Drop Me Off At The Top
Sandton's very own spire of a building, The Leonardo, has officially been granted its very own cherry on top. Sitting comfortably at 234 meters above busy Maude Street, Alto 234 is a luxury bar and tapas lounge with a twist. The space boasts 360-degree views over one of the most wooded cities in the world. Serving only the world’s finest when it comes to drinks and bar tapas, this is truly one of the most aspirational and exclusive places for epicureans in South Africa to be.
Offering a variety of experiences, Alto234 provides guests and tourists an opportunity to capture the amazing sights of Johannesburg at different times of the day – west to the Magaliesberg mountain range, north to the Voortrekker Monument, south to the once home of Nelson Mandela, and east to the planes taking off at OR Tambo International Airport. The space can accommodate up to 100 people across seven seating areas, each with its own unique view of the city below.
The kicker is, you need to reserve a time slot and pay a R300 (at the time of writing) entrance fee. Now before you call that steep, we need to cover a couple of things. You are paying for an experience - not just a ride in a very fast lift. Your entrance includes a glass of Moët & Chandon which already costs the amount you're paying, give or take. Once you get to the top of The Leonardo, it will all be worth it. It is as if time slows down and you quite literally see the world from a different perspective. It brings about a slice of tranquility; somehow everything is put into perspective. It's like taking a few steps back from a work of art to truly appreciate it. That's what Alto234 is.
With that hard-and-fast introduction out of the way, let's dig into the foundation of Alto234, shall we?
Alto234 Is A World Of Its Own
In celebration of its opening, Moët & Chandon gifted Alto234 with a special edition package. Delivered up to the 57th floor in grand champagne-style via helicopter, Joburg tongues have been wagging about what could be inside the box.
Revealed on social media, the package was a limited edition Moët Mini Machine, which will offer guests the opportunity to experience French savoir-faire at its finest. Using Moët & Chandon tokens, guests can order Moët Mini 200ml bottles with golden sippers, right out of the machine at the perfect temperature. Without a doubt, it’s the most innovative champagne service in Africa, and exclusive to Alto234.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doYI4zTc0ds
Food & Drink
The bar and food offering is catered by the award-winning
AURUM Restaurant and what they have to offer is nothing short of sublime. Bar snacks such as wagyu biltong and peri-peri cashews can be found on the menu. The one thing that we absolutely must add is that the food and drink prices on the menu are affordable and justify the R300 entrance fee (which comes with a complimentary glass of Moët). The tapas menu is just as exciting. A must-try is the soft shell lentil tacos - swap out the soft shell for the hard if that's your thing, either way, it's incredibly tasty and pairs well with a glass of champagne... but let's be honest, a lot of things pair well with a glass of good bubbly.
The wine list includes the best on offer from across the globe, as well as familiar favourites from the local Cape Winelands. The cocktail list is fun, refreshing, trendy and edgy with the right amount of sophistication. On top of that, the drinks menu brags with a long list of local and international gins and spirits too.
Conclusion
So, is Alto234 worth the entrance fee? Of course, it is! The view is breathtaking, the hospitality on point and the food and drink menu priced affordably. There is just one thing we need to add. Make sure you bring something warm. Even on the hottest of days in Joburg, it can get quite chilly up there. The wind can be a pain too. But, hey it's worth it. We recommend you try and get a booking for the sunset timeslot - it's beyond beautiful. We're sure you've not seen a sunset quite like an Alto234 sunset.
For More Information
For more information about Alto234, visit their website at
www.alto234.co.za.
You can contact Alto234 at
[email protected] or on
011 806 6888.
Don't forget to give Alto234 a follow or like on
Facebook and
Instagram.
