Melville, Johannesburg

The trendy suburb of Melville is situated just west of Johannesburg and is well known for its trendy coffee shops and lively nightlife. Melville is the cultural hub of Johannesburg. Its trendy coffeehouses and upscale shops dot this vibrant neighborhood.

Melville is the perfect location for all sorts of exciting and unique restaurants all offering foods for different tastes. In fact, some of the most popular restaurants and bars in South Africa are situated right in Melville. One of the most popular restaurants/cocktail bars is Buzz 9. It has been awarded as one of the best and boasts an industrial-style interior with a vast cocktail selection. Hip locals sit in sofas or chairs inside or take tables by the pavement and watch street life go by. Their forte is of course the Beach Buzz house special which is a must to taste!

Melville boasts a rather peculiar but pleasant exception. Situated just a short distance from Park City, this suburb’s neighbourly atmosphere is mainly due to its chaotic mix of residential and commercial properties, which sometimes mingle to a point where one may just find oneself mistakenly settling down in a gorgeous private home wondering where the waitress has got to.

The main streets, particularly bohemian Seventh Street (which was the setting and title of a local TV drama), are well worth wandering along! Here you will find yourself exploring the second-hand bookshops, antique dealers and body-piercing salons, or sitting in one of the superb pavement cafés watching people pass by.

Many of Melville’s nicest homes, some of which date back to the 19th century, have been converted into charming B&Bs and guest houses, which are increasingly popular especially among foreign travelers - see Melville Guest Houses. Melville also boasts an exquisite reserve known as The Melville Koppies Nature Reserve situated just north of the suburb. This spectacular nature reserve protects an extensive area of typical highveld vegetation and includes archaeological remains of both Stone and Iron Age settlements, including iron furnaces.

Situated close are 2 universities namely the University of Johannesburg and University of the Witwatersrand). Melville, therefore, is a meeting point and general hangout for many students. There are trendy restaurants, clubs, pubs and theatre. Melville is definitely a lively, trendy and unique suburb. It promises all an entertaining and unforgettable evening out!