DOUBLE THE FUN
44 Stanley Avenue has long been one of the best shopping centres in Joburg. In fact, with its olive tree and fountain-adorned courtyards and loads of natural light, it sets the benchmark for a good shopping experience. If you’ve visited over the past few months you would have noticed a number of new developments and stores — not to mention a huge upgrade of surrounding roads and parking. Two of our favourite new additions to the charming centre happen to be neighbours.
The Leopard
Walk across the way to what is arguably one of the best food spots in the city. We were beside ourselves when the Leopard restaurant closed its doors in Melville last year. Up the hill and under the chandeliers of the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, delightful curated soirées are taking place.
The line-up jumps between jazz Fortunately, owners (and Joburg food stalwarts) Andrea Burgener and Nick Gordon quickly reopened in a new incarnation — a deli. Their 44
Stanley Ave iteration has been wildly oversubscribed since it popped up, with people queueing for readycooked meals (we recommend the Quasi Mozambican Brinjals especially), lunchtime takeaways and pantry essentials like Cinsault and Haribo sweets.
Fortunately they took the hint and have expanded the space. So now you can sit down and enjoy breakfast (whisky-laced Atholl Brose perhaps), a Pata plate over lunch and lots of Gordon’s charm and humour. We live in hope that they’ll add Little Cough Quail to the menu soon. and classical music, and a ticket (R795) gets you an intimate evening of live music by leading artists and a fancy buffet meal. We witnessed homegrown opera virtuoso Siyabonga Maqungo and piano maestro François du Toit in action, and then gorged on bagels and charcuterie, Asian noodles and mezze. The evening was marvellous all round.
On April 15, the hotel will present Luyanda Madope and Connecting Generations, featuring vocalist Titi Luzipo. On April 27, the Nduduzo Makhathini Quintet, winner of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist award, will perform.