Johannesburg’s Must-Visit Neighborhood Finally Has a Great Hotel

It’s a Friday afternoon in downtown Johannesburg’s Maboneng Precinct, and a colorful throng of people is filling the outdoor seats of restaurants and bars. Young professionals are decompressing over a post-work glass of wine, and students are sinking into what might be their fourth beer. Among the diverse crowd, the only common denominator is a carefree vibe—everyone seems to be having a good time. It’s a scene that wouldn’t have been imaginable in downtown Johannesburg until five or six years ago.

Once an abandoned area fraught with crime, Maboneng has become a thriving inner-city hub—and the most dynamic part of town. The area has evolved substantially over the past decade, but the January ribbon cutting of Hallmark House, a slick hotel and residential complex, marks a pivotal moment, making this once-downtrodden part of town a prime spot for both locals and overnight travelers.