It’s Sunday lunchtime in Market on Main in Johannesburg’s Maboneng Precinct. The place is buzzing with foodies sipping craft ale from SMACK! Republic’s onsite brewery, and munching on fragrant paella served from enormous pans, and speciality biltong, South Africa’s famous dried meat. Meanwhile, a DJ spins ambient tunes. This is one of a trio of food markets bringing inventive fare to the city’s evolving centre.
On Saturdays, stylish students from the nearby University of the Witwatersrand stream into Neighbourgoods in the trendy Braamfontein area. Its high-rise setting affords a special feature: a rooftop deck where diners can soak up sunshine (perfect for the Christmas season, the height of summer here), while tucking into terrine made from native game and braaied (grilled) burgers, given a Balkan touch with salty kashkaval cheese.
The new kid on the block is artisanal food market Sheds@1Fox, which opened in October in a refurbished, former mining warehouse just south of Braamfontein. With a relaxed vibe, visitors can kick back and feast on anything from rooibos bubble tea and koeksisters, traditional Cape-Malay donuts, to Africasian (a blend of African and Asian cuisine) dumplings, smoked brisket and pork belly from Black Sam Smoque, and oysters and bubbly at the Dee Oyster & Champagne Bar.
With a programme of live music and film screenings, and a plan to add trading days in 2015 (it’s currently open Thursday to Sunday), this fledgling market already has Jo’burgers coming back for more.
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