Joburg's Hottest Rooftop Party at Hallmark House

A couple of weeks ago I visited Hallmark House, a hip hotel in downtown Joburg, for my friend Gilda’s birthday celebration.

Hallmark House has an interesting story. It was built a few years ago (at great expense) by Propertuity, the real estate company that created the Maboneng Precinct, and designed by acclaimed architect David Adjaye, who also designed the Smithsonian Museum of African American History. Hallmark went up for auction last year when Propertuity abruptly went out of business. The building is now owned by Steyn Investments.

Most interestingly for me, the top of Hallmark House has the best view of downtown Joburg in the city. (Okay, maybe the view from the top of Ponte City is better. But only just.) The Hallmark rooftop has now become a bar with the hottest sundowner party in town happening every Sunday.

Hallmark House rooftop Sundays — Impossibly cool people atop the impossibly cool Hallmark Hotel, waiting for the sunset on a Sunday afternoon.

I had already been to the top of Hallmark a couple of times before it was renovated, but this view never ceases to enthrall me. I’m so glad the rooftop is now open to the public. (Most of the best downtown rooftops are open only for private events.)

Hallmark Rooftop Sundays is an all-day-into-the-evening affair, with a fancy bar, brunch specials, and a DJ from 1 p.m. onward. I wasn’t super blown away by the food and the wine was overpriced. But those flaws were greatly outweighed by the elegant surroundings, the hip but unpretentious clientele, and of course the view. With a view like this I don’t really care what I’m eating or drinking.