NIGHTLIFE

COCKTAIL by Thirst Bar Services OF THE MONTH

Let’s be honest … strawberry and Campari go together like peanut butter and jam. So, this month we’re infusing these two flavours together in the deliciously spiced Strawberry Chai Negroni. All together, we have a masterpiece – it’s as simple as that. Now let’s get to that recipe!

STRAWBERRY CHAI NEGRONI Glass: Tumbler

Ingredients: 75ml premixed Negroni mix 1 bottle Campari 1 bottle Bombay Sapphire 8-10 strawberries, cleaned and sliced in half Rapid infused in a cream gun 1 bottle chai infused Martini Rosso 4 chai tea bags

Method: Pour 75ml premixed Negroni mix over a 5x5 ice luge stamped with the Thirst logo. Garnish with a zigzag orange peel.

1 www.thirst.co.za E @thirstbarservices D @thirstybarman Q @thirstybarman

40 Hello Joburg • March 2020 • www.hellojoburg.co.za Image Phillip Santos

Altitude BEACH Making waves in Joburg’s party scene

Located next to Fourways Mall is Altitude Beach club –one of the biggest and most exciting things to happen to Jozi’s party scene in a long, long time. The club, which opened in late 2019, has already garnered a reputation as one of the hottest spots in town and with its sparkling blue waters, state-of-the-art stage and DJ equipment as well as the sushi and oyster bar, it’s not hard to see why.

This opulent venue is this city’s answer to the clubs that define destinations such as Ibiza and Dubai and can accommodate up to 1,500 guests. Although having an authentic looking beach club seems like an unlikely feat in Jozi given our distinct lack of beaches, Altitude truly excels in creating a tropical, Miami-esque paradise. It’s got palm trees and sun loungers but thankfully no beach sand, which is so overrated anyway.

Inspired by the international trend of daytime entertainment, Altitude opens its doors at 12h00 Wednesday through Sunday and offers guests the option of booking a luxurious day villa to spend the afternoon lounging in. However, it’s worth noting that these packages will cost you a pretty penny as they start at R8,000, but do include drinks, tapas and one extra-large pizza (all the makings of a good time if you ask us!). Other seating options include booking poolside day beds that cost R150 each or –if you’re feeling particularly spendy –VIP Lounges with packages starting at R13,500 and ranging all the way up to R36,000.

It may seem a bit pricey, but Altitude Beach is guaranteed to offer you an experience you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. So, if a lavish, Gatsby-style party is what you’ve been craving then make sure you add visiting this club to your to-do list. It is the ’20s after all!

Fourways Boulevard, Fourways K www.altitudebeach.co.za E @altitudebeach D @altitudebeach Q @altitudebeach

THE TINY TIKI BAR Whether you’re looking to grab afterwork drinks with coworkers or a spot for an early-game Tinder date, The Tiny Tiki Bar knows how to make the warm weather remain a breeze. Adjoining sister venue The Anti-Social Social Club, here you can look forward to a colourful, laidback atmosphere and kitsch cocktails, such as The Zombie made with a famous blend of four differentrumsandtheBahamaMama; an exotic blend of coconut, Kahlua and Sailor Jerry Rum. The next morning, go back to cure your hangover with a pancake stack with housemade miso and maple bacon. 10 7th Street, Melville m 071 774 5242

THE HIDE OUT The Hide Out is just the place to go if you’re staying at a backpacker in the inner-city. Not only because you should have plenty left to splurge on drinks seeing as you won’t be splashing out on a fancy pants bedroom, but also because you’ll meet fellow travellers and like-minded people over drinks like the Mojito Mint, Cranberry Daiquiri and Strawberry Bubblegum. Fun fat? The building the bar is inside used to be a secret printing press and hideout for anti-apartheid leaders, hence the name. Curiocity Backpackers, 302 Fox Street, Maboneng m 011 027 5257

