THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT JA NU ARY 6 2 013 YI E E E T A RY

lifejozilicious

11

ELL DO I remember the first time I ventured down the M1 South for a job interview in the inner city . These were pre-GPS times, and I was left in a mild panic after trying to navigate through all the one-way streets and the taxis and pedestrians competing for their share of the pavement. Since then, the CBD has undergone a transformation. While many Joburgers still keep their distance from the big bad inner city others flock to the eastern , CBD to visit Maboneng Sotho for place of light. Established in 2008, the precinct started with just one building, Arts on Main, a converted early-1900s warehouse which has since become a cultural hub known for its mix of restaurants, galleries and shops. Following this, Main Street Life was born, an urban living complex with a rooftop boxing gym, restaurant, hotel and bar. The Bioscope Independent Cinema resides here a 68-seat independent cinema aiming to increase the diversity of content. Open 7 days a week, you can expect to find anything from art house classics to animation. The 12 Decades hotel, on the 7th floor of Main Street Life, is a tribute to the rich history of Joburg and features rooms conceptualised by some of South Africas top artists and designers, including Love Jozi and Black Coffee. Maboneng is the brainchild of 29-year-old Jonathan Liebmann, founder of property developers Propertuity whose passion for ur, ban renewal is almost tangible. He walks the talk by living in the precinct and is focused on changing the way Joburgers think of and interact with the city centre. He bought his first property when he was 24, and hasnt looked back. Mabonengs popularity has skyrocketed in the past year, with the launch of its key drawcard the Market on Main, which runs every Sunday from 10am3pm and the first Thursday of each month from 7pm11pm. This is a food and design market, where stallholders display their produce, with the emphasis on local production. Markets seem to have become the trendy thing to do on weekends where everyone from pierced and tattooed hippies to high-heeled,

Tr endythe edgy upstairs market at Maboneng in the Joburg city centre

Safethe exterior of the Maboneng project in central joburg

and the wisdom of authentic healing systems. Open is another great spot within the Main Change. This is a collaborative city workspace, where members can rent a daily or monthly space which includes everything needed to run an office a desk, WiFi, printers and boardrooms at your disposal. Theres even an indoor putt-putt course and a gourmet coffee bar. Maboneng has helped build a community one where youll fit , right in regardless of who you are, where youre from, or what you stand for. It has also opened doors for fledgling entrepreneurs there are countless success stories stemming from the precinct, from the guy who went to sushi school and started Blackanese, a hip sushi and wine bar, to the girls from The Counter who have a stall at the market and are now making plans to open a shop. The inner city rejuvenation has only just begun 25 buildings still need to be developed as part of the Maboneng Precinct. If youre still eating breakfast in some Northern Joburg mall on a Sunday morning, you might just be on your own soon. Visit these websites: Maboneng: www.mabonengprecinct.com, www.cooninthecity.com, www.marketonmain.co.za, www.theopen.co.za Follow Hasmita on Twitter: @hasmita: email her on: info@joziliciousblog.co.za: or visit: her blog: www.joziliciousblog.co.za

HOT
fake-eyelash-wearing it girls brave the downtown streets on foot. There is no parkade in the precinct so youll have to park on the road, but with self-employed security guards on every corner and swarms of people, there is enough action to make you feel safe. You can taste Jozis finest, including Indian curries, fish and chips and boerie rolls. If youd prefer to do your tasting at home, there are many vendors selling artisanal breads, cheeses and pickles. Arrive at the market hungry and start with some crispy Asian spring rolls, then move on to the

spot
Discover a new side to the city at the Maboneng Precinct, a a writes Ha smita Na ir
Mexican stall for some cheesy nachos with salsa, and finally head to one of the plentiful cake stalls for a brownie or a red velvet cupcake. Wash that all down with some fine, raw hot chocolate. Once youre done, indulge in some retail therapy The upper deck . of the market offers fashionable South African clothing. If youd like to make a day out of it, visit The Main Change a building in the precinct offering a holistic spa and healing centre (Cocoon in the City), a health food rooftop caf (The Living Room), and a selection of fashion and fur-

T a stySome of the treats from a the food market

niture stores on the ground floor. Cocoon boasts the first infrared, bamboo-floored yoga studio in the country designed to help people work deeper into positions. When yoga classes are not happening, the studio is used for massages and other beauty treatments. Lastly they offer a revolutionary , approach to healthcare done by a registered GP integrating science ,

Tables with a view

HASMITHA NAIR

Rootson a game estate.

Sandton: This buzzing venue in the heart of Sandton attracts cougars and businessmen alike. The outside deck is the biggest youll find in Jozi, and the sunsets from the deck are quite spectacular. Views are less impressive; youll see the Sandton highrises but not much else. San Bar also offers a private enclosed bar area with no venue charge and free snacks. After sundowners, leave and go somewhere else for dinner the menu at the adjacent San restaurant is priced for tourists with underwhelming food. Tel: 011 780 5000 Visit: www.tsogosunhotels.com 2 The Westcliff, 67 Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff: Perched on the

W T he W estclifftrees and teas and breakfasts, too.

uppermost part of Parkview, this exclusive hotel has a few dining options. Id recommend high tea at the Polo Lounge (R245pp) or breakfast at La Belle Terrasse (R220pp). Neither comes cheap, but youll be treated to exemplary service with a view to match perfect for a special occasion. Once seated, youll be overwhelmed at the fact that Joburg has that many trees. The sight of the blooming jacarandas in spring and summer is special. Tel 011 481 6000 Visit www.westcliff.co.za 3 Roots, at Forum Homini: Situated in Magaliesburg on the Letamo Game Estate, about 30 minutes out of Joburg, this countrystyle restaurant has made it on to

T a a T he Sa n Ba r the place for sunsets.

tions, but if you call well in advance you should get a reservation for brunch (R295 pp) served in the intimate 30-seater dining room. Tel 011 544 6900 Visit www.emoyeniestate.co.za 5 Southern Sun Hyde Park Rooftop Bar, 1st Road, Hyde Park: In terms of after-work drinks on a Friday there is no bet, ter option. The view here is the best on this list. Service is slow and drinks arent cheap, but the outside pool deck where youll rub elbows with Jozis most beautiful people makes it all worth it. Order snacks off the sushi menu Best. Tempura. Prawns. Ever. Tel 011 341 8080 Visit www.tsogosunhotels.com

I KNOW that the title of this article alone is going to be met with a chuckle from Cape Town readers. No, we dont have a mountain, a beach or the winelands, but we do have the prettiest skyline in Africa. We Joburgers have two types of restaurants: the pavement type and the piazza type. One overlooks cars, the other overlooks other people. However, Jozis landscape means that there are a few places where you can take in a breathtaking view while enjoying a meal or a beer. Here are the top five Jozi dining spots with a view: 1 San Bar, Sandton Sun Hotel, corner Fifth and Alice streets,

the top restaurants in SA list a few times. You wont get a skyline view here, but you will marvel at the sheer mass of land around you. They only do set menus (wine pairings are optional), but can accommodate most dietary requirements. Their five-course weekend brunch (R210 a person) is a great way to start the day . Tel 011 668 7000 Visit www.forumhomini.co.za 4 Emoyeni Estate, 15 Jubilee Street, Parktown: Parktowns best-kept secret offers panoramic views of Northern Joburg with the rustic charm that youd expect to get from a house built in 1905. Emoyeni does a lot of private func-