Other than a brief visit to Hillbrow, I hadn’t gone to downtown Joburg city since before the pandemic started. Also today is the ten-year anniversary of my arrival in Joburg and I wanted to do something special. So I decided to devote the whole day yesterday to Joburg city explorations, and the whole today to blogging about it.
To my relief, other than all the face masks, downtown Joburg looks much the same now as it did five months ago. There is a lot less traffic, which makes driving through the inner city downright pleasurable. Parking is easier to find than before.
My Day in Joburg City
Stop 1: Jewel City
My first stop was Jewel City, a new development emerging between Anderson and Commissioner Streets on the eastern side of downtown, built on the site of what used to be the city’s diamond district. The old Jewel City was a mysterious, foreboding place, surrounded by high walls. If you’ve ever been to Maboneng, you probably parked next to it without realizing.
The new Jewel City will be a mixed-used development with apartments, retail stores, offices, and plenty of public space.
Most of the Jewel City buildings aren’t finished yet, but I did stop into the newly opened Clicks (South Africa’s version of Walgreens) for some contact solution. I can confidently say it’s the friendliest, most well-stocked Clicks in the city. There’s a new Postnet about to open; Shoprite, Steers, and several other South African outlets are on the way. I’m not normally a fan of big retail chains but these stores should bring a much-needed boost to the area.
Stop 2: The Thunder Walker
From Jewel City I headed west to Gandhi Square to check out recent developments at the Thunder Walker. Inside historic Somerset House, this JoburgPlaces venue has become one of my favorite city spots in recent years.
Running a tourism/hospitality business in the CBD is challenging at the best of times, and now is the worst of times. But Gerald, Charlie, and the rest of the Thunder Walker team are rising to the occasion. They have reopened the restaurant with mostly outdoor seating, refashioned the trendy bar to be completely non-alcoholic, and opened a beautiful new shop selling Joburg-sourced products and books.
Stop 3: Bridge Books
Next I walked two blocks to the new Bridge Books, my favorite independent bookstore. Bridge Books has moved across Commissioner Street to a new location on the back side of the Rand Club. I love the space — it has a very “quaint bookstore in Paris” feel to it.
Stop 4: JHB Culinary and Pastry School
After a nice chat with Griffin, I walked across the street to 85 Commissioner. This space was once home to the original Bridge Books and the City Central food court, but it now houses the JHB Culinary and Pastry School.
I had been meaning to visit the culinary school’s new location before the pandemic hit. My friend Bulelwa Princess Mbonambi, who used to be the head chef at the Thunder Walker, is now a teacher at the culinary school.
Bulelwa took me on a tour of the school and I took pictures of her in her awesome chef’s hat.
The school sells delicious pastries so I picked up some chocolate truffles and a Mexican churro for later.
Stop 5: The Wilds
I saved the best for last and ended my day at the Wilds, which I hadn’t been able to visit for nearly five months. Like Emmarentia Dam, the Wilds is a city-run nature reserve and hence didn’t re-open until this past Saturday.
I can’t overstate how wonderful it was to walk around the Wilds again after all these months. There is something other-worldly about the place. It was nearly empty and I wandered slowly up and down the stone paths, munching my churro and gazing at James Delaney‘s animal sculptures, which I now consider old friends.
All in all, it was a perfect day in Joburg city. Happy ten years to me.
OMG! It’s my dream bar–fancy and tasty and no alcohol. Also, that curry looks awesome (and it’s 3 hours until lunch).
Yes! Going to this bar actually got me excited for not drinking.
Awesome Heather! Light within the general gloom to mark your ten years. 🙂
Yes! Thanks 🙂
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HEATHER. Let’s go for another 10 years in Jozi.
Thanks so much Maarten!
I think I could spend hours in the Bridge Books store. It looks so inviting!
And then the Wilds! Beautiful! Amazing that people aren’t flocking there to get some nature time. Maybe the weather.
Good for you for getting out there.
Happy 10th anniversary!
Thanks! I think the Wilds was busy over the weekend but weekday visits haven’t picked up yet. But the place is also a best kept secret.
What an uplifting post in this time of doom and gloom. The new Jewel City looks great! Congrats on 10 years in Crazy Town.
Thank you! Yes, things were certainly looking positive in downtown Jozi yesterday. I guess we need to know where to look.
Happy ten years. Looks like a perfect day. SO nice to see all these new developments and businesses (and the culinary school!) in CBD. Very exciting. And, ah, The Wilds- brilliant.
I told you I’d get there soon 🙂
Happy Anniversary Heather????
Thanks!
Wow! Thank you for reminding me about our vibrant city! Your article energized me. I’m grateful!
It’s a pleasure. I was also pleasantly surprised by what I found.
Happy Anniversary Heather! Lovely blog and inspires us to “get out there” asap. Here’s to the next 10 years!
Thank you Peggy! xxx
Love your posts! You’ve explored more of Joburg – and the changing Joburg – than I have in my decades of living here! Just one tiny thing: annus is “year” in Latin, and versus is “returning”, so it’s tautologous to say 10th-year year returning. Just 10th anniversary is fine.
Haha, thank you for that correction – noted.
Indeed, the The Wild Nature Reserve is well keep secret. I did not know about before reading your article. Happy anniversary
Thank you so much. Glad you love it too.
What a great way to celebrate! Happy 10! xo
Thanks Lani!
What a lovely write-up Heather, and I wish you all the very best for your next 10 years plus, in our wonderful City.
All the best to you!!
Thank you so much Alan! I hope you’re doing well.