Want to go shopping in Johannesburg?
There is no shortage of malls in Johannesburg and we have taken the effort to list what we think are the best shopping malls in the South Africa’s largest city.
Booming with trendy and chic shopping malls, the busy bustling city of gold is a paradise for shoppers. The trick however is to find them.
With numerous choices, a visitor can be quickly overwhelmed and confused. Worry not dear visitor, we have compiled a quick guide on the 10 best malls in Johannesburg.
Our List of Best Malls in Johannesburg
Mall of Africa
One of the newest kids on the block is the Mall of Africa. This supersized mall has a retail area measuring 131,000 square metres. It is located in Waterfall City, Midrand close to the N1 highway. It has impressive glass ceilings and chandeliers, broad, spacious walkways and an excellent outdoor chill zone with a spectacular view.
Home to over 300 shops and an outstanding 6,500 parking bays the mall is a giant African wonderland. Due to the gigantic size of the mall, you can get lost quite easily, but do not panic if you do, there are a lot of information desks and centres that can help you. Or better yet why not take the chance to explore more, the size definitely contributes to the allure of the mall.
You can look forward to extravagant storefronts and a vast array of international and local brands to shop from. It has world-class restaurants and food outlets like KREAM. There is a Gautrain bus service that operates over the weekend directly from the Midrand station to the mall. There is also an Uber pick up and drop off point.
The mall hosted the South African Fashion week in 2020, therefore if you do happen to be around during the South African Fashion Week, then the place to be in the Mall of Africa. The adjoining Waterfall Park is a beautiful attraction which offers a theatre, a Wi-Fi choreographed musical fountain and 3,125 square metre garden and various other extraordinary features.
There is an outdoor play area for children located in the chill zone; however, this is just about it in terms of entertainment for young kids. The only other available form of entertainment is the movie theatre.
The focus of the mall seems to be shopping, shopping and more shopping. Which is certainly not a bad thing!
Sandton City Shopping Centre
Perhaps one of the most recognised and famous landmarks in Johannesburg is the Sandton City Mall. Located right in the centre of Gauteng’s financial hub, the mall offers a shopping experience like no other. The mall including neighbouring Nelson Mandela Square, the Sandton Convention Centre, Gautrain station and luxury hotels (for the convenience of tourists), is part of the wealthiest square mile in South Africa.
It has beautifully decorated facilities and is home to over 300 retail shops and the sparkling Diamond Walk, where you will find global luxury brands such as Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Cartier among others, for your upmarket retail therapy. There is an enormous food district with choices for everyone as well as cafés such as Walnut Grove, restaurants like Nonna’s and delis spread across the mall for that much needed mid-shopping rest and recoup.
The mall offers unique VIP shuttle and hands free shopping delivery services among others. It also has a bus service operated by Zeelo, for travel between Sandton City and Eastgate mall. The bus service has four morning and afternoon travel times to choose from. In addition, the mall has an e-hailing service pick-up and drop-off station called My Sandton City Stop, with a comfortable seated waiting room that has 24-hour security presence and surveillance adjacent to the flowing pick-up and drop-off zone.
When we say this mall offers a luxury shopping experience like no other we mean it! There is not much you can’t find at Sandton City.
Melrose Arch
The little city within the city.
If you are looking for a truly unique shopping experience that diverts from the traditional “mall” feeling, prioritises social interaction and has that vibrant youthful energy then Melrose Arch is the place for you. The mall’s design has a rare in-door/outdoor feeling that offers preference to pedestrians, this means that you have all the time in the world to explore and shop as you walk through cobbled alleys, open-air cafés, restaurants and a high-street shopping mix.
Located in the affluent and leafy suburbs of Melrose, it is the perfect mix of shop, play, live and work with residential apartments, award winning restaurants like Mr George
and cafés, a gym, two luxury hotels, boutique retail with a mixture of local and international stores, an events venue, nearby art galleries, hot and trendy nightspots like the Kilimanjaro and commercial spaces, the shopping experience at the mall is matchless.
