Melville
It’s one of the few places in Johannesburg that has a restaurant and café street life, so if you want to escape the ubiquitous city mall culture, then Melville, with its terrific location close to town, is the place to be.
The lively suburb of Melville, west of Johannesburg, is known for its down to earth meets trendy, coffee shop vibe – and its bustling nightlife. More like a café-style village lined with quirky shops, bistros, restaurants and clubs, peppered with a cultural mix of art and antique dealers, clothing and beading shops, Melville has become famous among locals and visitors as not to be missed for a night out in Gauteng.
The suburb lies at the foot of Melville Koppies, a nature reserve and Johannesburg City Heritage Site. It is the last conserved remnant of Johannesburg’s ridges as they were before the discovery of gold in 1886, and its geology is 3-billion years old.
There are restaurants and bars aplenty. Start at the bottom of the street with Lucky Bean, a haven of local South African bistro cooking, make your way to the top via Xai Xai Lounge, all the way to Nuno’s that specialises in Mozambican cuisine, with plenty in between to suit all tastes, such as Café de la Créme – Melville’s top-class Greek/Turkish coffee shop that offers delicious pastries and sweet treats.
Melville is a photographers paradise.