TASTEMAKER
Gentlemen’s Arthouse – the swanky gem in Newtown’s revitalised crown – is the perfect mix of class and cool
We head to the Gentlemen’s Arthouse in Newtown, Johannesburg
Despite being the cultural and commercial heart from which Johannesburg was born, newtown’s reputation has waned over the years. however, with the biggest inner-city investment since the building of the Carlton Centre in the 70s, newtown Junction is being transformed back into the beating pulse of the city.
Part of the buzz is owed to Maira and John Koutsoudakis, who, together with their team at the LIFE group (of LIFE grand Café fame, as well as hospitality interiors that stretch across the world), have transformed two seminal newtown heritage sites into contemporary spaces in which Jo’burgers can eat, drink and be merry. The newly opened gentlemen’s arthouse, an artisanal cocktail bar housed in the 1911 edwardian washrooms – the name itself being a play on the traditional outhouse – stands a few hundred
metres from The Potato shed, a barbeque smokehouse and craft brewery. ‘at LIFE, we’re all about heritage – respecting what has come before and enhancing it with what’s current to create an engaging space that has a lot of soul,’ explains Maira of their two concepts.
In the case of the gentlemen’s arthouse, a private club that is only open for special events, the intimate space has been scrubbed down to turn the old urinals into opulent seating, with the original emerald-green tiles remaining a focal interior feature under narrow cathedral-like windows of yesteryear.
other focuses are served sensorially – such as ‘star-tenders’ conjuring unique flavours in the mixology bar, as well as live acts that include a mix of eccentric trapeze artists and top-hat-donning, tailcoat-wearing jugglers who perform to the sound of sultry chanteuses and djs, all within an exclusive, velvetcurtained environment.
Far be it from being just a bar, the gentlemen’s arthouse also comes with an inventive menu created by executive chefs Jeanel Pieterse and Johan Coetzer and features dishes such as crocodile ceviche and rabbit. as with its decor and entertainment, the gentlemen’s arthouse strikes that perfect balance between old-world charm and an edgy theatricality.
The Potato shed, standing on the site of its original namesake, which used to be the main market for fresh produce during Jo’burg’s heyday in the early 1900s, pays homage to its previous incarnation with colourful references throughout. Crates of market-fresh brinjals, sweet potatoes, ginger and beetroot decorate the interiors before they’re whisked off to the kitchen.
Part of the new-age appeal is the inclusion of a modern distillery – with a selection of local gins and artisanal tonics – and craft brewery.
‘We’ve always been passionate about the inner city,’ says Maira, ‘so it’s a thrill and honour to be able to breathe new soul into these iconic newtown sites.’
Gentlemen’s Arthouse 011 325 5235 The Potato Shed 010 590 6133