In recent years, Braamfontein has undergone massive regeneration. As such, this former hub of sports, leisure and business, has regained its status as one of the best entertainment hotspots in the city. Whether you're after the quiet refinement of an art gallery, a soothing jazz session or a nightclub rave, Braamfontein is sure to have a place for you to hang out. So, let's get busy exploring all that this quirky suburb has to offer.
What Are You Looking For?
Nightclubs and Bars
Galleries and Theatres
Sightseeing tours
Nightclubs and Bars
Republic of 94
Republic of 94 is one of the largest bars and event venues in Braamfontein. With a 20m long bar and ample space to dance the night away, this is the place to be on a Friday night in Braam. Republic of 94 regularly hosts popular DJs over weekends, drawing in the student crowds and fun seekers from around Joburg. Give their Elderflower and Cucumber G&T a try the next time you visit. Or, sample an imported beer paired with their famous sticky ribs. It's an absolute must.
Kitchener's Carvery Bar
Kitchener's Carvery Bar at the Milner Park Hotel is Joburg's second oldest operational bar. This rich history, combined with its notoriety for hosting all night parties, makes it one of the top destinations for a Friday night jol in Braamfontein. Kitchener's prides itself on having an incredibly progressive and varied music policy. This applies to their admissions policy, too. Anyone and everyone is welcome here, so bring your friends along for an epic night out.
Visit Kitchener's Carvery Bar.
Great Dane
The Milner Park Hotel is also home to one of Braamfontein's party landmarks, Great Dane. Famed for its gourmet hotdogs, open air courtyard and awesome late night events, Great Dane transforms itself from a casual daytime restaurant to a pulsating nightclub by nightfall. Stop by for a leisurely lunch or get all dolled up and visit under the cover of darkness. Either way, you're sure to have a great time.
Visit Great Dane.
Artivist and Untitled Basement
How about an art gallery, restaurant, bar, live music venue and coffee shop all in one? Artivist and Untitled Basement offers a space for creatives to meet, chat and chill. Come through to enjoy impromptu jazz performances, great food and beer on tap. Artivist and Untitled Basement represents what Braam is all about - an amalgamation of cultures, styles, cuisines and people coming together to celebrate the best that life has to offer.
Visit Artivist and Untitled Basement.
Untitled Basement.
Galleries and Theatres
Joburg Theatre
The Joburg Theatre complex stands as an icon of the Braamfontein arts and culture scene. Formerly known as the Civic Theatre, this is one of Joburg's largest theatre houses. The main venue at Joburg Theatre seats up to 1000 audience members, and hosts the quarterly Joburg Ballet productions, large scale operas and Janice Honeyman's annual pantomime. The Peoples Theatre also forms part of the Joburg Theatre complex. For over 20 years, this dedicated children's theatre has delighted little ones with its whimsical stage productions. If you've never visited the Joburg Theatre complex, do so as soon as possible. It's an experience you don't want to miss out on.
The Alexander Theatre
The Alexander Theatre was built in the early 1950s, Braamfontein's original heyday. It later fell into disrepair, as the suburb faced mass dilapidation. However, thanks to the clever innovation of local developers, Play Braamfontein, the Alexander has been restored to its former glory in recent times. The theatre celebrated its grand re-opening with a production of RENT, welcoming back audiences to its pristine Broadway-esqe 550-seater auditorium. The Alexander Theatre is now a leading multi-dimensional event venue, hosting concerts, award ceremonies, talent shows, exhibitions, weddings and conferences.
Kalashnikovv Gallery
An art gallery located with a shopping centre? That's right. The Kalashnikovv Gallery is situated within the popular 70 Juta Street retail precinct. Here, you will find a stunning collection of contemporary art by some of the country's brightest upcoming painters, sculptors and photographers. This is the perfect spot to unwind after a marathon shopping trip around Braam or in between lunch dates. The gallery also hosts regular events in collaboration with the WITS School of Digital Arts and the WITS Art Museum, so be on the lookout for happenings on their Facebook page.
Visit the Kalashnikovv Gallery.
WITS Art Museum
The WITS Art Museum boasts one of the largest curated displays of fine art and sculpture from the African continent and the diaspora. The museum also recently unveiled the Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts - an exciting display of Ginsberg's astounding collection of artworks in the form of books, rather than books about art. The WITS Art Museum runs school tours and is open to the public between 10:00 - 16:00 from Tuesday to Saturday.
WITS Art Museum.
Sightseeing Tours
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is one of the most important historical sites in Johannesburg. As a former holding block for political prisoners and now the seat of the Constitutional Court, this is definitely one of Braamfontein's best attractions. You can take a quick one-hour highlights tour or a full two-hour tour, guided by the museum's curators. There are also numerous special tours on offer, including the night tour, time travel tour, walk with Madiba tour, art and justice tour and a tour of the Constitutional Court. Bookings can be made on Webtickets.
Braam Urban Art Tour
Braamfontein is well known for being the graffiti capital of Johannesburg. But this is so much more than paint on walls. Braam's urban art scene is as intriguing as anything you would find hung on a wall in a gallery or museum. Come and experience Braam like you never have before with Past Experiences tour company. Their Braam Urban Art Tour takes you on a foot journey through the suburb to see a number of commissioned public artworks and the lesser appreciated street art murals and graffiti walls. It's certainly an awakening experience, so don't miss out.
Visit Past Experiences' Braam Urban Art Tour.
