Melville is a bohemian suburb of Johannesburg in the South African province of Gauteng. Many restaurants and bars are located here, and they are largely frequented by students from the neighbouring University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park and the University of the Witwatersrand in Braamfontein. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city. The area is located west of Johannesburg’s central business district. It’s in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality’s Region B.
History
Prior to the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886, the neighbourhood was built on the site of Braamfontein, one of Johannesburg’s first farms. The suburb was established on October 5, 1896, and is named after Edward Harker Vincent Melvill, a land surveyor. The area was described as a “picturesque and healthy spot in the vicinity of Johannesburg with a splendid view of the wooded region to the north and the blue Pretoria hills stretching like steel lines against the horizon” in the public sale notice.
Geography
Melville is located near the ancient neighbourhood of Sophiatown and is notable for the Melville Koppies (an archaeological site with rolling hills of grassland with views over the city).
Culture And Contemporary Life
The neighbourhood, like Parkhurst, Greenside, Parkview, Norwood, and Emmarentia, is one of the several in the Northern Suburbs that still have high streets lined with cafes, restaurants, and stores rather than enclosed retail malls. The majority of these are along 7th Street in Melville, while there are a few on other streets as well, such as 4th Avenue and Main Street (where there is also a supermarket).
Melville is a popular tourist stopover in Johannesburg, and there are around 30 guest rooms in the area. Aside from eateries, 7th Street has multiple bars and a tattoo studio, making it a popular hangout for the cosmopolitan community.
Views of 7th Street, Melville were utilised in the opening images of the popular soap opera 7de Laan.
Things to do in Melville
Picnic At The Melville Koppies Nature Reserve
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, which has over 150 bird species, is a great place to have a picnic. On Sundays, take a guided hike through the UNESCO site.
Visit Johannesburg Botanical Garden
Take a stroll through the Johannesburg Botanical Garden, which includes seven unique gardens, including a rose garden, and dates back to 1866 when it was a private property.
A Tour With The Roving Bantu Kitchen Tours
The Roving Bantu Kitchen offers worthwhile tours and their kitchen serves local dishes.
Dance At Laberation Cafe
Liberation Café has a fun ambiance that will make you want to get up and dance. It is aimed at a younger audience. It’s a fantastic spot for dancing (there’s even a jukebox).
A Drink At Hell’s Kitchen
In Melville, Hell’s Kitchen is a fantastic area to have a drink. There’s a secret entrance to a private room, and it’s edgy with a 1920s speakeasy vibe.
What You Need To Know
Melville is accessible without a car, and an e-tuk-tuk is an excellent way to see the nearby neighbourhoods of Westdene, Greenside, Brixton, Braamfontein, and Rosebank.
How To Get To Melville Johannesburg
To get to Park Station in Braamfontein, take the Gautrain from the airport or the north. You may take an e-tuktuk into Melville from there.