and get some insider info from the friendly baristas on what adventures to take on next in this exciting neighbourhood.
Home of the Bean
Arts On Main
264 Fox St
Maboneng
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Home of the Bean
The Living Room
The Living Room in Maboneng is a rooftop spot with soul. This spot feels more like a secret garden than a bar, with plants everywhere – creeping vines, hanging greenery and pots overflowing with life. It’s not just about the vibe (though the views of the city skyline are unbeatable); the food and drinks keep things fresh and fun too. The menu features sharing platters, salads and wraps that are as Instagram-worthy as the setting. Pair your meal with one of their signature fruity mojitos or gin infusions – or opt for a locally crafted beer as you kick back and enjoy the mellow beats of live DJs or acoustic sets.
The Living Room
5th Floor
Main Change Building
20 Kruger St
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of The Living Room
Shop
Angoni Art Gallery
Step into Angoni Art Gallery and you’re instantly surrounded by the soul of Africa. This gallery is dedicated to showcasing the talents of emerging African artists. Regular exhibitions are carefully curated around themes that resonate with contemporary audiences, such as identity, migration and resilience. The gallery’s layout and design are simple with a lot of natural light that allows the art to take centre stage. Angoni Art Gallery is more than just a gallery – it’s a platform for dialogue and connection. Here you can meet the artists during special events or exhibitions, gaining deeper insights into their creative processes.
Angoni Art Gallery
278 Fox St
Maboneng
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Angoni Art Gallery
Project Inflamed
Project Inflamed, home to the Stylegod Pieces collection, is a boutique that combines fashion with storytelling, showcasing clothing that challenges conventional design and embraces cultural identity. Project Inflamed was founded in 2014 by brothers Lizwe Thabethe and Mandla Thabethe, both passionate about fashion and design. The Thabethe brothers’ vision is to create clothing that tells a story and celebrates South African heritage and Project Inflamed aims to collaborate with other designers and brands that share the same vision. There is no brand that better represents the spirit of Maboneng than this one with their “Born in Soweto, Made in Maboneng” tagline. Each clothing item here makes a statement, here you’ll find plenty of colourful pieces with bold and thought-provoking designs.
Project Inflamed
Arts On Main
264 Fox St
Maboneng
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Project Inflamed
Hazard Gallery
Hazard Gallery was founded in 2015 by Jonathan Freemantle and Daniel Liebmann. Jonathan Freemantle, an artist, curator and co-founder of the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival, teamed up with Daniel Liebmann, who has been involved in the Maboneng Precinct urban regeneration project since its inception. Together they created an exhibition space where creativity knows no bounds. The artists represented here are unafraid to push boundaries, exploring themes ranging from identity and politics to abstract expression. This is a must-visit spot if you appreciate art that provokes and inspires – this gallery is a vital part of Maboneng’s story, definitely worth setting a day aside to explore the art here.
Hazard Gallery
24 Albrecht St
Maboneng
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Hazard Gallery
See & do
Maboneng Street Art
You can’t visit Maboneng and not explore the street art – it’s a vibrant expression of the neighborhood’s soul. Once an industrial area, Maboneng is now filled with murals, graffiti and installations that feature intricate abstract art and politically charged works. Fox and Commissioner Streets are great starting points. You’ll find murals celebrating South African history, commenting on social issues and also pieces that just add colourful personality to the city landscape. Arts on Main, a key spot in Maboneng that we love, is where you’ll find a lot of the art spilling out of galleries and onto the streets.
Maboneng
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Inthemba Property
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