Johannesburg - To Do (Rosebankmall Roof Top Market, The FIRS, Sandton Square, Apartheid Museum)

Johannesburg - To Do
Johannesburg - To Eat

Johannesburg - To Do
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Rosebankmall Roof Top Market
The place is devised primarily into two sections.

One open everyday and the 

star the rooftop market only open on Sundays 9am-5pm.

The roof top market, only avail on Sundays is a friendly and much relaxed atmosphere. Vendors are more than willing to chat, share experiences and play the bargain game with you.  It offers a greater variety of African craft works, decorations, collectables, antiquities and even a section for foods,pastries and fresh juices.

Here are some of the many, many unique shops and some indicative prices of things found at this great market.

 *Pictured Left to Right
- Animal sculptures recycled from discarded flip flops. +R300
- Various animal photographic prints from the photographer himself who was manning his booth. Larger prints from +R600 and up and smaller A4 prints at about +R100.
- Aviation acrylic art works, with larger colored ones from +1200.
*Pictured from left to right top to bottom.*

- Wooden sculpture lighting (+R1500-1600)
- Etched and carved Giraffee bones (+R3000-4000), buffalo horns, hippo teeth and hogs tusks.
- Movie poster prints on wooden mount board approximately A4 size at R70 each.
- Ostrich Eggs with plain ones from +R120 and decoupaged ones at +R280

Updated location of Rosebank Craft MarketClick here for ABBA location of Rosebank Craft Market

Click here for ABBA location of Rosebank Craft Market

(Sunday markets still ongoing every weekend and it's well worth the visits)

Due to renovation works and pretty much a buy out by Woolworth's, the craft market has now shifted to a less favorable location.

However, the newer places offers a larger space for the retailers and they've gotten a wider spread of new and varied merchandise up for sale.

 
Located on the second floor of where Rosebank "Pick & Pay" is located.

Click here for ABBA location of Rosebank Craft Market

ABBAtip: Visit only on Sunday, and definitely for the rooftop market primarily. The craft shops which are open all day, although vendors are friendly, they maybe pushy in getting you to view and browse their products, which quickly become repetitive.

The Zone @ Rosebank Mall

Rosebankmall, is a very short 5min walk away. It plays host to a small array of clothing and casual eateries. The mall does have spaces which seems yet to be moved in, but the shops that do exist offers beach wears, trendy fashion and a scattering of street eats and restaurants. 

Click here for ABBA location and directions to Mall of Rosebank

Click here for shop directory at Rosebank Mall

Special Mention Shops at Rosebank Mall
Big Blue*GF05
 

Great for unique and quirky gifts: Like Bacon Soap, Noir (Black) Tissue Paper, Camera Lens Cups, Crazy Calculators that never give you the right answer and a few more.

PICK-AND-PAY

Over at Pick n Pay There is a fairly wide selection of wines there for pairing with meals and a bottle may be had for R30-R75 (about S$3-10).   

Crew can also get the meats here to bring back to Singapore, though on arrival, the hotel staff advised us against storing said produce in the hotel fridge. A cooler bag would be vital in such instances, with purchases made just before departure.

The FIRS

The FIRS Located right beside Rosebank mall, connected by shops and eateries, Tashas and Piza E Vino . Also a 5min walk from Rosebank Crowne Plaza Hotel.

It houses high end retails and fancy restaurants, like The Grill House, featuring Karan Beef cuts. It also has open spaces with music and water features that draws you into the space. Definitely worth an exploration and evening night out. 

Prices at The Grill house R120 and up to R250 for its largest steaks. Fishmonger, seafood dishes hovered about the R125 range.
Click here for ABBA Location of The FIRS
Click here for ABBA shop list of The FIRS

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Sandton Square/City a.k.a. 

Nelson Mandala Square

ABBATIP - Free Shuttle Service by Rosebank Crowne Plaza

2 service transports are provided daily to and fro Centon/Mandala Square
Drop of and Pick up point are the same.

Depart:1230 Return 1530hrs.
Depart: 1500hrs, return 1930hrs.
Reservations can be made at the front desk. Alternatively you can hire a car at approximately R150 per direction at your convenient timing.
A humungous shopping center with speciality shops, digital, home and cookware, interior design and much more. A walk round the first level of the megastructure takes approximately an hour to complete most of the alleys.
Click here for ABBA location of Nelson Mandala Square/Sandon Square/Sandon City
Click here for ABBA shop listing of Sandon City

Special Mention - Shops at Mandala Square
The Butcher Shop & Grill 

 www.thebutchershop.co.za

The butcher shop is one of the first steakhouse and  butcher shop all in one in this area. It sells 21day cured Karan Beef, various game meats, sausages, ribs, spices, biltong and much more.

Whats great here is that you get to sample the various biltong before making a purchase.
Some rough prices:
Karan Sirloin R/KG 115*Karan Sirloin Cut Review: Cooked with their spice rub of cracked peppercorns, sea-salt and mustard seed. Very tender Sirloin, with fat melting away. Will definately return for more of the good stuff. Bought close to 3kg... gone in two days.*
Karan Oxtail R/KG 85
Fresh Beef Biltong R80/pack *A strong beefy flavor with a slight sour hint from the brine process. Microwaved its like cooked meat. Samples are available at the counter before commiting to buying.*
Click here for ABBA location of The Butcher Shop & Grill NelsonMandela Square S26'06'9" E28'02'48"
ABBATip: Keep beef chilled in Hotel Bar Fridge until checkout. Check in luggage at the airport for your departure. It will keep fine. You can wrap it in cloth or bring along a chiller bag. 

Rowland Ward

Sells African art works and souvenirs. The central table showcases beautiful dacoupaged and/or carved ostrich eggs which are displayed on beautiful pedestals of giraffe or horn pedistals. 

Ostricich eggs prices range from R200+ and up and depending on pedestals, which you may get for R50 and up.

Shop No.5 Nelson Mandela Square Sandton.

 

Geldhof-Chocolatier

A good range of chocolate flavor profiles, and gift packages.  The real kicker however are the chocolate shooter cups which go for R10.45 each. Some liqueur cocktails include  peppermint liqueur, Khalua, Amarula & Rum. Though the size of shooter cups, its contents insides aren't as much. Chocolate truffles go at about R3+ each.
Click here for ABBA Details on Geldhof-Chocolatier

Sharp Edge Sharp Shooter

 The name says it all. From Swiss Army Knives, to throw knives, battle swords and even axes. That covers most of the sharp edge, but the shooters is a whole new arsenal of crossbows, pallet guns and even blow pipes. Definitely worth a look.

Apartheid Museum
*Text and pictures contributed by Denison

On this occasion a bus was chartered from the hotel, 7 pax at ZAR400 either way (not including tips). The museum is about 30mins away and located just opposite the Gold Reef City Theme Park. So a day out could nicely include both attractions if one sets out early.

The museum details the colonial past of SA and racial segregation leading to the state-sanctioned system of apartheid. On display are some of the tools and weapons used, as well as extensive footage and material documenting the gradual opposition against apartheid. A disconcerting look at man's capacity for oppression, as well as inspiration for the possibility of change. Photography is not allowed in the museum.

Like Ang San Su Kyi, Nelson Mandela has personified the struggle for change in his country. Presently the museum also has a temporary exhibition on Mr Mandela, from his beginnings as the son of a chieftain, to his leading the ANC in the fight against apartheid to his election as SA's first black president.