Adventure At Your Fingertips

Nine Yards: Joburg’s New Green Town Square

If you have driven along Jan Smuts Avenue between Rosebank and the Parks, you may already have noticed Nine Yards taking shape behind its leafy boundary. Spread across a collection of restored buildings in Parktown North, this new lifestyle precinct brings together food, coffee, art, fashion, fresh produce, wellness, and thoughtful local design.Johannesburg has no shortage of malls, restaurant strips, and mixed-use developments. Nine Yards takes a different approach. Rather than placing everything inside one large commercial building, it unfolds across nine adjoining properties and 13 adapted structures, connected by landscaped paths, mature trees, courtyards, and quieter garden spaces.The result feels closer to a small neighbourhood than a shopping centre. You can arrive for coffee, discover an exhibition, browse locally designed clothing, buy fresh produce, stop for lunch, and leave with gelato. Nothing requires a rigid itinerary, which is precisely what makes the precinct so easy to enjoy.Inside Nine Yards: What Makes This Spot Special?Nine Yards sits at 167 Jan Smuts Avenue in Parktown North, near the corner of Chester Road. Its position places it between Rosebank and Johannesburg’s leafy Parks suburbs, with Parkhurst, Parkwood, Dunkeld, and Craighall Park all within easy reach.The precinct officially launched in 2026 following a phased opening that introduced visitors to different parts of the development over several months. Its character comes partly from the decision to work with the buildings and landscape already on the site. Older residential structures have been adapted into shops, restaurants, studios, and galleries rather than being erased and replaced by an anonymous retail block.Existing trees and gardens soften the architecture, while bamboo-lined paths and courtyards encourage visitors to slow down. This is not a venue designed around moving customers past as many shopfronts as possible. It rewards wandering, doubling back, and following whatever catches your attention.Nine Yards has been described as a green town square, and that captures its purpose more accurately than calling it a mall. It is a place to meet, eat, browse, work, shop, exercise, and spend time outdoors, all within a relatively compact precinct.Where to Eat at Nine YardsFood is one of Nine Yards’ principal attractions, but the offering is broad enough to suit different visits. You can stop for a quick coffee, buy ingredients for dinner, settle in for a long lunch, or make dessert the sole reason for coming.Doppio BistrotDoppio Bistrot anchors the full-service restaurant offering with an all-day European-influenced menu and a wood-fired oven. It is suitable for breakfast meetings, relaxed family lunches, after-work drinks, and dinners that extend into the evening. The restaurant includes an outdoor area, making it particularly appealing during Johannesburg’s warmer months. It is also baby-friendly and wheelchair accessible.Salvation CaféSalvation Café brings a familiar Johannesburg name to Nine Yards. Known for coffee, breakfasts, and consciously prepared café food, it suits the precinct’s community-oriented atmosphere. This is the kind of stop that works whether you have twenty minutes or an entire morning. Order coffee before browsing the shops, meet a friend for breakfast, or use it as the starting point for exploring the rest of the precinct.Plato CoffeePlato Coffee provides a more focused option for visitors who are primarily interested in a well-made cup. Its presence adds to Nine Yards’ appeal as an early-morning meeting place, particularly for nearby residents, commuters, and visitors fitting coffee around errands or exercise.Zuney BurgerZuney Burger brings a more casual, indulgent option to the mix. It is a natural choice for an uncomplicated lunch or an easy meal with friends, particularly when nobody wants the formality of a full sit-down restaurant.Ti Amo DeliTi Amo Deli focuses on Italian comfort food and specialist deli products. It adds another layer to the precinct’s food offering by bridging the gap between eating on site and shopping for something good to take home.Gelato ManiaGelato Mania provides the logical final stop after lunch, but there is no reason dessert cannot be the main event. It is also an easy option for families and anyone looking for a quick treat while walking through the precinct.Food Shopping Beyond the Supermarket RoutineNine Yards is not only somewhere to eat. Several of its tenants make it possible to shop for ingredients with more