This small, and very unassuming store might just be the one place I recommend any foreigner go to get a good present to take back to their country. All crafts in the store are handmade, so one of a kind, and nothing you’ll see anywhere else in the world. That being said, african crafts are made everywhere. So what makes this place any different? The best way to put it is that all products are far more innovative and original than other craft products. Every craft market is different, but eventually  you’ll start seeing enough wooden animals and marble figurines. After this being said, all products have interesting sense of style. A fashion consciousness that says more than “I went to africa and bought this”.

find everything from home ware, jewelry, and clothing, with the added bonus of all proceeds going back into the pockets of those making the crafts. and as a result, Imbali are calling the whole business model a “visual literacy project”.

Tues – Sun 10am till 5pm. Museum Africa. 121 Bree Street. 

+27 11 833 5624 ext 221  or +27 11 492 3333.

082 470 6374

Arts on Main is one of the slowly emerging smaller success stories of the new and improved Johannesburg City. Its an old warehouse from the 1900’s thats been renovated to become artists studios, a restaurant, deli’s and even an open air cinema in the summer time. It certainly is a space to watch, and know how to find. The moment world renown artist William Kentridge signed his lease there, the place took off.

here’s a link to the site

For restaurant reservations at Canteen contact Matthew on 083 3999 740 or canteen.245@iafrica.com

Arts on Main Admin : 011 334 1054 / 079 183 4283 : artsonmain@gmail.com

If Jobusy had to have a cool older brother, who not only knew everything, but was also a cool guy, The Joburg Book would be it.

It was the first of its kind in a way, although many book have been published about the city, none have had the style and design of The Joburg Book. The second big reason it stand out is that its packaged and available at a relatively cheap price.  A book of that size, with that much amount of info, archival photography, and high end design work, could have demanded 500 ronds and above, but instead came in about at about R200 odd.

Great as a coffee table book, every time I flick through it, I learn something amazing about Johannesburg. Get it in most decent book stores, if the smaller ones fail an Exclusive Books should definitely have a copy.

In any “normal” city, the development of Melrose Arch might have been on any random city square. The streets would belong to the people, and they would pass through as they please. But since Johannesburg isn’t that normal, we have to understand the interesting context in which Melrose Arch sits. It all private property, so the interlinking roads are not public property. Its effectively a little self enclosed little city block. But, most importantly, its not trying to look like a tuscan village, so that redeems itself almost completely. It keeps expanding, so the formula is working. My little dream is that it one day lets exterior guards down and emerges more as a party of the city, as opposed a little city within a city. Check out the Mediterranean Market on saturdays.

Inside the development are some quality restaurants and bars that deserve to be taken seriously.