Victoria Yards, between Maboneng and Cyrildene on the eastern side of the city, was once a cluster of derelict industrial buildings. Now reimagined as a haven for artists, artisans and makers, Victoria Yards has retained its distinct industrial spaces in striking contrast to the lush gardens that wind through the development.
The grounds are a testament to a commitment to restore, build and nurture a community; from the LitDistrict’s library space open to under-resourced children in the area, to an impressive and well-loved nursery of edible plants throughout the precinct, job-creation initiatives for youth in the surrounding area and even a feeding scheme. Victoria Yards is part of the Makers Valley precinct, and a core initiative in supporting creativity and community in this part of the city.
The offerings at Victoria Yards run deep, with fashion and design, arts and crafts which can be enjoyed by the public at the First Sundays market, or by booking a discovery or artisan tourto see how products are made. If you’re interested in exploring the Victoria Yards ecosystem, here’s our comprehensive guide to this dynamic precinct – trust us, you’ll be there for hours.
1. First Sunday Markets at Victoria Yards
New traders gather monthly at the First Sunday Market at Vic Yards. Photo: Victoria Yards.
On the first Sunday of almost every month from 10:00 – 16:00
, the army of creatives and makers at Vic Yards and those outside it unite to show off their eclectic wares, with art, fashion, ceramics, workshops, local artisanal food and drink and of course, free entrance and safe parking.
Bring your (leashed) furry friends along and wander through the thriving grounds. Visitors can explore studios, shops, restaurants and the likes alongside a backdrop of live music, food vendors and a lively family-friendly atmosphere. The market is also open to vendors who aren’t Victoria Yards tenants, extending the ethos of community to all of Joburg’s independent makers.
While many of the spaces at Victoria Yards are the studios of artists and makers, and are therefore not consistently public-facing, almost all of them feature their products and share their processes on First Sunday, making it the perfect time to visit.
2. Where to eat and drink at Victoria Yards
Feast your eyes on the spread of artisanal meats at Fama Delicatessen. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Victoria Yards loves makers of all kinds and treats food and drink like a powerful art form able to invoke childhood nostalgia, tell a story about values, and exhibit excellent and enduring craftmanship. For quality, intentional eats and storytelling (through each mouthful), the precinct has a lot to offer.
FAMA DELICATESSEN Fama Delicatessen is stocked with some of the finest cold cuts we've come across and at prices that won't make your eyes water. The deli was started in 1987 by Roberto Sa Gimenez, a Spanish immigrant who spent years in Italy and Spain learning traditional curing methods before bringing his knowledge to Joburg. The current owners, Nuno and Carla Fernandes, have carried the torch since 2011, championing the slow food movement and making everything from salami and chorizo to Serrano ham in the Spanish style. Its beautifully cured meats, good cheese, and quality produce makes you want to put together an impromptu charcuterie board, as we did. One exception to the reasonable pricing: remember that R10,000 dry-cured prosciutto at Woolworths that had everyone talking over the 2025 festive season? It lives here now, and yes, you can sneak a taste before committing.
HOME OF THE BEAN
Previously in
Maboneng
,
Home of the Bean
has settled cosily into its new home (May 2026), and the blueberry lemon muffins are already a crowd-pleaser. Founded by husband-and-wife duo
Leroy Kgopa and Itumeleng Manamela
, the café is built entirely on a shared love of coffee and quality experiences, from the beans to the seats. The beans are sourced from as far afield as Burundi, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Guatemala, and the coffee is serious without being snobbish. It's the kind of spot you'll want to linger far longer than you planned.
PRIMAL SPIRITS DISTILLERY
The Primal team is small and determined, with every batch taste-tested at every step. Photo: Primal Distillery.
We are great fans of
Primal Spirits
, a grain-to-glass gin label whose distillery is based at Victoria Yards. Owners
Aaron Pieterse
and
Gabriel Fine,
two chemical engineers, had long dreamt of running a distillery together and in January 2025, they finally backed themselves, with Fine returning from London and Pieterse leaving his corporate job to make it happen. What makes Primal special is that they make everything from scratch. Their base spirit comes from non-hybridised organic hard red wheat diluted with ancient bedrock water from the Magaliesberg mountains, with herbs grown right outside their front door and indigenous Rex Union oranges zested and juiced on site. It's a pretty intense process that goes into making that gin you love so much with tonic, and from the ones we tasted, the Union and Applewood Gins are clear standouts. Worth taking the official tour for the cocktails alone.
SOBAE
For a refreshing burst to your tastebuds, visit
Sobae
for ice-cold sorbet made from ripe in-season fruit bought from informal vendors. It's an important factor for the team at Sobae, whose fight against food waste is a key part of their philosophy.
THE FISH AND CHIPS SHOP The Fish and Chips Shop
serves up freshly battered fish and gloriously soggy, old-school slap chips. It's a family-run joint, as owner
Nic de Sousa
grew up working in his mother's fish shop and proudly continues that legacy, and it shows in every bite. They champion other small local businesses, stocking condiments like
MaZo's Atchar
, made by a domestic worker turned entrepreneur.
3. Art, craft and design studios at Victoria Yards
James Delaney's magical studio, full of oddities and local collaborations. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Victoria Yards embodies the idea that creativity flourishes in unlikely places, housing an eclectic mix of more than 35 artists and artisans. Rather than a traditional commercial space, it is an ecosystem built on collaboration, mentoring and skill-sharing, making it one of the city's most authentic and productive creative destinations, and ensuring that something will always surprise you when you visit.
Browse the open studios of prominent local artists like
James Delaney
(sculptor and champion of
The Wilds
public park),
Dario Manjate
and architect and mixed-media artist
Mandy Shindler
. The space also champions artistic development through initiatives like
The Project Space
, a non-profit cultural laboratory founded by
Joao Ladeira
that is dedicated to advancing contemporary African art. Victoria Yards is located alongside the
Jukskei River which has inspired an artistic
collaboration with
Io Makandal
and
Spaza Art Gallery
.
Beyond fine art, Victoria Yards is a gold mine of traditional craftsmanship and sustainable design. The makers' community here is incredibly diverse. You can watch bespoke silkscreen printers at work at