care than a conventional supermarket visit generally allows.GardenFreshGardenFresh is one of the precinct’s most visually appealing spaces. Seasonal fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other fresh products are displayed in a greenhouse-style environment that makes food shopping feel less like an errand. Its selection places an emphasis on good-quality ingredients and thoughtful sourcing. Home cooks can build a meal around whatever looks best that day, while casual browsers may find themselves leaving with flowers, unusual vegetables, preserves, or ingredients they had not planned to buy.Sea & StreamSea & Stream adds specialist seafood to the precinct’s retail mix. Together with GardenFresh, the deli offerings, and other food-focused businesses, it allows visitors to assemble the foundations of a restaurant-quality meal without visiting a large shopping centre.The LokalThe Lokal strengthens Nine Yards’ emphasis on neighbourhood convenience and carefully selected products. Its presence helps make the precinct useful for repeat local visits, rather than positioning it exclusively as a once-off leisure destination.Local Fashion, Homeware, and DesignNine Yards has placed independent and locally oriented retailers at the centre of its identity. The result feels curated without becoming intimidating.Artclub and FriendsFounded on the principle of “by artists, for artists”, Artclub and Friends works with small South African manufacturers to produce unisex clothing. Its Nine Yards store is a strong stop for visitors interested in local fashion that sits outside the fast-fashion cycle. The clothing is contemporary and easy to wear, while the accessories offer a lower-commitment way to take something home.Something Good StudioSomething Good Studio is a Johannesburg-based textile design business producing small-batch pieces from natural fibres. Its blankets, knitwear, and homeware incorporate work developed through collaborations with local and international artists. The store adds colour and texture to the precinct, while demonstrating the kind of design-led local manufacturing Nine Yards appears keen to support.HoutlanderHoutlander is rooted in furniture, craft, and the careful use of materials. Its presence makes Nine Yards relevant to visitors interested in interiors and South African product design, rather than only food and fashion.& by Andticks& by Andticks offers books, journals, objects, and other pieces selected for their character and creative value. It is the sort of shop where browsing takes longer than expected because the objects have not been chosen merely to fill shelves.Jewellery and personal styleVerus Fine Jewellery, Paul Kurt, Wanderlust, and Goat of Bespoke extend the precinct’s fashion and lifestyle range. Collectively, they cover jewellery, distinctive clothing, accessories, and custom-made formalwear.This variety means Nine Yards can support deliberate shopping as easily as casual browsing. You may arrive looking for a particular item, but the precinct is better experienced with enough time to explore businesses you did not originally intend to visit.Contemporary Art at Nine YardsKumalo | Turpin gives contemporary art a permanent place within the precinct. The gallery focuses on emerging and underrepresented artists through exhibitions, residencies, and public programmes. Its presence prevents art from being treated as decorative background to the retail experience. Visitors can engage with an exhibition as part of an ordinary day out, without needing to plan a separate trip to a formal museum.That accessibility matters in Johannesburg, where galleries are often concentrated in districts that casual visitors may not explore spontaneously. At Nine Yards, art becomes part of the movement between coffee, shopping, lunch, and the gardens.Check the gallery’s current exhibition programme before visiting if art is your primary reason for going.Wellness and Everyday Self-CareNine Yards also incorporates exercise, beauty, and wellness businesses, making the precinct useful beyond weekend leisure.BODYTEC offers short, technology-assisted training sessions intended for visitors who want to fit exercise into a busy schedule. The Well brings a more intentional wellness component to the precinct, while hair, tattoo, and self-care businesses broaden the range of appointments that can be combined with coffee or shopping.This mixed-use character is important. A precinct built only around special-occasion restaurants can feel empty outside peak hours. Nine Yards’ combination of fitness, workspaces, services, food