Why Rosebank is fast becoming the ultimate cosmopolitan hub for travellers
Rosebank is proving itself to be a hub for travellers looking for a cosmopolitan taste of the city in a precinct that’s as walkable as it is vibrant
Whether it’s the easy Gautrain access from the airport or the simple fact of being slap-bang in the geographic centre of Johannesburg, Rosebank is proving itself to be a hub for travellers looking for a cosmopolitan taste of the city in a precinct that’s as walkable as it is vibrant.
For many locals — and tourists — the upscale malls of Rosebank make it a prime destination for retail therapy, and you’ll find global brands alongside niche sneaker stores and bespoke tailors.
The SOKO District is especially worth a visit. This innovative business incubator aims to grow fledgling décor and design entrepreneurs, and shoppers can browse a range of start-up brands that may not otherwise have had the financial clout for a bricks-and-mortar mall presence.
Rosebank has equally stamped its claim as the culinary capital of Johannesburg, with a clutch of restaurants bagging the awards and — more importantly — the appetite of hungry locals.
Marble certainly deserves a mention here, and chef-patron David Higgs certainly isn’t one to rest on his laurels. The restaurant enjoyed a subtle yet fundamental renovation last year, overseen by the Marble Group interior director Irene Kyriacou.
But it’s not all fine dining. At Modern Tailors, tuck in to contemporary cuisine built on flavours of the Indian subcontinent. Whether it’s the perfect samosas to start, or the fragrant Sri Lankan curries, you’ll rarely go wrong. Also in The Zone is the colourful and eclectic MAMASAMBA, plating up a taste of Latin America. It’s the latest outing from Gaz Hollywood and Jo Dos Passos, the restaurateurs behind the restaurant and cocktail bar Proud Mary, just around the corner.
Proud Mary is also where you’ll enjoy breakfast if you’re staying at voco The Bank Johannesburg, the first African address for this upscale brand in the global IHG portfolio. The 131 rooms and suites channel a subtle Art Deco glamour with a side order of sustainability, with fine linens by the Better Cotton Initiative and bespoke plant-based bathroom amenities from Antipodes.