Nightlife in Johannesburg
In Newtown, Bassline specialises in jazz, blues and African rap, while Sunninghill's Movida is both club and theatre rolled into one. Mellow Melville offers 24-hour fun at Catz Pyjamas and reggae at Cool Runnings. Head for Rosebank for softer tunes and comfortable sofas and to Sandton to see and be seen on a chic playground. Tuscan-looking Montecasino has theatres, cinemas and roulette. Dress up to fit in with Jozi's bar-hopping society.
Catz Pyjamas
24-hour party
Catz Pyjamas is Johannesburg's original 24-hour bar and bistro located in a
rambling old house in Melville. Music and light bites attract a partying and
hungry crowd until the wee hours. Unwind over breakfast on the balcony at
sunrise.
E-mail this item
Address
12, Main Road, Melville, Johannesburg 2006
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 726 8596
Katzy's
Whisky and cigars
Katzy's is an uber-trendy American piano bar in Rosebank with comfortable Art
Deco-style sofas and cool blue lighting. The bar offers cognacs, whiskies
and cigars, and after 9pm when the DJ starts, the ties come off and the
party begins.
E-mail this item
Address
The Firs Mall, Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2132
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 880 3945
Polo Lounge
Colonial-style lounge
Polo Lounge is a colonial-style bar in Westcliff Hotel. Informal and intimate
with a wide selection of traditional cocktails and cigars, it's an ideal
rendezvous before or after dinner. The roaring fire inside warms up
Johannesburg's nippy winters.
E-mail this item
Address
Westcliff Hotel, 67, Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff, Johannesburg 2193
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 481 6000
Ndau Lounge
Drinks with garden views
Popular with office workers, Ndau Lounge is a luxurious hotel bar overlooking
the Hyatt indigenous garden in Rosebank. Light meals, sushi and exotic
cocktails are served 24/7, complemented by live DJ sessions on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday evening.
E-mail this item
Address
191, Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2132
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 280 1234
Radium Beer Hall
Jazz den
Once a tearoom, the Radium Beer Hall in Orange Grove is today a historic bar
and grill offering live jazz performances four nights a week. A 100-year-old
bar, vintage posters and other memorabilia recreate an authentic jazz den.
E-mail this item
Address
282, Louis Botha Avenue, Orange Grove, Johannesburg 2192
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 728 3866
Cool Runnings
Taste of Jamaica
Cool Runnings is a Jamaican-themed bar in Melville, popular with students and
mellow guests. Rock and reggae bands play in the soundproofed dungeon most
nights while, on Sunday, there's comedy. An inviting Caribbean menu
satisfies any food cravings.
E-mail this item
Address
27, 4th Avenue, Melville, Johannesburg 2092
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 482 4786
Wine on the Square
Bustling wine bar
Serving wines by the glass, Wine on the Square allows customers to taste some
of South Africa's finest grapes in the comfort of low chairs overlooking
Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. Cognacs and whiskies are also available.
E-mail this item
Address
Shop L30a, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, Johannesburg 2010
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 784 8676
Transport
Taxi
Roxy's Rhythm Bar
Rooftop rock
With a suspended helicopter DJ booth, a rooftop dance floor and a monster
sound system, Roxy's in Melville welcomes live rock bands and dance events.
The hottest bands play at weekends and Monday is student night.
E-mail this item
Address
20, Main Road, Melville, Johannesburg 2092
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 726 6019
Transport
Taxi
The Manhattan Club
Up all night
Like the city that never sleeps, the two-storey Manhattan Club in Rivonia is
a stylish and bustling venue playing everything from the latest hits to old
classics. Its eight bars include a shooters bar and a ladies-only cocktail
area.
E-mail this item
Address
19, Wessels Road, Rivonia, Johannesburg 2128
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 803 7085
Tokyo Sky
Super City cool
A recent addition to Johannesburg's nightlife scene, Tokyo Sky in Fourways is
inspired by Japanese pop culture. A sophisticated crowd comes for the
hi-tech sound system playing dance music, R&B and hip-hop. The club
also hosts Japanese anime cartoon exhibits.
E-mail this item
Address
Shop 32, Fourways View, Corner of Cedar Road & Witkoppen Road, Johannesburg 2191
Telephone
+27 (0)11 465 0704
Movida
Moulin Rouge entertainment
Chic ladies over 23 and men over 25 mingle at Movida, Johannesburg's
all-in-one club, cocktail lounge and theatre in Sunninghill. The
unmistakably Moulin Rouge décor extends to a full stage area, a raised VIP
lounge and a central dance floor.
E-mail this item
Address
Rivonia Crossing, Corner Rivonia Road and Witkoppen, Sunninghill, Johannesburg 2191
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 234 8000
Bassline
Live jazz and blues
With a capacious cinema-style auditorium and a fully equipped rehearsal room,
Bassline in Newtown hosts top jazz and blues performances by local and
international artists. The venue is also a good place for Kwaito music
(African rap) and hip-hop.
E-mail this item
Address
10, Henry Nxumalo Street, Johannesburg 2001
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 838 9145
Back o' the Moon
Fifties revival
Back o' the Moon in Ormonde is the successor of the famous Sophiatown jazz
club. Memorabilia from the original venue and live entertainment recall the
restless Fifties, while a dining room featuring an international menu adds a
modern touch.
E-mail this item
Address
Shop 17, Gold Reef City Casino, Northern Parkway Drive, Ormonde, Johannesburg 2091
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 496 1423
The Blues Room
Late-night blues and jazz
Subtle lighting, bare brick walls and music memorabilia make The Blues Room
in Sandton an attractive venue for blues and jazz performances. Dance in
front of the stage or enjoy the tunes over a fillet steak with generous side
dishes.
E-mail this item
Address
Shop L8, Village Walk, Corner of Rivona Road & Maude Road, Sandton, Johannesburg 2146
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 784 5527
Montecasino
Film, theatre and casino
Built in the style of a Tuscan hill-top town, Montecasino in Fourways is a
family-friendly entertainment centre. There are theatres, cinemas,
restaurants, a 5-star hotel and an enticing casino with more than 1700 slot
machines and several gaming tables.
E-mail this item
Address
Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways, Johannesburg
Telephone
+27 (0) 11 510 7000
