Entertainment in Gauteng
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Hatfield
There are several bars and nightspots in trendy Hatfield, catering for all types. Yet again, Hatfield Square is a good place to start, but remember that 'guns, fireworks and motorbikes are strictly prohibited'. Unusually for South Africa, Burnett St offers a high density of bars, eateries and clubs, all cut through with lashings of backpacker bravado and student shenanigans.
You can wander between venues easily and safely, saving the endless taxi journeys that usually punctuate a night in a big South African city. It's the easiest pub crawl in the country.
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Herr Gunther’s
Loud, brash Germanic answer to the Irish bar, Herr Gunther’s blares out loud chart music, and platters of chips and wurst (German sausage) are washed down with gargantuan jugs of lager.
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Brooklyn Mall Cinemas
The Brooklyn Mall Cinemas are among the most popular in Pretoria, but to save yourself time, it might be best to call Ster-Kinekor for listings and bookings.
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Ratz Bar
This dark, cubby-like bar has rats daubed on the walls rather than running across the floors. Try one of its tasty and well-priced cocktails (R25).
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Kippie’s Jazz International
Kippie’s, named after saxophonist Kippie ‘Morolong’ Moeketsi, has long been renowned as one of Jo’burg’s most famous establishments and one of the best places to see South African jazz talent. At the time of writing Kippie’s had closed down with renovation work slated to begin in February 2009. When it reopens it should be even bigger and better, and with a bronze statue commemorating the great Kippie outside.
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Ellis Park
The spiritual home of Jo’burg rugby is Ellis Park, just east of the city centre, which was the scene of one of the new nation’s proudest moments – victory in the 1995 World Cup. Rugby supporters are fanatical: a Saturday afternoon at the rugby can be an almost religious experience. The stadium is no longer just for rugby, however. It also hosts football matches and, for now, is home to the Orlando Pirates.
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Gin
A very young crowd inhabits this bar, which is part shabby Caribbean shack, part gallery, with ramshackle whitewashed furniture and pop art plastered on the walls. There’s a tiny upstairs balcony overlooking the street, tables out on the pavement, and a psychotic-looking wooden moose-head watching the action from above the bar. Cocktails are the pièce de résistance here, and house and hip hop keep the crowd happy.
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Mama's Shebeen
This faux shebeen has the air of a Jamaican beach bar about it, decked out in bright red, yellow and green rasta colours. The zebra-print walls, wire animal sculptures, and huge pic of Mandela let you know what it’s all about though, as do the (top-notch) cocktails with names like Bo-Kaap Blues and Cape Flats Colada. There is a small food menu too. Chicken stew and pap costs R45.
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Tings an’ Times
This bohemian bar attracts an eclectic crowd to chill out to a reggae soundtrack, punctuated by regular live performances. Late on weekend nights it pulls in a crowd of up-for-it students and dancing goes on till the small hours. If you get the munchies, the speciality is pitas (R28 to R50), which come toasted with toppings or stuffed with all kinds of tasty treats.
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Market Theatre
The most important venue for live theatre has three live-theatre spaces (Main, Laager and Barney Simon Theatres) as well as galleries and a cafe. There is always some interesting theatre, ranging from sharply critical contemporary plays to musicals and stand-up comedy – check the program in the Mail & Guardian entertainment section.
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Wanderers Stadium
The most important cricket venue is the impressive Wanderers Stadium, just off the M1 freeway to Pretoria. Either watch from the stands or head to the grassy banks near the Western Pavilion and braai yourself a steak while you watch a local limited-overs match or see South Africa’s best take on an international team.
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Eastwood’s
This hugely popular pub is often packed, especially at lunch time and after work hours. There’s a large outdoor deck, and banquette seating and a big bar inside. It has won the ‘best pub in Pretoria’ award several times and has good-value steak-and-beer deals, such as a 500g T-bone and a Castle beer for R49.
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Roxy's
This clubbing stalwart is one of the oldest and best-known venues in Jo'burg for pop and hard rock on the weekends. It's the local clubbing multiplex, in fact, with multiple bars and dancefloors that fill up with a younger crowd of mostly university students. During the week, nights vary from comedy to theme parties to karaoke.
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Crazy 88
Hosts up-and-coming and big-name bands and a host of DJs from around the country. It’s all here – house, hip hop, rock and jazz, and there are chilled-out Sunday sessions and more raucous fancy-dress parties on Friday and Saturday night. The mixed crowd is grounded and attitude-free.
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The Red Room
The Red Room's sole focus is music. Every Saturday night The Red Room wakes up when the dance set arrive and do their thing, shaking it to new and old alternative favourites like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Billy Idol, Marilyn Manson, Wolfmother and Nine Inch Nails.
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Six
Six has single-handedly shifted the 7th St dress code, thanks to its so-far-above-average cocktails and so-better-looking-than-you clientele. This is a wonderful place for a drink. Fabulous artwork, soft orange and red colour scheme, iconic reggae, and soul and house music at a level conducive to hearing key questions: want another one?
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Buzz 9
Funky multilevel bar with metal banisters decorated with birds, moon, stars and even spacemen. There’s a large menu of potent cocktails, all around the R30 mark, and light snacks are available. The action spills out onto sidewalk tables when it’s busy.
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Cool Runnings
As you’ll guess by the name this place has a Caribbean vibe, with reggae on the stereo, rustic decor in Rasta colours, and a nice line in rum-based cocktails. At night-time it’s heaving with drunken young bodies.
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Bassline
A fantastic live-music venue, Bassline hosts major players on the South African and international music scene. It’s known for its jazz and blues performances but you’ll also catch world music, hip hop and rock.
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Tokyo Star
Anime chic and loads of plastic characterise this trendy, noisy Tokyo-style bar where young people nightly learn the rules of seduction and break the laws of attraction. Asian snacks such as tempura (around R22) are served.
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TriBeCa Lounge
Laid-back and stylish, this trendy cafe is the perfect place to chill out with a latte and browse the magazines for a few hours, or join the beautiful people in sipping exquisite cocktails on weekend nights.
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Carfax
This converted factory space is one of the most popular joints in town. Local and international DJs play house and hip hop to an eclectic crowd. Not as cool as it once was, but it’s still a fun night out.
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Cool Runnings
Reggae is a perennial favourite in Jo'burg, so it is no surprise that this franchise of Jamaican-style bars is popular. A relaxed atmosphere, thumping bass-lines and late, lively nights are a sure thing.
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State Theatre
Designed by Hans and Roelf Botha, this huge theatre complex hosts a range of productions, including opera, music, ballet and theatre, in its five theatres: the Arena, Studio, Opera, Drama and Momentum.
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Oppikoppi Bar
On Magasyn Hill (opposite the Voortrekker Monument), this is one of the best-located pubs in Pretoria. The views over the city are great, particularly at sunset, and they offer DIY braais (barbecues).
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