Enjoy a lazy lunch once you're done exploring the precinct's many interesting shops, or head through in the evening to grab a drink and see a movie with friends. With the welcoming atmosphere of 44 Stanley stalwarts like Salvation Café (and their famous cheesecake) and an ever-evolving array of new places to discover, it's a must-visit.
But it's not just the quality of the traders that sets this space apart; the people behind the brands and businesses at 44 Stanley are deeply committed to their craft, product, or offering – and it's palpable. We love this vibrant gathering of great minds and talented creatives; a truly unique space in Joburg.
Use our guide to what's well-loved and worth experiencing at this breezy, indoor-outdoor space. You'll be a regular in no time.
Fashion fix
44 Stanley has plenty of local, independent fashion labels, known for high-quality production and timeless appeal.Hat-maker extraordinaire Crystal Birch sells meticulously crafted and unusual headwear at her first stand-alone store in Joburg. Visit the 'hat hospital' to have your old faithfuls repaired, regardless of whether they're Birch's original creations.
At Guillotine by Lisa Jaffe, you'll find sensual fitted forms and luxurious fabrics, with a focus on the architecture of each clothing item, and at Lunar the emphasis is on timelessly chic pieces.
A South African brand founded by mother-and-daughter team Betina Swart and Kelly Gibberd, Me&B offers a wide range of locally designed garments. They stock pieces in sizes 32 to 46, making fashion fun and accessible.
For men, there's Thabiso Modise's MoMa, stocking a personally selected range of items from European menswear labels and his own designs. Additionally, men looking for a one-stop shop consisting of sustainable skincare products, and clothing items such as slim-fit linen shirts, sneakers, and fragrances can pop into Land of Kin.
At the small and quirky Ifuku, you can shop for a remarkable range of vintage denim, including jeans by cult Japanese brands. Five8ths is a shirt-maker for men and women; hours of craft work go into their tailor-made shirts, sewn up in-store with quality fabrics. They also sell beautiful neckties and self-tie bow ties and offer a collar and cuff replacement service to give your worn-out shirts a new lease on life.
Reefer's sneakers, sandals, and boots are locally made, environmentally friendly, and stylish to boot. Leather lovers will love King Cobbler, a space with a handful of skilled cobblers and designers who provide services for shoes, bags, and just about anything you'd need to be repaired, restored or custom-made. The space is also a stockist of custom handmade leather footwear and belts, apparel, socks, and leather care products.
Speaking of, Cape Town’s hip handmade leather accessories label Rowdy is a firm favourite, especially as all their items come with a lifetime guarantee.
Gearing up
Next door to Rowdy is Gone. Outdoor Supply Co., a specialist outdoor clothing store aimed at trail runners and hikers. Gone. is also the exclusive stockist of clothing and gear by Patagonia (a brand known for its dedication to sustainable and ethically sourced materials) in South Africa.Fans of the popular Banditz Bicycle Club will be glad to know their headquarters are now at 44 Stanley in the form of Cycle Boutique. It's a meeting point for their social rides and a workshop space to get your bicycle back into tip-top shape. Pop in to purchase some spiffy new wheels (Rook Cycles, Trek, Scott, and Merida are on their books) or rent a bike for the day. If you're seeking advice or a friendly chat about all things cycling and Joburg related, we're sure co-founder Tebogo Galagala will be happy to oblige.
Gifts and speciality stores
The Atelier is an expert framing studio and offers a selection of limited-edition prints by South African artists, which make great gifts. The space is also a visual feast for bookworms with imported, limited edition, and collector’s item books for adults and kids.Opposite is the quaint, second-hand bookshop L’Elephant Terrible. Satisfy your literary needs without breaking the bank with a wide range of Africana titles, first-edition classics, and beautifully illustrated botanical reference books.
When it comes to gifts, the ceramics from Storm in a Teacup are hard to resist, while Lucky Fish is a friendly boutique selling exquisite clothing and homeware made from Indian cotton, and, bursting with greenery, the small house plant shop JFF has an excellent selection of plants and pots. For a beautiful bouquet, order online from Petal and Post, a flower delivery service whose distribution point is at 44 Stanley.
Other wonderful specialist boutiques include Mr Vinyl, for that hard-to-find jazz title or the latest vinyl releases, and Mungo which sells luxurious woven linens made according to traditional 19th-century techniques. Drawing on the model of a museum store, The Gift Gallery adjoining Path Nomad has a small but beautifully curated selection of handcrafted African designs from jewellery to home goods.
Adding to the selection of homeware stores, Bed Bath Body offers finely crafted body care products. The sensory table where shoppers can explore every fragrance, pick up, interact, moisturise, spray, and get a feel for each product is an awesome feature.
