Nightlife · Johannesburg · South Africa
Johannesburg nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Johannesburg, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ConstHill, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Johannesburg has South Africa's biggest nightlife scene, from amapiano lounges in Soweto and Sandton to Braamfontein rooftops and Melville's bar street. Evenings start with sundowners and run late at weekends. The main areas are Braamfontein, Melville 7th Street, Sandton and Rosebank, Soweto and Maboneng.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Melville
- Local drink
- Rooibos tea
Where to go out
Braamfontein
Rooftop bars, craft-beer spots and old-school pubs near Wits University, best in the early evening.
Melville 7th Street
A strip of bars and restaurants with a student and creative crowd and live music on some nights.
Sandton and Rosebank
Cocktail bars, hotel lounges and dressy clubs with a business and well-heeled crowd.
Soweto
Lounges and shisa nyama spots playing amapiano and house; go with a local host or guide.
Maboneng
Bars and small venues within the precinct, liveliest on weekend afternoons and early evenings.
Nightlife tips
- Use ride-hailing door to door at night, even for short distances.
- Amapiano, the South African house sound, dominates club playlists; Sunday afternoons are a big night out in Soweto.
- Dress codes are common at Sandton and Rosebank clubs; smart-casual clothes and closed shoes are a sensible default.
Evening sights
Architecture · Braamfontein
Nelson Mandela Bridge
Photograph it from the Braamfontein side in the early evening, and leave by car or ride-hailing rather than walking at night.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
What to drink
- Rooibos tea — A caffeine-free red tea from a shrub that grows only in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape, drunk plain or with milk and honey.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. January has the warmest evenings, with lows around 15°C (59°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 19:05 | 15°C (59°F) | 12 |
| April | About 17:52 | 10°C (50°F) | 6 |
| July | About 17:33 | 4°C (39°F) | 1 |
| October | About 18:14 | 12°C (54°F) | 8 |
Getting home late
- Ride-hailing — Uber and Bolt are widely used, reasonably priced and the standard way to get around for visitors, including at night.
- Bus — The Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system runs on dedicated lanes between Soweto, the CBD and Braamfontein, though most visitors find guided tours easier for Soweto.
- Walking — Walking works within Rosebank, Melrose Arch, Maboneng and parts of Braamfontein by day; avoid walking between areas or after dark.
Late-night bites
- Boerewors roll — Weekend markets such as the Rosebank Sunday Market, and stadium and roadside stalls.
- Kota — Takeaway counters in Soweto and across the city's townships; ask your guide for a favourite.
- Bunny chow — Indian restaurants in Fordsburg and curry houses across the city.
- Biltong and droëwors — Butcheries and dedicated biltong shops in malls; supermarkets sell vacuum-packed versions.
Staying safe at night
Street crime and smash-and-grab theft from cars at traffic lights are well-documented problems. Most visits are trouble-free if you use ride-hailing or the Gautrain, avoid walking between areas or after dark, keep valuables out of sight and visit the inner city and townships with a local guide.
- Emergency number
- 10111 (police), 10177 (ambulance), 112 from mobiles
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Melville
Melville, near the University of Johannesburg, is known for the bars, cafés and second-hand bookshops of 7th Street and its cheaper guesthouses. Melville Koppies nature reserve rises on its edge, and the area draws a student and creative crowd at weekends.
- Good
- Affordable guesthouses; Lively but small-scale nightlife; Close to green spaces
- Watch out
- Some streets feel deserted at night; Mixed upkeep
- Nearby
- 7th Street, Melville Koppies, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Johannesburg?
Braamfontein, Melville 7th Street and Sandton and Rosebank. Rooftop bars, craft-beer spots and old-school pubs near Wits University, best in the early evening.
+Which area of Johannesburg is best for nightlife?
Melville: Bohemian bars and guesthouses on and around 7th Street.