shopping, and hospitality gives people different reasons to return throughout the week.The Garden Is Part of the ExperienceThe GardenShop predates much of the surrounding precinct and remains essential to the character of the site. Its established greenery helped provide a natural foundation for Nine Yards’ identity. Plants are not simply decorative here. They shape the routes between buildings, soften the busier edges of Jan Smuts Avenue, and give the precinct a sense of separation from the surrounding traffic.This is one reason Nine Yards works well for slower visits. There are visual pauses between businesses, and the landscape prevents the experience from feeling like an uninterrupted row of retail units.Families should still supervise young children, and pet owners should confirm current policies with individual establishments before arriving.When to Visit Nine YardsEarly mornings suit coffee, breakfast, exercise, and fresh-produce shopping. The precinct tends to feel calmest at this time, making it a good option for a meeting or solo visit.Late mornings and lunchtime bring more energy, particularly on weekends. This is the best period for visitors who want to browse several shops, see the precinct fully active, and settle in for a meal.Friday and Saturday evenings belong more strongly to the restaurants. Doppio Bistrot trades later on these nights, making Nine Yards an appealing alternative to the busier restaurant strips nearby.Winter visitors should take advantage of sunny daytime hours, as Johannesburg temperatures can fall quickly once the sun disappears. During spring and summer, the gardens and outdoor tables become a much bigger part of the experience, although afternoon thunderstorms can change plans quickly.Parking and Practical InformationOn-site parking is available, which removes much of the uncertainty associated with visiting busy restaurant districts. Parking demand may still increase during weekend peaks and special events, so arriving earlier is sensible.Because different tenants maintain their own schedules, there is no single set of opening hours that applies to the entire precinct. Check directly with the restaurant, gallery, shop, or wellness business you plan to visit.Nine Yards includes accessible facilities and routes, but visitors with particular mobility requirements should confirm arrangements with their intended venue.Address: 167 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, JohannesburgParking: On-site parking availableWebsite: Nine Yards JohannesburgBest for: Coffee, breakfast, long lunches, local design, fresh produce, contemporary art, and relaxed weekend browsingIs Nine Yards Worth Visiting?Nine Yards succeeds because it does not behave like a conventional shopping centre. The precinct has enough structure to make a visit easy, but enough variety and greenery to preserve a sense of discovery.You can engage with it at whatever level suits the day. Stop for coffee and leave within half an hour, or move slowly through the gardens, shops, gallery, and restaurants over an entire afternoon. Nearby residents can use it for groceries, appointments, and regular meals, while visitors from elsewhere in Johannesburg will find enough to justify a dedicated trip.The most satisfying way to experience Nine Yards is not to over-plan it. Choose one anchor — a breakfast, lunch booking, gallery exhibition, or produce shop — and leave enough space around it to see what else you find.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is Nine Yards in Johannesburg?Nine Yards is a walkable food, retail, art, design, and wellness precinct in Parktown North. It spans nine adjoining properties and incorporates a collection of adapted buildings, gardens, paths, restaurants, and independent businesses.Where is Nine Yards located?Nine Yards is situated at 167 Jan Smuts Avenue, near Chester Road, in Parktown North. It lies between Rosebank and Johannesburg’s Parks neighbourhoods.Does Nine Yards have parking?Yes. On-site parking is available, although it may become busier during weekend lunch periods, launches, and special events.Is Nine Yards family-friendly?Several parts of the precinct accommodate families, and Doppio Bistrot is listed as baby-friendly. Parents should supervise children around paths, shops, restaurants, and landscaped areas.When is the best time to visit Nine Yards?Weekend mornings are best for coffee, breakfast, shopping, and browsing, while late afternoons and evenings suit drinks and dinner. Weekday mornings are generally calmer.

Something Smoked Roadhouse BBQ Brings a Taste of Texas to So...