Fourways Mall
Home to a whopping 400 stores and officially the largest mall in Southern Africa at 178,000 square metres this award winning newly renovated mall situated in Sandton, offers a convenient shopping experience where you will be surrounded by major attractions like Montecasino, a premier entertainment destination with international theatre productions, dinning, hotels, casino, the Montecasino Bird Gardens and so much more, as well as Fourways Crossing, which is a chic lifestyle centre with over 80 shops.
The mall’s attractive and eye catching ceilings, spacious passages and colourful and modern store fronts makes it a first-class and dreamy experience for shoppers and one of the best malls in Johannesburg. It has a new football-sized market square at the centre of the mall where events, product launches and activities take place, this is also the best place to appreciate the sheer beauty of the architectural design.
The mall has a bit of everything for everyone. The indoor trampoline park BOUNCE Inc., equipped with basketball courts, rock climbing walls and dodge ball as well as the arcade games, mini golf and party venue run by the Fun Company makes the mall a perfect place for families.
The extended shopping hours and 8,000 parking bays make it a fantastic spot for avid shoppers. You can definitely shop ‘til you drop at all the major retail outlets. It has a good combination of the well-known fast food staples (perfect for those fussy kids) and well as high end and popular restaurants and cafés.
Northgate Shopping Centre
One of the major attractions to this mall is the winter wonderland situated right in the middle of sunny Johannesburg, The Northgate Ice Rink. The other attraction is of course the Ticketpro Dome, where various concerts, performances and events are hosted.
Northgate shopping centre is strategically located in North Riding, Randburg, close to the N1 highway making it easily accessible from all directions. It is your one stop for everything and offers you the traditional South African shopping experience. The mall has free parking and is very popular with high traffic. At 90,000 square metres, with plenty of shops to offer, walking around the mall can be quite tiring, but not to worry, the mall has ample areas where you can pause and recharge. These areas include the food court and the indoor play area where you can enjoy a refreshing meal from the numerous food outlets and the children can let loose some of that pent up energy on the play area.
Rosebank Mall
The fusion of sophisticated luxury and African magic makes Rosebank mall one of the best malls in Johannesburg. Positioned in one of the poshest commercial and residential areas in the city, it is easily accessible via major roads and via the Gautrain and it is close to other wonderful sites like the Johannesburg Zoo, Zoo Lake and Constitutional Hill.
The Rosebank Art and Craft Market which adjoins the mall offers the authentic South African shopping experience for visitors, with a variety of merchandise on display, from sculptures, wooden carved animals, to beads, colourful paintings and fabrics. The mall also operates its very own Rosebank Sunday Market on the roof top which is open from 09h00 to 16h00 every Sunday. It is the ultimate place to get the best of both worlds.
The four-storey retail centre has so much to offer, from catching a movie, shopping at the numerous high end boutiques or at the local and international high street brand retailers to indulging in a wonderful meal at one of the plenty cafés and restaurants you will not be short of things to do.
The Zone @ Rosebank
This mixed-use shopping centre deserves its own spotlight. Whilst adjoined to Rosebank Mall, The Zone offers a completely different experience. Aptly named, The Zone comprises of 5 separate buildings, The Zone Boulevard, Regents Place, The Zone Phase 2, Cradock Square and The Zone.
This hip and happening precinct is a lovely place to indulge yourself and dive into a diverse and other-worldly environment. A mixture of hotels, offices and exclusive retail shops, that spread out through a series of interlinked pedestrian oriented pathways this centre is the perfect escape from the busy malls.
It has a kid entertainment zone, the Fun Company is also present with a bowling alley and arcade games. For those with no time for a slow leisurely lunch at the exquisite restaurants, the food court offers the usual fast food giants.
