People can taste the rejuvenation of one of Johannesburg’s oldest neighborhoods at Market On Main in the Maboneng Precinct, a far cry from the malls of Sandton.
Cultures fuse at the Sunday food market with its upbeat vibe.
Market On Main is a weekly food and design market with more than 100 independent local food entrepreneurs and designers. It’s held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A night market is held the first Thursday of the month.
Food lovers — aren’t we all? — flock to this once-blighted area of Johannesburg to feel a part of its revitalization.
In a 1900s warehouse, you can buy craft beer and fabulous food. Upstairs are shops selling locally designed furniture, clothes, accessories and crafts.
Market On Main markets itself as “made for the people of Joburg by the people of Joburg. Our goal is to encourage inner city lifestyle. Our stallholders are Gauteng-based food and design fanatics,” according to its website.
Maboneng, which means “Place of Light,” is a privately developed urban neighborhood on the east side of the Johannesburg CBD.
It has independent retail restaurants, clubs, loft apartments, offices, a hotel, museum and factory spaces.
Market on Main is considered a Johannebsurg foodie hotspot, with the the emphasis on local production.
There are vendors selling breads, boerie rolls, pickles, cheeses, biltong and artisan droëwors, carrot cake, rose-flavored hard sweets, Indian curries, fish and chips. And then some.
You can get nachos, Brazilian food, spring rolls, and raw hot chocolate.
I ordered souvlaki from a stall called Soul Souvlaki. For dessert, I had a delectable honeycomb baked cheesecake.
Upstairs above the food market, I found funky jewelry, dream catchers and a sparkly purse shaped like a diamond.
There were some vintage and second-hand items, and some old things given new purpose.
People describe the Market on Main with its food stalls and gardens and shady spots to relax as hipster heaven.
It’s trendy, and you can tell by the energy in the online reviews that people love it.
One person described Market on Main like this: “Such a change from the sterile Europeanness of Cape Town…an Afrikan city with that feel….on the edge and meant for the diehard South Afrikan”
Another wrote, “The Maboneng Precinct is a beautiful and excellent story of the urban regeneration of downtown Johannesburg. Joburg has its groove back.”
Visitors to Maboneng can take a guided tour with Main Street Walks (www.mainstreetwalks.co.za) to learn the area’s history and the vision for the precinct.
People describe Maboneng alternately as a “dodgy” area, or a once-dodgy area. I say, reserve judgement and go see for yourself.
Expert Review
People can taste the rejuvenation of one of Johannesburg's oldest neighborhoods at Market On Main in the Maboneng Precinct, a far cry from...
People can taste the rejuvenation of one of Johannesburg’s oldest neighborhoods at Market On Main in the Maboneng Precinct, a far cry from the malls of Sandton.
Cultures fuse at the Sunday food market with its upbeat vibe.
Market On Main is a weekly food and design market with more than 100 independent local food entrepreneurs and designers. It’s held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A night market is held the first Thursday of the month.
Food lovers — aren’t we all? — flock to this once-blighted area of Johannesburg to feel a part of its revitalization.
In a 1900s warehouse, you can buy craft beer and fabulous food. Upstairs are shops selling locally designed furniture, clothes, accessories and crafts.
Market On Main markets itself as “made for the people of Joburg by the people of Joburg. Our goal is to encourage inner city lifestyle. Our stallholders are Gauteng-based food and design fanatics,” according to its website.
Maboneng, which means “Place of Light,” is a privately developed urban neighborhood on the east side of the Johannesburg CBD.
It has independent retail restaurants, clubs, loft apartments, offices, a hotel, museum and factory spaces.
Market on Main is considered a Johannebsurg foodie hotspot, with the the emphasis on local production.
There are vendors selling breads, boerie rolls, pickles, cheeses, biltong and artisan droëwors, carrot cake, rose-flavored hard sweets, Indian curries, fish and chips. And then some.
You can get nachos, Brazilian food, spring rolls, and raw hot chocolate.
I ordered souvlaki from a stall called Soul Souvlaki. For dessert, I had a delectable honeycomb baked cheesecake.
Upstairs above the food market, I found funky jewelry, dream catchers and a sparkly purse shaped like a diamond.
There were some vintage and second-hand items, and some old things given new purpose.
People describe the Market on Main with its food stalls and gardens and shady spots to relax as hipster heaven.
It’s trendy, and you can tell by the energy in the online reviews that people love it.
One person described Market on Main like this: “Such a change from the sterile Europeanness of Cape Town…an Afrikan city with that feel….on the edge and meant for the diehard South Afrikan”
Another wrote, “The Maboneng Precinct is a beautiful and excellent story of the urban regeneration of downtown Johannesburg. Joburg has its groove back.”
Visitors to Maboneng can take a guided tour with Main Street Walks (www.mainstreetwalks.co.za) to learn the area’s history and the vision for the precinct.
People describe Maboneng alternately as a “dodgy” area, or a once-dodgy area. I say, reserve judgement and go see for yourself.