Illovo

Conveniently located between Johannesburg’s business hubs Rosebank and Sandton, the leafy suburb of Illovo boasts of loads of apartments blocks, cafes and trendy restaurants. Its attraction to young professionals and its nearby distance to upmarket Melrose Arch has quickly made Illovo one of the most lively and upcoming neighbourhoods Johannesburg.

Sample trendy latenight hangouts Illovo Junction is a magnet for Johannesburg’s hipsters with a collection of quirky bars and cafes that spill out onto the street. Perron is a neon-bright Mexican restaurant known for its margaritas, or if coffee and cake is more to your tastes there is the vintage-styled Wolves cafe with live music every Thursday evening or try the old-fashioned Greek taverna Parea.

Craft beer aficionados can usually be found at The Griffin gastro-pub which has a huge selection of local and international craft beers and a tasty pub grub menu, and in the early hours the Andiccio 24’s late night pizzeria attracts the night owls. Enjoy the sweeter things in life The Patisserie is an iconic cafe providing heaps of sweet treats and calm from the busy city shuffle.

Expect cupcakes and quiches served on fine china accompanied by silver teapots. Belle’s Blubird Patisserie on the corner of Athol Oaklands is an award-winning boutique cafe offering an incredible variety of both the savoury and sweet. Famous for their over the top red velvet wedding cakes, there is always something to ogle at Belle’s.

Just down the road from Belle’s, Wolves Cafe is also a must-do when visiting Illovo. Famous for their red velvet cupcakes and free wifi, be sure to browse the shop for their incredible curios, jewellery and artworks from local artists and designers. Watch cricket at the wanderers A visit to a cricket match at the Wanderers Stadium (nicknamed ‘the bullring’) is a must for any fan of the sport, having been the location for some of the greatest victories (and defeats) in international cricket.

If you prefer to be on the field yourself the Wanderers Club has football pitches, a cricket oval, bowling greens, tennis courts and a running track and if golf is your game the Wanderers Golf Club is said to be the friendliest golf club in Johannesburg.