Adventure At Your Fingertips

Bootleggers Marshalltown: The Coffee Shop Joburg CBD Needed

Bootleggers Marshalltown has made one of the most sensible moves in Joburg's inner city coffee scene: a compact, focused specialty coffee stop on Simmonds Street that opens before the rest of the CBD has rubbed its eyes, serves food worth sitting down for, and keeps the wi-fi on all day.Bootleggers Marshalltown: A Fresh Brew Arrives in the Joburg CBDThe Joburg CBD has been quietly reinventing itself, and the coffee scene is part of that story. Bootlegger Coffee Company, the specialty roaster that built its name on serious espresso and a laid-back neighbourhood feel, has opened a compact XS-format location on Simmonds Street in Marshalltown. It is a small but meaningful addition to the inner city.If you know Bootlegger from its other Johannesburg spots, you know what the brand stands for. Single origin beans, skilled baristas, flat whites worth crossing town for, and cold brew that actually earns the label. The XS format strips things back to the essentials, and in Marshalltown, that focus works. There is something clarifying about a coffee shop that knows exactly what it is: no sprawl, no identity crisis, just well-sourced beans and espresso that reminds you why you started drinking the stuff in the first place.Find it at 8 Simmonds Street, tucked into a stretch of the CBD that sees serious weekday foot traffic. It opens at 6:00 AM Monday to Friday, which means it catches the early commuter crowd well before most of the city has woken up. Weekday hours run until 6:00 PM, giving you a long window whether you are starting your morning or winding down after an afternoon meeting. Saturday hours run to 3:00 PM, and it is closed on Sundays.The menu goes beyond a quick espresso. Breakfast, lunch, smoothies, grab-and-go options, and free wi-fi make it  useful for a working morning or a spontaneous catch-up between meetings. Mid-range pricing keeps it accessible without sacrificing quality. That balance is harder to pull off than it sounds, particularly in the CBD where the choice has historically been either budget with no atmosphere or atmosphere with a price tag that punishes you for leaving the northern suburbs.What Makes the XS Format Work in the CBDThe XS format is Bootlegger Coffee Company's answer to high-density urban locations: smaller footprint, tighter menu, faster service. It is built for places where people move quickly and space costs more per square metre. Marshalltown is exactly that kind of location. The streets fill up early with office workers, legal professionals from the surrounding courts and firms, and the general churn of inner city Joburg doing its thing.What the format does not sacrifice is coffee quality. The same sourcing standards that apply across the brand apply here. Single origin rotating options, a properly calibrated espresso, and cold brew made correctly rather than just chilled concentrate poured over ice. If you have been disappointed by CBD coffee before, the Bootlegger XS Simmonds Street location is a worthwhile correction.The food offering is practical and well-considered. Breakfast runs through the morning, which matters when you work in a part of the city where breakfast meetings are common and the nearest decent option has historically required a drive. Lunch extends the usefulness into the afternoon. Smoothies and freezos round things out for the warmer months, which in Joburg means most of the year. Grab-and-go options mean you do not have to commit to sitting down if you are between appointments. But if you do sit, the free wi-fi makes it a reasonable place to open a laptop and get an hour of work done.For anyone already exploring the coffee shops Joburg locals genuinely rate, the Marshalltown branch adds a compelling inner-city option to that list. It is also worth bookmarking alongside Joburg's best cafes for remote work and solo dates if you spend any time working from the CBD.Third Wave Coffee Culture Takes Root in the Inner CityThere is a longer story behind why a location like Bootleggers Marshalltown matters. Third wave coffee culture, with its emphasis on origin transparency, roast profiles, and barista craft, has largely concentrated in Joburg's northern suburbs and gentrified precincts. Rosebank, Parkhurst, Braamfontein, Maboneng: these are the neighbourhoods that got the specialty roasters first. The CBD, despite being the working heart of the city, lagged behind.That is slowly changing. Marshalltown in particular has seen renewed interest from businesses willing to invest in the inner city's potential. The foot traffic is there. The professionals are there. The early-morning commuter culture is very much there. What was missing was the kind of coffee that matched the ambition of the people drinking it.Bootlegger Coffee Company stepping into that gap with a well-run XS location is a small but real signal that the CBD's regeneration has coffee on its side now. If you are curious about what else is shifting in the inner city, the Joburg City Guide inner city picks is a good place to keep tabs on what's opening and worth visiting.For anyone curious about where to eat in Joburg when the mood strikes, Bootleggers Marshalltown is worth putting on your radar. Third wave coffee culture has arrived in the CBD, and it tastes good.Head to 8 Simmonds Street any weekday from 6:00 AM and give the flat white a chance. If you work in or around Marshalltown and have been making do with whatever was convenient, this is the upgrade you have been waiting for. Follow Bootlegger Coffee Company on their social channels for menu updates and any changes to hours.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere is Bootlegger Coffee located in Marshalltown?Bootlegger Coffee Company's Marshalltown branch, known as Bootlegger XS Simmonds Street, is located at 8 Simmonds Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg. It sits on a busy stretch of the CBD with good weekday foot traffic.What are Bootlegger Coffee Marshalltown's opening hours?Bootleggers Marshalltown is open Monday to Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The branch is closed on Sundays.Does Bootlegger Coffee Marshalltown have food on the menu?Yes, the Marshalltown location offers breakfast, lunch, smoothies, freezos, and grab-and-go food options. The menu is designed to work for both quick stops and longer sit-down visits, making it practical for working mornings or meetings.Does Bootlegger Coffee Marshalltown offer wi-fi?Yes, free wi-fi is available at the Bootleggers Marshalltown branch. This makes it a useful spot for remote workers, freelancers, and professionals who need to get work done between appointments in the CBD.What coffee does Bootlegger Coffee Company serve at the Marshalltown branch?Bootlegger Coffee Company is known for specialty-grade, single origin beans, skilled espresso preparation, flat whites, and properly made cold brew. The XS format at Bootleggers Marshalltown maintains the same coffee standards as the brand's other Johannesburg locations, keeping quality consistent across the range.