A bright orange smoker, a family backyard, and the patience to cook a brisket for the better part of a day have turned Something Smoked Roadhouse BBQ into one of Soweto’s most distinctive food destinations.Operating from Chiawelo, Something Smoked is not a conventional restaurant with glossy interiors and a long list of table reservations. It is a small, independent smokehouse built around fire, flavoured wood, carefully selected cuts, and owner Mpho Nkomo’s determination to master a cooking style that was initially unfamiliar to many local diners.The result is Texas-style barbecue served in the heart of Soweto: brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, beef short ribs, chicken, smoked sausages, and other cuts cooked slowly until smoke, seasoning, fat, and time have done their work.From Boilermaker to Soweto PitmasterSomething Smoked’s story began after Nkomo was retrenched in 2019. Trained as a boilermaker, he initially pursued a custom furniture-making business, but the venture struggled and eventually closed.The setback pushed him towards another interest. Nkomo had long enjoyed working around a braai and became increasingly curious about the American tradition of smoking meat. Rather than cooking directly over intense heat, Texas barbecue relies on low temperatures, indirect heat, smoke, and considerable patience.His boilermaking background proved unexpectedly useful. In 2021, Nkomo designed and constructed his own smoker before beginning the long process of teaching himself how to use it. Mastering that process took time. Nkomo has been candid about the results of his earliest experiments. “My first brisket was so horrific that no-one could stomach it,” he told The Citizen.Instead of abandoning the idea, he continued experimenting with temperature, airflow, wood, seasoning, cooking time, and the behaviour of different cuts. Each unsuccessful attempt gave him more information about what the smoker was doing and how the meat responded. His technical background helped him understand the equipment from the inside out.That combination of curiosity, technical skill, and persistence transformed a homemade smoker in his grandmother’s Chiawelo yard into Something Smoked Roadhouse BBQ.This Is Not a Conventional BraaiSouth Africans understand meat cooked over fire, but smoking demands a different rhythm. A braai generally applies direct, relatively high heat, while American barbecue cooks tougher cuts slowly using indirect heat and flavoured smoke.“It’s not a braai, it’s very different,” Nkomo told The Citizen. That distinction is central to the identity of Something Smoked.Brisket can spend approximately 16 hours in the smoker before being rested. That time allows connective tissue to soften, fat to render, and smoke to develop the dark, seasoned crust known as bark around the outside of the meat.Ribs require their own balance. Cook them too little, and they remain tough. Take them too far, and they lose the texture that makes a properly smoked rib so satisfying. The goal is tenderness without turning the meat into something shapeless.For customers accustomed to quickly grilled meat, the difference is immediately apparent. Smoke is not simply added as a surface flavour. It becomes part of the cut, sitting alongside the seasoning and natural richness of the meat.What Is on the Menu?The menu varies according to availability and what has gone into the smoker for the weekend. Brisket is one of the main attractions, but the selection may also include pork shoulder, pulled pork, pork belly, ribs, spare ribs, beef short ribs, rib tips, chicken, turkey drumsticks, and smoked sausages. Some sausages are filled with cheese, while others lean towards classic pork flavours. Burgers may be built around brisket, pulled pork, or smoked beef cheeks, turning the usual fast-food format into something far more substantial.The sides follow the American barbecue theme. Depending on the weekend, customers may find mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, Mexican-style corn, pico de gallo, barbecue beans, or Texas caviar.The corn deserves particular attention. Nkomo’s take on Mexican esquites combines smoky, charred kernels with a creamy dressing, acidity, and chilli. A version of the recipe featured among Woolworths TASTE’s most popular recipes of 2025, demonstrating that the appeal extends beyond the meat.That commitment to American-style accompaniments is important. Something Smoked is not attempting to disguise shisanyama beneath American terminology. Nkomo has created a distinctly Texas-influenced barbecue experience, from the cooking process to the sides, while allowing its Soweto setting and community atmosphere to give the business its character.Slow Food Served FastBarbecue creates an unusual contradiction: the meal may be handed to the customer quickly, but its preparation began many hours earlier.Every weekend service