Johannesburg Days 4 & 5: Sightseeing, Marble + Keyes Art District
New city, another hop-on-hop-off bus. PLUS: A fancy final dinner at Marble and checking out Joburg's galleries at Keyes Art Mile.
Final two days in South Africa!
Watch the Johannesburg days 4 & 5 vlog on TikTok or Instagram.
Read the Johannesburg day 3 and safari blog here.
City Sightseeing Bus
You already know I’m not above a hop-on-hop-off double decker bus! The one in Cape Town was great.
The one in Johannesburg operates a little differently. I don’t want to say there’s less to see in Joburg, but there are simply fewer routes and stops than in Cape Town. Also, unlike Cape Town, you have to get a physical ticket for the bus, which you can only pick it up at The Zone in Rosebank. I think both differences are due to concerns about safety, something I have a lot of complicated feelings about.
My parents and I got one-day tickets. It was nice driving through all the posh neighborhoods and city center, but we didn’t feel compelled to get off at any of the stops.
If you don’t have enough time to do a separate tour of Soweto, City Sightseeing offers a add-on to visit the township. That extension starts at the Gold Reef City, an theme park, stop.
Cost of ticket: $14.77
When I purchased: 1 month, 1 week prior
Dinner at Marble
I’ve heard a lot about Marble inside the Keyes Art Mile building ahead of this trip.
Wherever you live, think of the restaurant where you want to get dolled up and have dinner and cute cocktails with your girls, hold a birthday dinner or go on a third date. That’s Marble. It’s sexy and moody with upscale fare.
Miraculously, my parents were willing to join. They’re not into fine (read: overpriced) dining the way I am. But I was able to make a day of reservation for three for late Monday night.
The cocktails were lovely. The food was great too, particularly the bread (and that butternut dip omg), red pepper, coconut and corn soup du jour (the grilled cheese it came with omg), and my pork belly. My parents and I split one of the Stroopwafel ice cream sandwiches Marble is know for for dessert.
Side note: There’s now a Marble in Cape Town (V&A Waterfront) too!
Cost of dinner for 3 (two cocktails, three appetizers, three entrees and one dessert): $116.96 (probably included tip.)
When I booked: 13 hours prior
Keyes Art Mile
I was back at Keyes Art Mile my final morning in South Africa. I needed to see some art!
The mixed-use development in the Rosebank neighborhood is home to several art galleries, luxury home retail and restaurants.
I grabbed some breakfast and did some reading at Freshly Ground Coffee Shop. It was pretty empty Tuesday mid-morning—just a few patrons working on their laptops.
I got the eggs, bacon, sourdough bread, fries and blistered tomatoes, and fresh-pressed juice with ingredients I got to choose.
I spent the rest of the morning walking through Keyes’ many art galleries and taking in some of the continent’s most talented creatives. Photography isn’t allowed at the bigger galleries. Just know my dream art piece is on display at Everard Rand.
Cost of breakfast: $10.62
Lunch at Nando’s
I don’t know about y’all, but I like trying global restaurant chains in different countries! And I love Nando’s. We grabbed lunch at the Rosebank location, right next to our hotel, before heading to the airport.
Cost of lunch: I don’t know. Mom and dad got the bill.
Back in Istanbul
We had another 8-hour layover in Türkiye, so we took advantage of another Touristanbul sightseeing tour.
I would love to see the artwork you got in South Africa, thank you for sharing I loved the vlogs and blogs of your trip.