Sandton is known as “Africa’s richest square mile” and if you are craving a bit of elegance and looking to drop some cash, the Sandton City Mall won’t disappoint. It boasts more than 300 stores, including high-end fashion designers such as Lacoste, Bebe, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Salvatore Ferragamo. You will also find specialty food and health stores, home decor, books & gift stores and the typical department stores. Visit the full list of stores here.
We visited the mall last week to have lunch and do a little window shopping. The first order of business was lunch, and we spent a half an hour investigating our options. There are beautiful restaurants in Nelson Mandela Square (an outdoor area attached to the mall) and throughout the mall itself. Or if you want something fast and cheap there’s a food court with Steers, Fishaways, Kauai, Anat, etc. After all the wandering, we let hunger get the best of us and ended up choosing the fast and cheapy option- Anat. I had a falafel pita which left me satisfied, and later grabbed a cappuccino at Milky Lane and made our way outside to Nelson Mandela Square.
After finishing our coffee, we wandered aimlessly through the mall, taking in the sleekness of it all and popping in a store here and there. We love people watching, and Sandton also doesn’t disappoint in this department either. Then I almost unloaded my wallet in Cotton On, but my husband talked me out of it. Judging by the crowd in the store I wasn’t the only one sucked in to this Australian Brand. After looking at the website I realized they have stores in Florida, including the Wellington Mall and Treasure Coast Mall. HOW DID I MISS THIS? I’ll have to make a trip when I get home, because right now spending money on clothes is just not an option.
Speaking of money, one tip I have is to avoid the overpriced stores selling African hand-made crafts and stuffed animals. As cute as they are, they are PRICEY and unless you desperately need a gift to bring home, you can find much less expensive items at outdoor markets in nearby areas and even the Crafter’s Market which can be found in other malls in Gauteng.
After a little research I have come up with:
My Recommended SANDTON CITY Itinerary
Accommodation If you’d like to stay overnight in Sandton, The InterContinental Sandton Towers are a convenient and beautiful choice. The hotel is connected to the mall and convention center via a sidewalk.
Getting there If you are not staying in Sandton, the mall is accessible by the Gautrain, Joburg’s train and best form of public transport. Sandton city is also accessible by car of course.
Start the day with a lazy sit-down lunch or brunch @ a cafe like Doppio Zero, an italian-style cafe. They serve oven pizzas, vegetarian meals, pastas, steaks, fish and more. They also offer bake fresh breads & cakes and serve homemade Italian Gelato. Make sure to sit upstairs as the visitor reviews say that have an incredible view!
Grab a coffee at Lattelicious in the plaza or Milky Lane in the mall.
Wander the mall, get lost in the stores and try not to spend all your money!
See a movie in the 3D cinema.
Have dinner in Nelson Mandela Square
Because you’re in Africa, why not immerse yourself in the exotic flavors the continent offers? Lekgotla – The Meeting Place offers Moroccan, South African and Mozambique cuisine as well as an extensive selection of wines.