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NIGHTLIFE

BEHIND BARS Inner-city hotel bars that are causing a stir

Although they’re often highly underrated, hotel bars usually have an amazing selection of drinks, impeccable service and unbeatable vibes. Whether you’re longing for a zesty glass of cab sav or just a refreshing beer, we’ve handpicked the best hotel bars in the city for an unforgettable tipple.

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hotel and offers unparalleled views over the City of Gold. The black marble and leather décor give Elevate Rooftop Bar a club-like feeling, adding to the fact that it’s a great place to party the night away while sipping on fabulous cocktails or tasting The Reef Hotel’s very own brand of house gin. There is secure parking available but we recommend taking an Uber when visiting. 58 Anderson Street, Marshalltown m 011 689 1000 1 www.elevatevenue.co.za E @elevaterooftop

1 www.ascothotel.co.za E @theascothotel Q @theascot_hotel

Whisky business If you want great drinks with a side of live DJs and a spectacular street view, look no further than the bar at The Bannister Hotel. This trendy watering hole in Braamfontein boasts a fantastic drinks menu, with everything from craft beers to champagne. We recommend enjoying a glass of Macallan Amber on the rocks before tucking into some of the classic bar snacks on offer – think BBQ chicken wings and grilled calamari. PS: They’re open during load shedding! 9 De Beer Street, Braamfontein m 011 403 6888 1 www.bannisterhotel.co.za E @bannisterhotel Q @bannisterhotel_

Drinks with a view The Reef Hotel is home to one of Jozi’s greatest hidden gems, Elevate Rooftop Bar & Premium Lounge. This amazing drinking spot is found on the sixteenth storey of the Cocktail o’clock While it’s not strictly found in the innercity, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the bar at The Ascot Hotel. This stylish boutique hotel located in the suburb of Norwood is an ideal place to head for a laidback Friday night drink with friends. There’s a wide selection of cocktails on offer including all the classics like cosmopolitans, margheritas and espresso martinis – not to mention the extensive and super-affordable wine list. 59 Grant Avenue, Norwood m 011 483 3371

39Hello Joburg • April 2020 • www.hellojoburg.co.za Partners in wine The Troyeville Hotel first opened in 1939 and is still offering visitors of both the hotel and the bar an amazing experience. The hotel may not be the sleekest in the city, but what it lacks in style it definitely makes up for in character. It’s great for casual dining and it also has a superb wine list to complement the Portuguese inspired menu. Order a glass of Spier Chenin Blanc and the infamous prawn curry, which is served with coconut milk and rice. Also make sure you keep an eye on their Facebook page to see what events are coming up, as they often host exciting book launches! Why go? It attracts a north Joburg crowd worth getting in with Corner of Albertina Sisulu Road & Wilhemina Street, Troyeville m 011 402 7709 1 www.troyevillehotel.co.za E @thetroyevillehotel

COCKTAIL by Thirst Bar Services OF THE MONTH

This month we’re shaking up an exotic and exquisite cocktail made with fragrant, sweet litchi juice blended with an immense amount of coconut water and milk. The milky, frothy Litchi Samba is so delicious you’ll start having these bad boys instead of dessert on the regular!

LITCHI SAMBA

Glass: Napoli filled with cubed ice and wrapped with a banana leaf

Ingredients: 2 shots citrus vodka ½ shot elderflower cordial ½ shot cold pressed lemon juice 2 shots coconut water 2 shots litchi juice 1 shot coconut milk Banana leaf, litchi and mint sprig (to garnish)

Method: Fill your cocktail shaker with cubed ice. Pour the ingredients into the shaker and shake vigorously until the tin is frosted. Using a cocktail strainer, strain the ingredients into a Napoli glass. Garnish with a litchi and mint sprig. 1 www.thirst.co.za E @thirstbarservices D @thirstybarman Q @thirstybarman

THE TINY TIKI BAR Whether you’re looking to grab afterwork drinks with coworkers or a spot for an early-game Tinder date, The Tiny Tiki Bar knows how to make the warm weather remain a breeze. Adjoining sister venue The Anti-Social Social Club, here you can look forward to a colourful, laidback atmosphere and kitsch cocktails, such as The Zombie made with a famous blend of four different rums and the Bahama Mama; an exotic blend of coconut, Kahlua and Sailor Jerry Rum. The next morning, go back to cure your hangover with a pancake stack with housemade miso and maple bacon. 10 7th Street, Melville m 071 774 5242