For the fashion lovers, The Zone has exclusive top-notch boutiques featuring local fashion designers as well. For the young and the young at heart, The Zone is more than just a shopping spot, it is a lifestyle.
Mall of the South
Far from the glitz and glam offered by the malls in the north and north-west of Johannesburg is Mall of the South. But do not let its location fool you, it is situated in one of the luxurious neighbourhoods in the south of Johannesburg, Aspen Hills and it is close to the famous theme park, Gold Reef City and to the Kliprivier Municipal Nature Reserve.
This 72,000 square metre mall offers over 160 shops, free Wi-Fi and is accessible via major roads. The mall design is aesthetically pleasing, with features such as fountains and indoor foliage, presenting a very relaxed shopping atmosphere. With ample parking and a great selection of different coffee shops and unique restaurants like Life Grand Cafe, this mall is perfect for the shopper who wants no major distractions and traffic and is simply there to enjoy the experience.
An honourable mention also goes to Southgate mall which offers a very traditional shopping experience. Situated near the well- known SOWETO Township, the mall along with the adjoining convenience centre- the Southgate Value Market, has a very diverse line of retailers. You will not be left disappointed should you find yourself in the south of Jo’burg.
Eastgate Mall
We now move along to the East Rand. The Eastgate Mall is one of the most notable shopping destinations in Johannesburg with over 300 stores. From department stores to elegant boutiques, cinemas, restaurants and a whole lot of exclusive shops the mall offers a superior experience. The focus here is family.
Situated in Bedfordview next to a major freeway between the O.R Tambo International Airport and Johannesburg City Centre, the mall is easily accessible via public transport. The mall is also serviced by Zeelo, a private coach that can link you to Sandton City.
Newly renovated with modern finishes, spacious aisles and paths, the mall is a fantastic place for family shopping sprees. Anchored by some of the biggest local department stores such as Woolworths, the mall is home to plenty of shops. There is also a big children’s play area located near the food court where parents can sit and enjoy while the kids are occupied. The IMAX Theatre is also a great place to relax and take a break from all that shopping.
Clearwater Mall
And…we’re off to the Westrand.
Seated in Roodepoort, Clearwater mall is the whole package. At 86,000 square metres, hosting 221 stores, 26 dining facilities and over 5,200 parking bays, this three-legged triangular designed mall offers a relaxed food district with an outdoor atmosphere. The retractable roof can open and close depending on the weather and the dominant feature is the glass roof over the central piazza that gives an uninterrupted view of the sky.
Dominating as the entertainment hub of the North-West suburbs, the mall is host to the Nu Metro cinema with 3D technology, it has an indoor go-karting race track in the basement and two big jungle gyms for the little ones to play.
Its upmarket restaurants such as Rare Steakhouse and Café Rousse offer an experience like no other, with the retractable roof and greenery surrounding the area, you get a mix of an indoor/outdoor relaxing atmosphere. If you just need a quick bite as you mosey along there is a wide selection of the usual fast food chains.
Cradlestone Mall
Also situated in the Westrand, in Mogale City is the Cradlestone Mall. Cradlestone’s exterior architectural design is its wow factor. Named due to its close proximity to the World Heritage Site, the mall is located near the R28 highway and the Pinehaven Interchange. It is a kilometre away from the Silverstar Casino and 3 kilometres away from the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens.
The 76,000 square metre mall hosts 160 quality shops and 4,300 parking bays with loads of free parking, this mall is a completely different shopping experience. The atmosphere is energetic providing shoppers with a unique and rare mix of retail shops such as the Animal Junxion, Dealz, Oriental Express, Value Co. and Store & More.
There is a refreshing allure to the mall chiefly connected to its different aesthetic and its formidable line-up of leading retail shops and brands. Restaurants like
Doppio Zero offer competitive Italian style cuisine from as little as R44 for a medium wood-fired pizza. The mall is generally not crowded, so if you like to shop in a state of the art facility whilst avoiding huge traffic, this is the mall for you.
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