Rosebank & Melrose Arch


Rosebank and Melrose Arch are the central, well-located, polished suburbs that leave people taken aback by how cosmopolitan and sophisticated South Africa can be. Popular with creatives and professionals, the two neighbouring suburbs are lifestyle hubs which are home to designer stores, rooftop bars and modern hotels. It’s also one of the few parts of Joburg where you can walk between quite a few places - a rarity in a city built for cars.
STAY
If you’re looking for something modern and design-forward, the newly-opened HYDE Johannesburg is art-deco stylish with huge rainfall showers, an on-site co-working space, and one of Joburg’s best all-day eateries, Proud Mary. It also enjoys an unbeatable location at The Zone@Rosebank, so you can people-watch, co-work at their meeting space,be at a conference within a couple of minutes or walk to a long list of bars, eateries and shops.
Just up the road in Houghton, Sanctuary Mandela - once Nelson Mandela’s private residence - is an intimate retreat filled with memorabilia. Each of the nine rooms is inspired by Madiba’s life and you’ll have the sense that you’re staying in a home, not any old hotel.
Rosebank’s 54 on Bath is a five-star favourite which has been a mainstay of Joburg’s hotel scene for years. It’s easy to see why: a champagne bar, an intimate rooftop pool and a fine dining restaurant in Level Four keep guests returning time after time. Alternatively, channel your city slicker in this apartment (uhm, yes, that’s an infinity pool).
EAT
Rosebank does fine dining with flair, and Shortmarket Club proves it. The elegant, art deco-inspired space sets the stage for dishes that blend European and Asian flavours, from Thai sashimi to a six-course tasting menu worth lingering over.
If you’re in the mood for red meat, The Grillhouse is where Joburg’s steak lovers congregate. The ribeye is flawlessly grilled, the malva pudding is a must, and the deep leather booths make it feel like a proper old-school steakhouse.
For something really unique, Insights Restaurant at Sanctuary Mandela serves dishes inspired by Nelson Mandela’s personal favourites and curated by his former chef. The compact menu blends South African flavours with fine dining, and the setting is filled with historic touches, like wax-sealed menus – a nod to his handwritten letters sent during his imprisonment.
DO
Start with a wander through Keyes Art Mile, where galleries like Everard Read, Circa and BKhz showcase top contemporary art, while FotoZA celebrates South African photography and Aspire Art Auctions previews high-value works before auction. The district truly comes alive on First Thursdays, a monthly event where galleries stay open late for exhibitions, artist talks and live performances, with street music and pop-ups creating a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere.
If shopping is on the agenda, Rosebank Mall has it all, from high-street fashion to the bustling Rosebank Sunday Market, where you can pick up everything from vintage finds to handcrafted jewellery. In Melrose Arch, a different kind of retail therapy awaits - sleek piazzas lined with designer stores, vibey cocktail bars and pavement cafés perfect for people-watching.
If you only do one thing…
Visit Rosebank’s most buzzing corner, on Jan Smuts and Bolton. You’ll find two of the best cocktail bars in Joburg in Sin + Tax and A Streetbar Named Desire, an always-busy sports bar in Benchwarmers, a handful of restaurants and another of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries in Goodman Gallery.