Information
Landmark: Neighbourgoods MarketCity: Johannesburg
Country: South Africa
Continent: Africa
Neighbourgoods Market, Johannesburg, South Africa, Africa
Overview
The Neighbourgoods Market buzzes as one of Johannesburg’s favorite spots, brimming with sizzling food stalls and lively lifestyle finds.In the lively suburb of Braamfontein, it’s become a go-to landmark for locals and tourists eager to taste the city’s bold, ever-changing flavors-like the scent of fresh bread drifting from a corner café.Bustling with color and chatter, the market gathers artisanal food stalls, local growers, and skilled makers, inviting visitors to taste flaky pastries, rich coffee, and some of Johannesburg’s finest flavors.Back in 2006, a handful of friends and entrepreneurs came together to launch the Neighbourgoods Market, hoping to give people a place to meet local food producers and artisans over the smell of fresh bread and roasted coffee.It started as a way to champion sustainable, organic food and to offer something different from the usual grocery aisles and crowded cafés people knew back then.Called “Neighbourgoods,” the market celebrates community and the sharing of fresh, quality food-and over time, it’s become the spot where the city’s mix of people gather to eat, chat, and savor something warm and fragrant straight from the pan.Over the years, the market’s swelled with energy and variety, pulling in everyone from curious students to devoted food lovers and even travelers snapping photos by the spice stalls.You’ll find the Neighbourgoods Market at 73 Juta Street in Braamfontein, inside a once-industrial building with high windows and exposed beams.Sunlight pours through the high ceilings, and the wide, open-plan layout gives the market a bright, easy flow that brings people together.You can sit inside or out on the patio, where the air hums with chatter and clinking glasses, creating a warm spot to linger over a meal.Tucked into Braamfontein, the market plays a role in the area’s revival, where street art splashes across brick walls and the neighborhood hums with creative spaces, cultural hubs, and a lively, youthful energy.The Neighbourgoods Market isn’t just about food-it’s a place to wander, taste, and stumble on something new, from the scent of fresh coffee to the hum of live music, all under one roof.Here’s what to expect when you stop by: food and drink in every direction, from crisp local apples to fragrant bowls of steaming curry, all gathered in one lively culinary haven.It’s best known for championing artisan, sustainable foods-think crisp organic apples, locally sourced herbs, and rich, hand-crafted treats.Vendors dish up everything from juicy gourmet burgers and smoky wood‑fired pizzas to crisp vegan wraps, rich specialty coffee, and ice‑cold fruit smoothies.You’ll also find plenty of sweet treats-flaky pastries, frosted cupcakes, and rich, creamy desserts.The menu ranges from rich, cheesy comfort dishes to crisp, fresh salads, so it’s an easy pick for groups with all kinds of tastes.Local Produce and Artisanal Goods: Beyond fresh food, the market bursts with handmade treasures, from carved wooden spoons to jars of golden honey.That means things like handmade goods, locally made clothing, jewelry that catches the light, unique crafts, and homeware-often the work of small-scale makers and independent designers.At the market, you can pick up one-of-a-kind, locally crafted pieces-like hand-painted mugs-that capture Johannesburg’s bold creativity and entrepreneurial drive.Visitors can browse baskets of crisp organic vegetables, fresh cuts of meat, creamy cheeses, golden honey, and other specialty treats-many gathered from farms just down the road.Live music drifts through the air, and lively performances keep the crowd buzzing - it’s this energy that makes the Neighbourgoods Market truly stand out.The market always hums with live music-one day it’s a local band tuning guitars under the awning, the next a DJ spinning beats-keeping the place buzzing with energy.This touch of entertainment turns the market into more than just a spot to grab a meal-it’s where friends linger over coffee, swap stories, and soak in Johannesburg’s vibrant cultural buzz.Community and socializing come alive at the Neighbourgoods Market, where friends linger over coffee and strangers strike up easy conversations.The market invites people to share long wooden tables, where strangers can slide onto a bench, trade stories, and linger over steaming bowls and cold drinks.The vibe’s easygoing and warm, the kind of place where you can swap stories over coffee with old friends or strike up a chat with someone new.Supporting Local Entrepreneurs: The market brings together small businesses, local farmers with baskets of fresh greens, talented chefs, and imaginative creatives.At Neighbourgoods Market, many food vendors and artisans run their own small businesses, and the market gives them a chance to share their creations-like fresh-baked sourdough or hand-carved bowls-with a wider crowd.It builds a real sense of backing for local talent, like cheering at a neighborhood art fair, and it pushes for business practices that can last.The Neighbourgoods Market usually buzzes with life on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., making it a perfect weekend stop for a coffee and a stroll.Because the market keeps regular hours, you can wander in whenever you like-grab a warm pastry, browse handmade jewelry, or just soak in the chatter and music drifting through the stalls.Besides the regular weekend market, Neighbourgoods puts on special events year-round-think smoky autumn food festivals, lively evening markets, and creative mash-ups with local artists and musicians.These events keep the market buzzing with energy, so visitors can always stumble across something fresh-maybe the scent of warm bread or a handmade scarf they’ve never seen before.At the Neighbourgoods Market, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword-it’s at the heart of what they do, and the organizers put real effort into running things in a way that’s kind to the planet, from composting food scraps to cutting down on plastic waste.Many food vendors emphasize sustainable sourcing, organic fruits and vegetables, and fair business practices, while the market backs them up with waste-cutting efforts-like swapping plastic for compostable boxes and urging shoppers to bring their own sturdy totes.The market works to lift up local, small-scale farmers and food makers, helping them reach more customers-like a baker selling fresh, warm loaves to families who’ve never tried her bread before.Focusing on local businesses fits perfectly with the market’s bigger mission-building a fairer, more sustainable food system in Johannesburg, where fresh tomatoes might come straight from a farmer just down the road.If you’re in Johannesburg, don’t miss the Neighbourgoods Market-it’s where the city’s creative buzz meets the rich aroma of fresh bread and sizzling street food.Bursting with the scent of sizzling street food, colorful art, lively music, and a warm community vibe, the market captures Johannesburg’s diversity and fresh, inventive spirit.Whether you’re craving bold new flavors, hunting for one-of-a-kind handmade treasures, or just want to linger over coffee while music drifts through the air on a lazy Saturday, Neighbourgoods Market is the perfect place to take it all in.