THE IMMIGRANT BAR Brought to you by the same guys behind 86 Public andRepublic of 94 and closely linked to the Once in Joburg ‘flashpackers’ hostel, you can betthat The Immigrant Bar is where the party’s at. Find on a seat on the two-tiered terrace that overlooks Braam’s busy Grove Square and get happy drunk on signature citrus-based jam jar cocktails. On the cocktailmenu you’llalso find the likes of a Cinnamon Pear Mojito, Raspberry Grapefruit Rosemary Martini and Pineapple Breeze. Unfortunately, apart from the nachos, we wouldn’t recommend the food. 90 De Korte Street, Braamfontein m 061 443 0084

Words Amber Richardson Images Supplied

41Hello Joburg • March 2020 • www.hellojoburg.co.za SHAKERS COCKTAIL BAR You might recognise Shakers Cocktail Bar from most of Joburg’s markets a couple years ago. Its permanent location that takes form of an open-air cocktail bar in Maboneng’s quirky Maverick Corner only has a few tables available, but you won’t mind that once the salsa dancing starts. The cocktail menu includes all the warm-weather classics as well as cocktails served in teapots, buckets and jam jars, all garnished with fresh fruit and berries. Plus, theirnewkitchenservesupfinger-licking gastropub meals like burgers, ribs and halloumi sticks. 300 Commissioner Street, Maboneng m 011 015 7111

THE COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL Want to get a taste of the back-in-time fun? The vintage glamour of The Cosmopolitan Hotel, a revamped heritage building that was once an Edwardian hotel, stems from the antique bar that’s as much a feature now as it was when the hotel was built in 1899. Known as Lion Bar in a former life, The Cosmopolitan Bar has been resurrected with its original lion-carved bar and some new giant red wingback chairs and serves liquor-loving food. Indulge in your inner high horse while sipping gin-laced cocktails or explore the treasures in the wine cellar downstairs, which boasts well-known vins like Fairview and Newton Johnson as well as small-stock delights, including De Morgenzon DMZ Maestro White and Raka Select Barrel Merlot. 24 Albrecht Street, Maboneng k zanele@hzrd.co.za K www.thecosmopolitan.joburg

THE ARTIVIST Floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the street, a marble bar counter that takes centre stage and a mezzanine level to give patrons a view of the space makes The Artivist one of the trendiest new spots in town. It’s a celebration of art of all kinds, with chic greywalls thatoffsetthe art, soothingmusic thatcreates aunified bar atmosphere and the lingering aroma of ‘Afro-nomadic’ food. Even betteryet, downstairs you’llfind Untitled Basement, a hidden gem that hosts musical events like We’ve Got The Jazz and What’s Wrong with Grooving 7 Reserve Street, Braamfontein m 011 339 1647

MILK BAR With traditional art, design and materials covering every visible surface, Milk Bar is just the place to visit for an immersive experience of the African aesthetic. A seat at the wooden bar of this colourful, airy drinkery lends a won’t-break-thebank taste of African extravagance, with bartenders stirring and shaking throwback potions ranging from the ginger beer-charged Mozambican Hurricane to the Pineapple Ginger Dawa, described as the ‘best medicine in Africa’.Ifthedrinksareflowingtoo freely, nosh to your heart’s content on bar snacks like lamb meatballs, bobotie nachosandwetbiltong.Don’tfillupif you’replanningtohaveamealthough–sustenance is nigh with enormous smashed cheeseburgers and pulled brisket bunny chows. 11 Holt Street East, Parkmore Maboneng m 087 701 2002 K www.milkbar.co.za

Hello Joburg • March 2020 • www.hellojoburg.co.za 42 THE RADIUM BEERHALL Journalists, hipsters and seasoned daytime drinkers have long favoured the city’s oldest surviving bar and grill. The Radium Beerhall is an icon for a reason –andifitswallscouldtalk,thingswould get interesting. The old Joburg charm, which comes alive on the live jazz nights when the embossed tin ceiling vibrates in tune with the music, is as much of a draw as the cheap but reliable drinks, pizzas andburgersthatcirculatethefloorona daily and nightly basis. To get the most out of Radium, ditch the red-and-whiteclothed tables and perch yourself at the barwhereyou’llfindpatronswatching sport and sipping on hard tack and Castle Light–oftenatthesametime. 282 Louis Botha Avenue, Orange Grove m 011 728 3866 K www.theradium.co.za