Braam by Bike
The City of Johannesburg introduced bicycle lanes to Braamfontein's streets a few years ago, welcoming in a new bike culture never seen in this part of the city before. But, if you're weary of going for a ride on your own, join Once Travel for their Braam by Bike tour experience. This 5-hour bike tour takes you on a journey through old and new Braamfontein, to uncover the public street art, local cuisine and history of the precinct, among other jewels. It's an intense adventure, but well worth the effort.
Visit Once Travel's Braam by Bike tour.
Come and explore Braamfontein by bike with Once Travel.
Something Chilled
We know that sometimes you are just seeking for something that is not too out there, not too boring but somewhere in between. And we thought, why not give you just what you want. We looked, far and beyond around the city for the perfect ladies night out spots for you. .. The chilled spots of course.
Hell's Kitchen
“Be naked when I get home”... If you are indeed looking for an awesome place to go to and if it’s chilled vibes you’re after, then this is the place ladies! Hell’s Kitchen has that New York feel, you’ll be feeling like a true New Yorker in no time. Plus, it will be you and the ladies I’m pretty sure you’ll feel like you are the Sex and The City squad, because New York vibes babes! You can also look forward to excellent food and drinks. They also have live music on weekends, a saloon-style menu, an impressive selection of wines, whiskeys, drinks and cocktails and a secret poker room behind the bookcase.
Marabi Club
Okay ladies now let’s get in formation, prove to us you’ve got some coordination. Yasss queens! Yes we did just burst into a Beyonce song because your girl Bey has been to the Marabi Club and we just want to be where Bey has been. So, we thought you would too. It seems like we are giving you some New York vibes because even the Marabi Club gives you that Harlem Renaissance, with the best in jazz music and the whole experience which is out of this world.
The Bannister Hotel
Trying to keep your promise and make it to the ladies night out with your girlfriends, but still need to squeeze in a quick deadline for work? This is the perfect spot to chill, eat, stay, work and play. Which mood are you in today? Whatever you want they got it!
Where Else Can You Go?
You know we at Joburg.co.za have your back always right. So, we have compiled a few ideas of The Ultimate Girls/Boys Nights Out, something for the girls and of course the boys as well. Make sure your visit this article to also find a few ideas of where to go to around the city. We’re here for the hook up.
Something Wild
"Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed, maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with.” - Carrie
Craving for a rather wild night out with the girls? Been a mom for the longest time, and finally you have time to yourself? Then, we think you’ll appreciate a wild night out with the girls. The nanny is here, she’ll watch the kid’s let’s go Nancy! We’re gonna have mad fun! Living young, wild, and free, okay let’s not get ahead of ourselves maybe not too wild, just enough!
Great Dane Braam
First up on our list is none other than Great Dane, need we say more? We think not, you already know being around Great Dane you’ll leave with amazing wild memories. And the ladies will be down for this one as we are. Let’s waste no time let’s go! Just don’t dance on table tops Felicia, or we will bid you goodbye!
The Kitchener's
Just next door to Great Dane is one of the coolest vibey bar in town, the one and only Kitchener’s. It is an old fashioned local pub by day and dance club by night. They serve amazing European foods, offering burgers, slap chips, sandwiches and light meals. So, for that extra fun time with the girls make sure you check this place out. Plus you can pub crawl from bar to bar on the same street. Cause it’s hip and happening around this street.
Where Else Can You Go?
To also check out where you can go wild around the city, be sure to check out the Best Spots For A Girls’ Night Out list we compiled for you. You will love and so will your girls. There’s plenty to do around the city, the nights are always young and so are you. Because baby you’re magic and you deserve a drink for being able to muscle being a girlfriend, a friend, a mom, a daughter, a wife, and a care-giver over all. And this one’s for you! You will have fun, we swear on Chanel.
If You Decide To Stay In
Okay okay, sometimes some of us want to be homebodies and the thought of going out is pretty tasking so we choose to be indoors, because comfort! And chilling with the ladies in our pjs for all the homebodies sounds more ideal, and saves some of that coin too. Sometimes, you want to leave the guys at home, get your girl gang together and just have a night out on the town… are you nodding along? Great, but where to go? Check out our top picks!
Binge Watching The Bachelor
This is something my friends and I enjoy doing because we get to see girls in beautiful dresses walk in welcomed by of course a handsome bachelor, and we already pick our favourites and hoping that they make it to at least meeting the parents and even get married. To make it even more fun, we like betting on who is going to win the bachelor’s heart, so quick money you see.
Some Pizza and Wine Would Do Please.. Or Even Tequila!
Okay now that the kids are at their grandparents place we think it is well deserved for us to head to Susan's house because we all know she has plenty of wine and we could just order some pizza because YOLO! OMG we are such rebels.
Try Out New Recipes
I don’t know about you ladies, but I am always motivated to stand up and cook when my friends come over at my place, and it’s always amazing when we try out new recipes together. This is also said to be one of the biggest contributors to a stronger bond.
Nothing Beats A Spa Night In
So, we’ve all had a long day and what we really want to do is get home, link up with the girls and just be lazy together. Do our nails, toes, and even a massage or two. Slice up some cucumbers, get that avo masks and face scrubs ready. Turn on the volume to that calming music, I prefer Jhene Aiko’s music. It’s time to reboot and restart ourselves.
You Have 30 Seconds!
Some board games would do, especially if you are the competitive bunch. It’s always good having a child-like kind of fun and just having a good laugh with the girls. Plus, we know we all need a laugh or two because adulting is pretty hectic so having innocent fun can make one’s day.
Have any ideas for a Ladies' Night Out kind of vibe? Comment down below!