A Girl about Town

While I love nothing more than staying in and binge-watching series, throwing on a hot lewk and enjoying a night on the town is also great fun.

Sundowners at Marble are a treat, especially in summer when you can sit outside. I’m an Old-Fashioned aficionado, and theirs is delectable. Alternatively, the

Rand Club, Johannesburg’s original private club, has recently launched a memberonly bar called Twenty-One in its spectacular Edwardian building. marble.restaurant; randclub.co.za

For a party or just a good cocktail, Sin+Tax in Rosebank has you covered. This oldschool speak easy was the only African bar to make it onto the World’s 50 best bars top 100 list in 2019. sintaxbar.com

My go-to restaurant is Pron in Linden. This Jozi institution serves North Chinese food, which includes noodles, bread and lots of little plates. The vegetarian rainy-day noodles are so comforting, while the spicy brinjal is mouth wateringly delicious. pron.restaurant

Rosebank is the place to be right now. It’s buzzing with the addition of some divine new restaurants and bars. Modern Tailor serves top Indian food and I recommend the pani puri as a snack, along with their twisted Old Fashioned, which has the cheeky addition of a chai syrup. Nearby Fugazzi does a mix of New York Italian and American diner food. The interiors –think glass bricks and classic booth seating – are great too. The gluten-free Cacio e Pepe pizza is ‘chefs kiss’. moderntailors.co.za; fugazzi.co.za

My love for Pantry is well-known, and nothing explains the peculiarities of Johannesburg better than a luxury 24hour garage shop. Late-night excursions there normally include a chai tea and breakfast for the next morning. They also have a great selection of sparkling wines, freshly baked bread and pastries. pantry.co.za olivias.co.za joburgtheatre.com

I like to decamp to my ‘coffice’, Olivia’s in Northcliff, a couple of mornings a week. It’s owned by the Killas family, who along with their staff, make it a real home away from home. And nothing beats their authentic Greek coffee. Unfortunately, it’s not on the menu, so you must become part of the inner circle to nab a cup.

A night out at the theatre is magic, especially where the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein is concerned. Over the last year I have seen some amazing productions there, including Vuyani Dance Theatre and Gregory Maqoma’s Third World Express, Ladysmith Black Mambazo in concert and William Kentridge’s harrowing The Head & The Load. The latter took place on a purpose-built 50-meter-long stage and tells the oftendisregarded story of Black Africans in World War I.