represents substantial advance planning. Meat must be trimmed, seasoned, smoked, monitored, rested, portioned, and held correctly before the first customer arrives. Once a particular cut sells out, there is no practical way to prepare another brisket or pork shoulder on demand.That is why arriving early matters. Something Smoked has developed a following large enough for popular items, and sometimes the entire weekend’s offering, to sell out.The limited service also gives the experience some of its appeal. This is not mass-produced barbecue waiting under heat lamps throughout the week. The menu reflects what Nkomo and his team have been able to prepare properly for that service. It also means customers may not find every advertised cut on every visit. The best approach is to arrive with an appetite and a degree of flexibility. If the brisket has sold out, there may still be ribs, pulled pork, chicken, sausages, or a burger worth ordering.A Backyard Business With Serious AmbitionSomething Smoked’s setting is inseparable from its story. The business operates from a family property in Chiawelo, with the smoker and food service occupying the same environment in which Nkomo developed his craft.It feels personal because it is personal. Customers are not separated from the cooking process by a formal dining room or anonymous kitchen. The smoker, the aroma, and the person responsible for the food are all central to the visit.Family members have assisted during busy periods, and the surrounding community played a significant role in helping the business grow. Early customers first had to be convinced that smoked meat was meaningfully different from a braai. Today, diners travel from outside Soweto, and even beyond Gauteng, to try it.Nkomo's longer-term ambition is to develop Something Smoked into a fully fledged restaurant capable of serving more people, creating employment, and contributing further to the township economy. He has described that vision as building an “Amazon of BBQ”. It is an ambitious destination for an idea that began with a handmade smoker, a family driveway, and a great deal of trial and error.Why Something Smoked MattersJohannesburg has no shortage of places to eat meat. What makes Something Smoked notable is not simply the size of its platters or the tenderness of its ribs. It is the clarity of the idea behind the business.  Nkomo identified a cooking tradition that was not widely represented in Soweto, taught himself the technique, constructed his own equipment, and introduced the experience without diluting it into something more familiar.His journey also reflects a broader part of Johannesburg’s food culture. Some of the city’s most interesting meals do not emerge from established restaurant groups or expensive developments. They begin in home kitchens, yards, markets, and temporary spaces, driven by cooks who develop a loyal audience before they acquire a conventional restaurant.Something Smoked belongs to that tradition. It is an independent local business with a strong sense of place, but its food draws on techniques developed thousands of kilometres away. The combination feels neither copied nor forced. It feels like Soweto making room for another way of cooking over fire.The story also challenges assumptions about where specialised food experiences are supposed to exist. Diners looking for carefully prepared Texas-style barbecue do not need to head to an upmarket northern-suburbs restaurant. They can find it in a Chiawelo backyard, emerging from a smoker built by the pitmaster himself.What to Know Before You GoSomething Smoked Roadhouse BBQ is located on Chris Hani Road in Chiawelo, Soweto. The business has historically operated over the weekend, with service from Friday to Sunday, but days and times may change. Because the meat is prepared in limited quantities and popular cuts can sell out, visitors should confirm the latest operating hours, menu, and availability on the business’s social pages before travelling. Arriving early provides the best chance of finding brisket, ribs, and the full selection of sides.The setting is casual and closely connected to the original family property. Visit for the food and the experience rather than expecting the conventions of a formal restaurant. Patience may be required during busy periods, but patience is also the central ingredient behind everything coming out of the smoker.Address: 3344 Chris Hani Road, Chiawelo, SowetoContact: 071 112 4016Typical trading days: Friday to Sunday, subject to confirmationBest for: Brisket, smoked ribs, pulled pork, barbecue platters, and an informal weekend mealSomething Smoked Roadhouse BBQ proves that the distance between Texas and Soweto becomes considerably shorter when there is a skilled pitmaster, a well-built smoker, and enough time to let the meat cook properly.

Planning a Montecasino Night Out? These Spectacular Shows Sh...

