The Johannesburg banking district
Because of urban decay and crime, many Johannesburg locals were once likely to steer tourists away from the city’s central business district (CBD). However, in the wake of several ongoing inner-city regeneration initiatives, this is no longer the case.
Enveloping an area of 6km2, the CBD is home to the densest clustering of skyscrapers on the continent. It was most prosperous in the 1960s and 1970s but was also subject to the Group Areas Act under apartheid, resulting in fractured community growth. When businesses began to move away from the CBD in the 1980s and 1990s, it garnered a reputation for being unsafe.
Entrance to Mapungubwe Hotel. Photo courtesy Faircity
There has recently been a move toward reviving the CBD, and parts of it have emerged as trendy, secure and interesting places to explore. The area is now mainly home to businesses and large banking headquarters, many of which have evolved into sub-communities boasting their own restaurants and shopping centres.
The banking district of the CBD has built up a reputation for being clean, safe and worth a visit if you’re interested in exploring downtown Johannesburg. It offers opportunities to enjoy inner-city nightlife, as well as luxury accommodation and dining experiences.
In an effort to rehabilitate the area, previously abandoned and crumbling old buildings are being reawakened. Many of them are being transformed into luxury hotels and stylish apartment complexes – or a combination of the two. An example of this is Ashanti, a refurbished neoclassical brownstone and marble hotel situated in the middle of the banking district. Ashanti shares its location with the Darkie Café. If you’re in the mood for a sophisticated setting and some local flavour, take note. Expect to dine in style and choose from a host of gourmet, South African-themed menu options, including samp and beans, “Soweto chicken” and chakalaka.
The Mapungubwe Hotel opened to the public in 2007, setting a four-star example for other accommodation ventures in the area. The building was once the French Bank and is home to an aptly named cocktail bar, the Vault, which lies beneath upmarket restaurant Twist, and is an ideal venue to rent out for private parties.
If a guided tour appeals to you, Themba Day Tours and Safaris offers half- and full-day city tour packages, as well as the opportunity to customise tours, which pass through downtown and inner-city Johannesburg.
Contact details
Twist and the Vault at the Mapungubwe Hotel
Tel: +27 (0)11 838 8128
Physical address:
50 Ferreira Street (corner of Anderson and Marshall streets)
Johannesburg
The Darkie Café at Ashanti
Tel: +27 (0)11 492 1556
Physical address:
10 Anderson Street
Johannesburg
Themba Day Tours and Safaris
Tel: +27 (0)11 463 3306