LENIN’S VODKA BAR We doubt vodka is the answer, but it’s worth a shot at Lenin’s Vodka Bar on Maverick Corner. A stylish vodka bar with communist-inspired décor and sporting Russian symbolism with a large mural of Lenin on the wall, here you can choose from vodkas from 12 countries plus a basic menu of salads, flatbreads and burgers to nibble on. There are other varieties on offer too, with cocktails divided into different categories, namely The Russians, The Americans, Martinis, The Wild Bunch as well as Shots and Shooters. 300 Commissioner Street, Maboneng m 082 821 2863

THE LITTLE FOX Fun fact about The Little Fox? The century-old warehouse that it’s housed inside in the quirky 1 Fox precinct lays claim to running the firsttelephone line in South Africa from the main gold mine and the Departmentof Mines in the 1890s. Headed by star mixologist Gareth Wainwright in partnership with Ginologist craft distillery, the menu at this on-trend cocktail bar also showcases other craft spirits like rum andmezcal–andthe wittybartenders are always up for conjuring new creations on demand. 1 Fox Street, Ferreirasdorp K www.thelittlefox.co.za

get CULTURED Artsy activities for those who need a dose of culture

If you promised yourself that 2020 would be the year you finally saw a play, went to a poetry reading or simply popped into an art gallery, we’ve got you covered! These unmissable cultural events will have you going from philistine to art snob in no time ... or at least not confusing Leonardo Davinci with Leonardo DiCaprio anymore.

Check out an exhibition Nightofa1000Drawings,whichistakingplaceatthestunningVictoriaYards, is the perfect event for people who want to view art and maybe even start collecting it. The premise of this exhibition is simple: Art is donated in the lead uptothefestivalandtheneverypieceissoldforR150duringtheevent,withall proceeds going directly to charity. So, whether you go home with something reminiscent of a child’s pre-school project or a piece by a Picasso in the making, at least you know your money is going to a good cause. What’s more, this family friendly festival will also have a range of food trucks, live entertainment and craft drinksonoffer! When: 27 March Where: VictoriaYards, 16 Viljoen Street, Lorentzville K www.johannesburg.1000drawings.org

Attend a book launch Head to independent bookstore, Love Books for the launch of Barbara Adair’s new novel, WILL, The Passenger Delaying Flight… The book follows the life of Volker, a German man who is leaving his home in Frankfurt to move to Windhoek, Namibia. It’s a comical yet startling exploration of common Western perceptions of the continent we call home. The launch promises to be a worthwhile event as the author and host, Alison Lowry delve deeper into the themes explored in the novel. Guests will also be able to ask questions and participate in the conversation. When: 19 March Where: Love Books, 53 Rustenberg Road, Melville

K lovebooks.co.za

Catch a movie While the latest Chick Flick doesn’t quite count as expanding your understanding of art, watchingaflickatCinemaNouveau certainlydoes! Cinema Nouveau is one of the world’s only dedicated art-house cinema chains and caters towards audiences who have a soft spot for independent and foreign language films. This month, the cinemashowingthe perfectfilm to ease you into the art-house genre, Jane Austen’sbelovedEmma–adrama-comedythat centres around titular character, Emma as she wonders through misguided matches andotherromanticmishaps in abidto findlove. The film has an amazing cast, featuring the likes of Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn and Anya TaylorJoy and promises to be an entertaining and worthwhile watch. The best part? Since its revamp last year, Cinema Nouveau now has a gorgeous bar and diningareawhere you can tuckinto indulgentcakes anddrinks, includingcoffee, wine and cocktails. Movie night just got even more exciting! When: Premieres 13 March Where: CinemaNouveau RosebankMall, 50 Bath Avenue, Rosebank K www.sterkinekor.com