MAMMA MIA! Returns to Montecasino This October

If there’s one musical guaranteed to have an audience singing long after the final curtain call, it’s MAMMA MIA!The global smash hit is officially returning to Montecasino’s Teatro in Johannesburg for a limited season from 16 October to 22 November 2026, bringing ABBA’s iconic soundtrack back to local audiences for another unforgettable run.Packed with timeless favourites including Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, Take A Chance On Me, and The Winner Takes It All, this feel-good musical tells the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young bride-to-be who secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to her wedding in the hope of discovering which one is her father. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.Set on a sun-drenched Greek island, the production combines romance, comedy, friendship, family drama, and some of the most beloved pop songs ever written, making it a perfect theatre outing for both longtime ABBA fans and first-time musical-goers.What Audiences Can ExpectThis new South African production features a proudly local cast led by acclaimed theatre and Broadway star Amra-Faye Wright as Donna Sheridan. Joining her are musical theatre favourites Samantha Peo as Tanya and Leah Mari as Sophie Sheridan, bringing fresh energy to one of the world’s most loved musicals.Expect vibrant island-inspired staging, energetic choreography, colourful costumes, and all the joyful sing-along moments that have made MAMMA MIA! a worldwide phenomenon.Why MAMMA MIA! Continues to Win Audiences OverSince premiering in London’s West End, MAMMA MIA! has become one of the most successful musicals in theatre history, delighting audiences across the globe. Its combination of ABBA’s irresistible music, heartfelt storytelling, humour, and high-energy dance numbers continues to make it one of the most popular feel-good productions on the international theatre circuit.South African audiences will remember that the musical enjoyed a sold-out local season in 2023, making this Johannesburg return one of the most anticipated theatre events on the city’s entertainment calendar.When and WhereThe Johannesburg season takes place at Teatro, Montecasino from 16 October to 22 November 2026. Evening performances run from Tuesday to Friday at 19:30, with Saturday performances at 15:00 and 19:30, and Sunday performances at 14:00 and 18:00. The run is limited to just over five weeks, so theatre fans may want to book early for the most popular weekend performances.Montecasino remains one of Johannesburg’s premier entertainment destinations, offering a great selection of restaurants, bars, coffee spots, and hotels, making it easy to turn a night at MAMMA MIA! into a full evening out in Fourways.TicketsTickets start from R200 for selected Tuesday performances, with standard ticket prices ranging from R250 to R580 depending on the performance and seating category. Special Terrific Tuesday pricing is available exclusively for Tuesday shows. Tickets can be booked through Ticketmaster South Africa.If you’re planning a theatre night with friends, family, or colleagues, groups of 20 or more can qualify for a 20% discount on selected Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday evening performances, with bookings available through sales@showtime.co.za. A Perfect Joburg Night OutWhether you’re planning a girls’ night out, a date night, or a theatre outing with family and friends, MAMMA MIA! promises exactly what audiences need right now: an evening of pure escapism, nostalgia, laughter, and ABBA-fuelled joy.With classics like Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Take A Chance On Me, and Mamma Mia woven throughout the story, don’t be surprised if you leave the Teatro humming the soundtrack all the way home.

Woman Who Moves the City: Yael Geffen on Courage, Authentici...

