Originally, my purpose of going to Johannesburg this past weekend was to see my best friend Fifi and help her move into her new place. 48 hours later and I must admit we did no moving whatsoever. Instead, we went on an urban safari of the City of Gold. When you have great company, you will always be guaranteed a fun time, be it in the epicenter of a hotspot or just chilling out in front of the telly at home. We had an amazing weekend, and only got to bed after 4am, catching up and keeping up with love, life, friends and everything else.
Melville
Melville
We visited the famous 7th Avenue in Melville, which is aligned with coffee shoppes, boutiques, cocktail bars and poet's lounges, second-hand book stores and art galleries. The vibe is ageless, artsy and liberal. It's a bohemian village where an eclectic crowd gather - actors, hippies, Rastas, artists, muso's, young blood and old money; you will find them all here. This is a cultural hub where anything goes and you're free to 'be' exactly who you want to be without any pretenses or judgement. We had daiquiris over sunset at the Lucky Bean café, which had a cool 3-D tree mural covering the walls (pictured above right).
Grand Central Café
For supper, it was suggested we try out Grand Central Café at Melrose Arch Piazza. The elegant and trendy decor has a distinct New York feel about it. We were greeted by twinkling fairy lights on the deck outside. I was thankful that they had outdoor heaters, because it was quite chilly. The menu was extensive but uninteresting. The five of us settled for tramezzeni's, pasta and pizza. The waiter also brought us mushroom risotto, confusing it with ricotta - very strange. They do make some good fries though. ;)
Leeyas Boutique
If you're not into commercial brands and chain stores, Leeyas Boutique should be at the top of your list. They have moved into a newly revamped and much bigger store in Central Road, Fordsburg. The glamourous decor makes for an aesthetically pleasing shopping experience, with damask wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, an FTV monitor and spacious change rooms (pictured bottom left). Aren't the lights cute? I like that it isn't cluttered and the rails are well spaced out, it makes browsing much easier.
Leeyas stocks beautiful pieces of clothing that transcend contemporary fashion. Instead of fading trends, you will find unusual one-of-a-kind tops in vibrant prints, as well as vintage-inspired dresses in creamy pastels. They also stock stunning clutches and handbags. The prices are very reasonable and you can be assured not to clash with anyone else, seeing that sizes and quantities are limited. I would highly recommend that you stop by if you're ever in Joburg. For more information, contact (011) 838 2786.
That was a snippet of my weekend away - before my camera battery gave up on me (Note to self - next time do not forgot the charger!). I hope you had a fabulous one too!