The Manor's flagship project space is an exciting new addition to look out for at 44 Stanley, home to a revolving, collaborative offering of photography, fashion, and design that embodies the brand's ethos of luxury, African art, and local storytelling.
Eats, treats, and drinks
Enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee beans prepared to your liking at Bean There, South Africa's first roaster of Certified Fair Trade coffee, and buy a bag to take home with you.
You may know them from Norwood, but The Baker Brothers have a corner shop at 44 Stanley too – pick up a freshly baked sourdough loaf, scrumptious croissant, or cinnamon-sugar challah. With master baker Sam Mboko at the helm, you won't be sorry. They have a few gluten-free options too.
For a delicious breakfast or a relaxed family meal, Salvation Café is an ideal choice and, by now, a Joburg institution, with one of the best selections of savoury and sweet breakfasts and a popular courtyard terrace. Their cheesecake was voted Joburg's best in 2023; try it yourself.
Try La Pergola for Northern Italian-inspired fare; fill up on hearty lamb osso bucco gremolata or share the antipasto platter with cured meats, pickled veg, cheese, and other delicacies. With a French twist, Saint Germain's menu features light bistro meals including roast beef baguettes, Niçoise salad, and filled croissants.
Interested in some Asian Flavours? Beijing Opera has made 44 Stanley its semi-permanent Joburg home until Feb 2025 in what is planned as a six-month pop-up. Expect delicious food in an intimate and inviting setting. This is the place to find a fresh take on Pan-Asian dining.
If you have a penchant for fine South African wines, you better hot-foot it to Vinosity. The boutique wine merchant stocks some of the greatest producers in the country alongside lesser-known labels, with a bottle to suit any budget.
For those with a sweet tooth, dessert shop Afters is for you – pop in for gourmet treats like apple and blackberry crumble cheesecake, choc-loaded brownies, or whatever's on offer that day. We have it on good authority that Forest Gelato's homemade gelato and sorbets are very, very good. With flavours changing seasonally, you'll want to visit often.
Across from the 44 Stanley precinct look out for Little Addis Café, one of Joburg's most popular Ethiopian eateries. This is food that's unassuming and unfussy, but phenomenally delicious.
Indie cinema
Joburg's original independent cinema, The Bioscope is devoted to bringing the latest in arthouse, indie, documentary, and African films to the South African big screen.
In addition to a spacious 47-seat cinema, there's The Bioscope gift shop where you can buy movie-related memorabilia such as books and posters as well cool T-shirts (many of them movie-inspired) from illustrator and The Bioscope's founder Russell Grant's Limited Edish label. It's a great venue for a birthday party, corporate event, or even a marriage proposal (yes, this really happened using the big screen).
Studio spaces
The revamped Acre Studio is where the multi-disciplinary interior architecture, styling, and design studio has its base, as well as a beautiful retail outlet. Here you'll find Acre's signature contemporary furniture pieces and home accessories.44 Stanley is also the headquarters of Actor Spaces, a creative space that facilitates the creation of a digital publication of the same name celebrating local film, television, and theatre.
Art at 44
Several artists have studios here including brothers Fhatuwani Mukheli and Justice Mukheli. We also recommend visiting the listening library upstairs belonging to Zimbabwean mixed-media artist, Kudzanai Chiurai. His studio with a rich archive of vinyl records is called The Library of Things We Forgot to Remember.ArtWave Studio's first permanent home, visit them on the first floor (opposite Salvation Café) to create your own masterpiece. Their famous paint-a-tote bag classes happen every Saturday while their textured art workshop takes place every Sunday.
New kids on the art block, Path Nomad is a multi-functional gallery and pop-up events space that's hosted the work of Joburg-based photographer Michael Meyersfeld and was used as part of Twyg's 2024 Slow Fashion Festival. Off to a strong start, best keep an eye on this interesting, community-centric space.
Bailey’s African History Archive (BAHA) honours South Africa’s iconic Drum Magazine with its extensive collection of images from the archive. Located in the central courtyard, the archive store embodies and extends the authentically South African essence of the historic publication through poster, print, greeting card, and T-shirt sales of original Drum imagery.
Artist Admin offers artists administrative support ranging from shipping and e-commerce to exhibition management and production. The services offered by Artist Admin cater to creators specialising in multiple disciplines and their clients include musicians, painters, illustrators, photographers, videographers, designers, and even coders.
An extension of The Atelier, The Gallery is a collaborative, artist-run space curated by artist Chloë Reid and includes exhibitions, residencies, screenings, and other forms of creative collaboration.
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