Living Room
Living Room is Maboneng's signature rooftop bar, perched on top of the Main Street Life building with unobstructed views of Johannesburg's skyline. The space is open-air with a partial canopy, decorated with recycled furniture, potted plants, and string lights that give it a house-party-on-the-roof feel rather than a polished lounge aesthetic. DJs play on weekends, spinning deep house, amapiano, and Afro house that soundtracks the sunset and carries into the evening. The bar stocks South African wines, craft beers, and a short cocktail menu. Capacity is around 120, and it fills on Saturday evenings.
What to Expect
An open-air rooftop with a relaxed, creative atmosphere. You'll see the Joburg skyline in every direction and feel the city's energy from above. The crowd is young, mixed, and more interested in the music and conversation than in status. It's the opposite of Sandton's polish.
Laid-back, creative, and genuinely diverse. The rooftop setting and casual decor create an atmosphere that's authentically Joburg without pretension.
Deep house, amapiano, Afro house, and occasional live jazz sets on Sunday afternoons
Casual to creative. Maboneng's dress code is self-expression over formality. Vintage finds, streetwear, and artistic outfits are the norm.
Sunset drinks with a view, creative types, and anyone wanting to experience Maboneng's cultural energy in a single venue.
Cash preferred, cards accepted with occasional connectivity issues
Price Range
No cover most nights, event cover ZAR 50-100, drinks ZAR 50-110
≈ €3-6 / $3-6
Hours
Thu-Sun 3 PM to midnight, occasional Wednesday events
Insider Tip
Saturday sunset is the peak experience. Arrive by 4 PM to guarantee a good spot. The cocktails are simple but the craft beer selection is better. Try something from Johannesburg's own Mad Giant brewery.
Full Review
Living Room occupies one of Maboneng's best physical positions. The rooftop of the Main Street Life building puts you above the precinct with 360-degree views of Johannesburg's skyline. The Hillbrow Tower, Carlton Centre, and the mining dumps on the city's southern edge are all visible. At sunset, the golden light over Joburg is genuinely beautiful.
The venue's aesthetic is deliberately unpolished. Reclaimed wooden furniture, mismatched chairs, potted succulents, and string lights create a space that feels like a friend's rooftop party rather than a commercial operation. This is intentional and reflects Maboneng's broader creative identity.
Drinks are straightforward. The bar stocks a decent selection of South African craft beers (Devil's Peak, Mad Giant, Darling Brew) at ZAR 50-70 per bottle or draft. Wine is available by the glass at ZAR 60-90. The cocktail menu is short and sweet: mojitos, gin and tonics, and a couple of house specials that change monthly. Nothing will blow a cocktail nerd's mind, but everything is drinkable and fairly priced.
The DJ programming is where Living Room earns its stripes. Weekend sets lean into the deep house and amapiano sound that defines Joburg's music identity. The DJs are usually locals with genuine cred in the city's electronic music community. Sunday afternoon jazz sessions bring a different crowd, older and more relaxed, who settle in with wine and conversation.
The crowd is Maboneng in miniature: multiracial, creative, and young (predominantly 22-35). Photographers, graphic designers, musicians, and students from the University of Johannesburg form the core regulars. International visitors and Sandton residents who've ventured south add variety.
Safety note: the rooftop is within the Maboneng precinct's security zone, but the walk from street level to the rooftop passes through corridors that can feel isolated. Go with the crowd rather than alone. Uber pickup from the Main Street Life building entrance is straightforward.
The Neighborhood
On top of the Main Street Life building on Main Street in Maboneng. The precinct's other venues, Arts on Main, Uncle Merv's, and The Cosmopolitan, are within a two-minute walk at street level. The rooftop offers the best vantage point in the district.
Getting There
Uber from Sandton costs ZAR 80-130, from Rosebank ZAR 60-100. Direct your driver to the Main Street Life building entrance on Main Street, Maboneng. Do not walk from the CBD or surrounding areas.
Other Venues in Maboneng
Uncle Merv's
Neighborhood bar with a large outdoor deck, craft beer selection, and a calendar of live music events. A Maboneng institution.
The Cosmopolitan
Multi-level venue combining a restaurant, cocktail bar, and live performance space. Sunday sessions with jazz and deep house draw a loyal following.
Arts on Main
Arts complex hosting pop-up bars, gallery events, and weekend markets. The Sunday market transitions into afternoon drinks and live music.
1Fox Precinct
Events space in a converted warehouse that hosts weekend parties, live music, and food markets. The energy peaks on Saturday afternoons.