Kitchener’s Carvery Bar

Kitchener's Carvery Bar on Juta Street in Braamfontein is one of the oldest bars in Johannesburg, dating back to the early twentieth century, and it is often described as one of the city's oldest continuously licensed bars. Its rooms keep their heritage character, with pressed-metal ceilings, wood panelling and old fittings, and walking in feels like stepping into a different era of the city.

In recent years it has been reinvented for a new generation as one of Braamfontein's best-known nightlife and live music spots. By day it is a casual place for a drink, and by night it fills with students, creatives and music lovers who come for DJs and bands. The crowd is known for being relaxed and unpretentious, and the drinks list covers beer, wine and cocktails at budget to mid-range prices.

Next door, Little Kitchener's serves pizza, which is useful if you want something to eat before a long night. The bar opens from the afternoon into the night, and live music takes place on selected evenings, so check its social media pages for what is coming up. Weekends and Thursday nights are the busiest.

Kitchener's suits younger travellers, students, music fans and anyone curious about the historic side of inner-city Johannesburg. It can get crowded and loud late at night, so if you prefer a quieter drink, visit in the late afternoon or early evening, when you can take in the interior properly.

Look closely at the old fittings and the pressed ceiling as you come in: they are a reminder of how much of early Johannesburg has disappeared, and Kitchener's is one of the few bars of its age still trading in the city. An afternoon drink here fits well after a visit to Constitution Hill.

Braamfontein is a lively student district next to Wits University and close to Constitution Hill, which is just a short distance from the bar. Other options nearby include The Artivist and Untitled Basement on Reserve Street and Hugh's Jazz Club on De Beer Street. As with any night out in central Johannesburg, keep valuables out of sight, stay on busy streets and use a ride-hailing app to get back to your accommodation, especially late at night.