From classical ballet and Afrikaans musical theatre to the feel-good energy of MAMMA MIA!, these are some of the upcoming Montecasino productions that theatre lovers can look forward to during the rest of 2026.There’s something about Montecasino that makes it feel different from an ordinary night out in Johannesburg. The moment you step beneath the indoor Tuscan-style piazza, with its painted sky, warm lighting, fountains, and bustling restaurants, it’s easy to lose track of time. What starts as a theatre booking often turns into dinner, drinks, dessert, and a leisurely stroll through one of Joburg’s most atmospheric entertainment destinations.That’s what makes Montecasino such a wonderful place for live performance. Whether you’re planning a date night, a girls’ night out, a family outing, or simply looking for a memorable evening away from the usual routine, these productions are among the highlights on Montecasino’s entertainment calendar for the rest of the year.Swan Lake7–23 August 2026Cape Ballet Africa’s spectacular production of Swan Lake comes to Teatro at Montecasino for a strictly limited Johannesburg season this August.One of the world’s most beloved classical ballets, Swan Lake combines breathtaking choreography, opulent staging, and the timeless story of Prince Siegfried and Odette. With its sweeping music, dramatic storytelling, and grand theatrical scale, this production promises an unforgettable evening for both dedicated ballet lovers and first-time theatre-goers.It’s the kind of performance that feels perfectly suited to Montecasino’s dramatic Teatro setting and offers a wonderful opportunity to experience world-class ballet in Johannesburg.Semi-Soet – Die Musiekblyspel4–20 September 2026Following its successful 2025 stage run, Semi-Soet – Die Musiekblyspel returns on a larger scale for a Teatro season this spring.Inspired by the beloved Afrikaans film Semi-Soet, which became a local favourite after its 2012 release, the story follows a driven advertising executive whose desperate attempt to save her struggling agency quickly spirals into unexpected romance, laugh-out-loud misunderstandings, and plenty of heartfelt moments along the way.With catchy original musical numbers, witty dialogue, colourful staging, and the kind of feel-good energy that made the original film so popular, Semi-Soet promises an entertaining night out for Afrikaans theatre lovers and musical fans alike. Its mix of humour, romance, and unmistakable South African charm makes it a perfect fit for a relaxed dinner-and-show evening at Montecasino.MAMMA MIA! The Musical16 October–22 November 2026The global phenomenon MAMMA MIA! returns to South Africa from 16 October 2026, bringing ABBA’s timeless music back to Teatro at Montecasino for another joyful Johannesburg season.Featuring favourites including Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, and Take A Chance On Me, the musical tells the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be who secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding in the hope of discovering which one is her father.The South African production stars Amra-Faye Wright as Donna Sheridan, alongside Samantha Peo as Tanya and Leah Mari as Sophie Sheridan. With its vibrant Greek-island setting, colourful staging, energetic choreography, and irresistible soundtrack, MAMMA MIA! promises the kind of uplifting theatre experience that leaves audiences smiling all the way home.Make an Evening of It at MontecasinoOne of the biggest reasons Montecasino remains such a popular entertainment destination is that the experience extends well beyond the theatre itself.Before the show, you can settle in for dinner at Casa Bella, Donatella’s, Calisto’s, or La Rosa. If cocktails, wine, and a more relaxed gastro-pub atmosphere are calling your name, Malt Barrel & Fire is a great pre-show option, while Fireroom offers one of Montecasino’s most dramatic dining experiences with its signature flamed sushi and steaks.For a slower afternoon before an evening performance, Flamingo Café overlooking the Montecasino Bird Gardens is a surprisingly peaceful escape from the city’s bustle.Because Montecasino also includes hotels, bars, cinemas, and the Bird Gardens within the same precinct, it’s easy to arrive early and stay long after the curtain comes down. That lingering, slightly dreamy atmosphere is part of what keeps people coming back.A Theatre Season with Something for Every Kind of AudienceFrom the grandeur of Swan Lake and the charm of Semi-Soet – Die Musiekblyspel to the irresistible energy of MAMMA MIA!, Montecasino’s theatre calendar offers a wonderful mix of ballet, local musical theatre, and internationally loved stage productions.Whether you’re planning a cultural evening, a celebratory night out with friends, or a relaxed dinner-and-show experience, Montecasino makes it easy to turn a performance into a full evening of entertainment, great food, and lingering under its famous painted sky long after the curtain comes down.Whether you arrive for Swan Lake, Semi-Soet, or MAMMA MIA!, don’t be surprised if you find yourself lingering long after the final curtain call, wandering the piazza, ordering one more coffee or cocktail, and wishing the evening didn’t have to end quite yet.