Courageous. Resilient. Candid.Those are the three words Yael Geffen uses to describe herself, and they tell you a lot about the woman behind the title.As CEO and shareholder of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, Yael leads a national premium real estate brand with 500 agents across South Africa. Although, ask her what she actually does and she’ll tell you she is the company’s “Chief Fireman or Bottle Washer.”Her journey to the top has been anything but conventional. At 22, she packed her bags and moved to New York City alone, ultimately spending six years in the United States. Along the way, she did everything from packing shoes in Queens and working as a receptionist at an animation studio to building a career in marketing, sales and strategy.Today, alongside leading the business, she is a professional speaker, writer, podcaster, mental health advocate and outspoken advocate against gender-based violence.For our Woman Who Moves the City series, we caught up with Yael about motherhood, courage, leadership, learning to ask for help and why women can absolutely make it without faking it.Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.My official work title is CEO and shareholder of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, a national premium real estate brand linked with Sotheby’s Auction House, which has a history spanning nearly 300 years.We have 500 real estate agents nationally, and I am the Chief Fireman or Bottle Washer!I also speak professionally, write articles and have my own little podcast called Podcast Parking Lot. I speak on stages about everything from property and entrepreneurship to female empowerment, personal branding and mental health.I am a staunch mental health advocate and an advocate against gender-based violence.Before all of this, I lived in New York and Los Angeles and did everything from packing shoes in Queens to being a receptionist at an animation studio before building my career in marketing, sales and strategy.What has been your proudest achievement so far?I am a rock star mom, and my boy is just the coolest, kindest human being.I'm also proud that I had the guts to leave at 22 and go live in New York City alone. I ended up staying in the USA for six years and made it by myself.A major career highlight was interviewing Dr Edith Eger. She was a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz who went on to become a world-leading psychologist and New York Times bestselling author.I have the interview recorded, and it will always be an incredibly special moment for me.Have there been women who have inspired or mentored you along the way?Yes, I have a few, but I have to highlight Margaret Hirsch, who has helped shape my life.She is always available as a sounding board, whether it be professional or personal. It was always my intention to become a "mini Margaret" because I find her so inspiring and honest.I believe I now have a bit of a fan club myself, as women sometimes stare at me and then come up to tell me how much my content inspires them. At first, I honestly thought I had spinach in my teeth!Describe yourself in three words.Courageous. Resilient. Candid.What does a typical day in your life look like?I wake up and try to fit in a meditation while snuggling my pooch and my kid. Then it's the school run, followed by gym at 7am, a stretch, sauna and shower.I work best remotely because I'm more productive, but I check in with my team throughout the day. I also try to attend all the extra murals because I'm a hands-on mom. It makes life harder and more tiring, but we only have this time once.Then there's homework, a little mommy time with a candlelit bath and a podcast, supper with my little guy while watching a programme together, and usually a philosophical chat in bed.The weeks my son stays with his father look very different. I travel around the country visiting offices, signing new franchises, attending agent awards locally and internationally, having client dinners and delivering keynote talks.I've got packing down to a fine art!Exercise has also become a non-negotiable part of my life, whether I'm travelling or at home. It's more for my mental wellbeing than anything else.Early bird or night owl?I used to be a night owl, BC, before child!These days I'm normally awake by 5 or 5:30am.When my son is with his dad, I might occasionally binge-watch a series until late, but early mornings have definitely won.Heels or sneakers?Both!I'll wear sneakers to my events and then pop on the heels.When I lived in New York, I would strut around in heels for 20 blocks at a time and never even pack sneakers. These days, if I'm not at a glamorous event, it's fashion sneakers.My son has also contributed nicely to my collection. He used to be my shoe size and is now a size bigger, so I've inherited all his fabulous sneakers!Where do you get the best coffee in Joburg?At home!My Lavazza coffee with lactose-free milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.If I'm out, I enjoy Seattle Coffee.What's your favourite restaurant in Joburg?Modena in Parkhurst.Their spaghetti vongole is magic and the service is great.What's one word your team would use to describe you?Unstoppable.Is there a quote or motto you live by?I have a few.“Make it without faking it.”Whenever I go onto a stage to do a talk, I say out loud to myself:“I was born to do this.”There's also a Winnie-the-Pooh-inspired anecdote that has stayed with me. Piglet asks Pooh what the bravest thing he has ever said is, and Pooh's answer is simply:“Help.”I never used to ask for help, and I'm getting much better at it. I think that's a societal issue, especially for women.Finally, if you could leave one message for every woman reading this today, what would it be?You can make it without faking it.Lead from a place of authentic confidence. Ask questions. Put your hand up.Say yes to everything until you can afford to say no.And most importantly, celebrate your wins!A Woman Who Moves JoburgYael's story isn't one of having all the answers or following the perfect path.It's about having the courage to get on the plane. To start at the bottom. To put your hand up. To ask questions. To ask for help. To keep showing up, and to own your wins when they come.From packing shoes in Queens to leading 500 real estate agents across South Africa, Yael has certainly made it.And she didn't have to fake it to get there.