THE IMMIGRANT BAR Brought to you by the same guys behind 86 Public and Republic of 94 and closely linked to the Once in Joburg ‘flashpackers’ hostel, you can bet that The Immigrant Bar is where the party’s at. Find on a seat on the two-tiered terrace that overlooks Braam’s busy Grove Square and get happy drunk on signature citrus-based jam jar cocktails. On the cocktail menu you’ll also find the likes of a Cinnamon Pear Mojito, Raspberry Grapefruit Rosemary Martini and Pineapple Breeze. Unfortunately, apart from the nachos, we wouldn’t recommend the food. 90 De Korte Street, Braamfontein m 061 443 0084

THE HIDE OUT The Hide Out is just the place to go if you’re staying at a backpacker in the inner-city. Not only because you should have plenty left to splurge on drinks seeing as you won’t be splashing out on a fancy pants bedroom, but also because you’ll meet fellow travellers and like-minded people over drinks like the Mojito Mint, Cranberry Daiquiri and Strawberry Bubblegum. Fun fat? The building the bar is inside used to be a secret printing press and hideout for antiapartheid leaders, hence the name. Curiocity Backpackers, 302 Fox Street, Maboneng m 011 027 5257

SHAKERS COCKTAIL BAR You might recognise Shakers Cocktail Bar from most of Joburg’s markets a couple years ago. Its permanent location that takes form of an open-air cocktail bar in Maboneng’s quirky Maverick Corner only has a few tables available, but you won’t mind that once the salsa dancing starts. The cocktail menu includes all the warm-weather classics as well as cocktails served in teapots, buckets and jam jars, all garnished with fresh fruit and berries. Plus, their new kitchen serves up finger-licking gastropub meals like burgers, ribs and halloumi sticks. 300 Commissioner Street, Maboneng m 011 015 7111

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First-time BUYERS

Art collecting 101 The world of art – and especially art collecting – may appear exclusive and pretentious but in reality, it’s way more accessible than you think. If you’ve always had an interest in art collecting, but haven’t the foggiest idea how to start, you’ve come to the right place!

Start small Whether you want to make a fortune or just spruce up your home with some original pieces, size and price are the first things you want to consider when purchasing an artwork. You don’t want to spend too much on your first buy and you also need to consider where you’re going to store the piece – buying that two-metre solid metal sculpture may not be your best bet! Rather go with something compact like a painting that you can hang in your living room or a drawing you can frame for your bedside table. Another great tip is to attend smaller exhibitions – student exhibitions are particularly fabulous when looking for reasonably priced art. Galleries like the UJ Art Gallery and Wits Art Museum often host exciting student exhibitions. University of Johannesburg, Corner of Kingsway Avenue & University Road, Auckland Park 1 www.arts.uj.ac.za Wits Art Museum, corner of Jorissen & Bertha Streets 1 www.wits.ac.za

more pointless images that don’t make sense to you then why buy them? After all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to resell the pieces later on, so it’s important that you like or, at the very least, can live with the artwork you buy. Developing an eye for art is a key skill when building your art collection, which is why it’s essential to find pieces that speak to you. Art, just like everything else, is subject to trends and what’s popular now won’t necessarily be in 10 years’ time.

Develop your understanding Yes, it is all about your taste, but increasing your understanding of art is important as well. Brush up on your basics of who’s who in South Africa’s art industry – if the names Penny Siopis and Gerard Sekoto don’t ring a bell, you may want to start there. Ultimately attending as many exhibitions and walkabouts is the best way to learn about art. Plus, you’ll also be able to rub shoulders with artists and academics. Two of Joburg’s best-known galleries – Everard Read and Circa Gallery – are a fantastic starting point as they’re constantly hosting new shows. 6 Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank

1 www.everard-read.co.za 1 www.circagallery.org

Consider different mediums Acknowledging the difference between mediums links to developing your understanding of the artworld and is imperative before you set off on your art collecting journey. Paintings, sculptures, photography and drawings are examples of well-known mediums, while installation art, performance art and printmaking are mediums that are less understood. Prints are particularly great for first-time art buyers as they allow people to collect work from well-known artists without breaking the bank. Closed edition prints are typically signed and numbered and the fewer the number of editions, the more valuable the print will be. On the other hand, an open edition print means that the artist can make as many copies as they wish and are therefore less valuable. We recommend checking out The Atelier at 44 Stanley for great prints from the likes of Diane Victor, Claudette Schreuders and Judith Mason. 44 Stanley Avenue, Milpark 1 www.theatelier.co.za Words Amber Richardson Images Supplied

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