Hi, I’m Andrew Cleland from Melville in Johannesburg.
Melville IS BEST KNOWN FOR its vibrant night life, trendy coffee shops and variety of eating joints.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT 4th Ave, between 7th & 8th Street, because there is a great view of the Joburg skyline in the background.
THE BEST daytime PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN AT anyone of the following spots – the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, the Johannesburg Zoo, Melville Koppies, or stop at The Westcliff for High Tea.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT The Hillside House, in our lovely indigenous garden.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO attend a music concert at Emmarentia Dam. Emmarentia and the gardens date back to 1886 and the dam is a home to geese, moorhens, canoeists and kayakers!
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO have a hearty meal at The Ant. This Italian eatery has a Bohemian edge to it and serves very tasty pizzas. The address is 11 7th Street.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS all year around, BECAUSE Melville is the funkiest place in Jozi.
MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS the Service Station at the Bamboo Centre. This restaurant and deli is clean and bright and decorated in a minimalist style. Lunches are inspired by the Mediterranean while breakfast dishes are more conventional. Also on sale are cheeses, olives, breads, imported biscuits, teas and olive oils.
FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST Picobella. This is a heavenly place serving traditional Italian fare. The menu is well priced and booking is recommended. You’ll find Picobella at 66 4th Avenue.
MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS Lucky Bean, TRY THE fillet with Bernaise. The menu is contemporary and the restaurant has a great vibe, attracting diners from all over Johannesburg. Lucky Bean is at the bottom end of 7th Street.
BEST LATE NIGHT SNACK FROM Catz Pyjamas. This establishment is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – so you can rest assured you’ll get your last night snack here! The address is 12 Main Road in Melville.
FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN TRY the whole of 7th Street. The street is home to a number of smaller bars and restaurants so you can take your pick from many.
IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO 7th Street.
Melville’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS is the sunset at Picobella. The view from the steps is magical – make sure you get there early and nab a table outside.
MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS to meet for weekend brunch or sundowners. In Melville we are spoilt for choice of where to go.
FOR SOME LIVE MUSIC, I LIKE TO GO TO The Bo.
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO take a walk on the Melville Koppies. The Koppies is a Nature Reserve and Johannesburg City Heritage Site. The vegetation of the area is entirely indigenous and is rich in highveld grasses, flowers and trees.
MY FAVOURITE WALK IS at Emmarentia Dam. The park is open from sunrise to sunset and the main entrance is on Olifants Road.
MY FAVOURITE book SHOP IS in the Bamboo Centre.
MY FAVOURITE people WATCHING SPOT IS the Woolworths Cafe at Campus Square.
IF YOU’RE HERE at the end of January, JOIN IN THE FUN AT The University of Johannesburg RAG procession.
MY FAVOURITE GALLERY IS the Thompson Art Gallery on 4th Avenue.
MY FAVOURITE BUILDING IS the Service Station, FOR ITS inspiring use of old space.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS eating at Bambani and watching the kids revel on the giant jungle gym. Of course the Johannesburg Zoo is always a fun place for the whole family.
BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS feeding the ducks at Emmarentia Dam.
WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT, I LIKE TO visit Gold Reef City theme park with the kids. The theme park has loads of things to entertain and amuse the whole family.
THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I SEE HERE IS the great mix of people from all walks of life who live, work and dine in Melville.
MY FAVOURITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IS the Pilanesburg, with its game parks and The Valley of the Waves.
WHEN I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I contribute to the Melville resident’s Association – helping to keep Melville safe and clean.
There is never a dull moment, with so much to see and experience within Melville and the surrounding areas. There are loads of tourist attractions close by, such as the SAB World of Beer, The Apartheid Museum, The Market Theatre & the Origins Centre. Wits University and the University of Johannesburg are close by and Wanderers is a short drive should you be attending a sporting event.
I Love Melville Because it thrives on being a caring community. It’s a great place to meet friends. It’s vibey and funky and everything is available close by. It is also very central and visiting other parts of Johannesburg is a breeze.
Useful Melville Links
- Melville Attractions
- Melville Accommodation
- Things to Do in Melville
- Hotels in Melville
- Hotels in Johannesburg
- Hotels in South Africa
Desirable Digits
The Ant – +27 (0)11 726-2614
Service Station Restaurant and Deli – +27 (0)11 726-1701
Picobella – +27 (0)11 482-4309
Lucky Bean – +27 (0)11 482-5572
Catz Pyjamas – +27 (0)11 726-8596
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Melville was a pleasant surprise. Even after being in SA for a year, I had heard and seen nothing but negativity about Joburg and especially the CBD. To find such a cheerful and vibrant place in the heart of the city was really nice. I very much liked the bookstores and the antique shops. Potato skins from Catz Pyjamas were really innovative.