Randlords Braamfontein Johannesburg is one of the City of Gold’s most spectacular and storied event destinations — an exclusive rooftop bar, lounge, and private event venue on the 22nd floor of the South Point Towers at 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, where 360-degree panoramic views stretch from the Orlando Towers and FNB Stadium in Soweto on the south-west horizon to the glittering Sandton skyline to the north, encompassing the entire Johannesburg metropolitan panorama in between. Described as one of Johannesburg’s hottest, most popular venues, Randlords accommodates 200 guests seated and up to 450–500 guests cocktail style, offers designer cocktails and beautifully crafted tapas dishes in an intimate environment, and is available exclusively for corporate functions, private events, product launches, weddings, and New Year’s Eve celebrations — with the public admitted only on specific special event days. A venue with genuine history in its bones — the 22nd floor was once a revolving restaurant for Johannesburg’s elite in the 1970s and 80s before becoming a Wits University canteen and then the exclusive event space it is today.

The History: From 1970s Revolving Restaurant to Exclusive Rooftop Venue

The Randlords story begins long before the current venue opened its doors. Before Randlords existed, the 22nd floor of the tower in Braamfontein — adjacent to the University of the Witwatersrand — was a revolving restaurant frequented by the fat cats of the 1970s and 80s: a glamorous city dining institution that rotated to give diners the full Johannesburg panorama. The inner-city changes of the following decades saw the restaurant fall on hard times. Wits University then purchased the building and housed their Department of Drama and Film there, with the restaurant space transforming into a staff canteen where professors and researchers ate lunch and gazed at the same stupendous views. Eventually, new owners and new ideas transformed this storied space into Randlords — an exclusive party and function venue that trades on those same views, now experienced in a context of cocktails and choreographed events rather than academic lunches.

The 360-Degree View: Soweto to Sandton

The defining quality of Randlords is its view — and the superlatives used across every review platform reflect a genuine consensus that this is among the best urban views available from any private event venue in South Africa. The 360-degree panorama from the 22nd floor takes in:

• Soweto: the Orlando Towers and FNB Stadium (formerly Soccer City) visible to the south-west
• Sandton: the skyline of Africa’s richest square mile visible to the north
• The Johannesburg CBD: the dense tower cluster of the city directly below and to the south
• Braamfontein: the cultural and academic district at the building’s feet
• The entire metropolitan landscape: from the mining headgear of the East Rand to the Magaliesburg foothills

This panorama — experienced from an outdoor deck and through floor-to-ceiling windows — is best at sunset and after dark, when the city’s lights create the kind of visual spectacle that makes Randlords’ reputation as a sundowner and evening event destination entirely understandable.

The Venue: Two Storeys, a Rooftop Deck, and 450 Guests

Randlords is a two-storey venue with distinct character at each level:

The Main Function Space — the primary indoor event area with designer cocktail bar, mood lighting, and sleek contemporary décor that reflects the venue’s positioning as a space where architectural beauty during the day comes to life at night. The indoor space accommodates seated dinners and cocktail configurations across multiple room arrangements, with the bespoke menu and beverage list complementing the setting.

The Outdoor Deck — the rooftop terrace that wraps around the building at the 22nd floor level, providing direct access to the panoramic views in an open-air setting. The deck is the natural setting for sundowner events, pre-dinner drinks, and occasions where the view itself is the experience.

The combined capacity across both levels is 200 guests seated for plated dinners and up to 450–500 guests for cocktail parties — a scale that makes Randlords viable for everything from intimate corporate dinners to large-scale product launches.

Private and Corporate Events

Randlords operates exclusively for private and corporate hire — with the public admitted only on specific special event days (such as New Year’s Eve). This exclusivity means that when a company or couple books Randlords, the entire venue is dedicated to their event. The booking base includes:

• Corporate functions and annual dinners
• Product launches — the view provides a dramatic brand backdrop
• Weddings — particularly for couples who want the city itself as their ceremony backdrop
• New Year’s Eve celebrations — the venue’s most famous public event, where the midnight fireworks and city light show are experienced from 22 floors above the street
• Private soirées and milestone celebrations
• Conferencing (classified as a conference venue in the Business Essentials directory)

The Food and Drink: Designer Cocktails, Tapas, and Bespoke Menus

Randlords’ culinary offering spans from light to formal, with menus designed around the event:

Designer cocktails — the bar’s signature offering, befitting the venue’s sophisticated positioning.

Tapas and snacks — the lighter end of the menu for cocktail parties and informal functions.

Plated dinners — beautifully crafted multi-course meals for seated functions of up to 200 guests.

Bespoke beverage and wine list — the menu selections include a personalised wine and beverage curation for each event, catering for every palate. Halaal and Kosher arrangements are available on request.

The Braamfontein Cultural Context

Randlords’ location in Braamfontein places it within what South Africa Online describes as the theatre district of Johannesburg and, in fact, all of Gauteng — making it the natural post-show venue for guests attending the Joburg Theatre (metres away), exhibitions at the Wits Art Museum, tours of Constitution Hill, or productions at the University of the Witwatersrand’s own theatre facilities. The cultural density of Braamfontein — home to Wits University, Joburg Theatre, Constitution Hill, and the rapidly developing hospitality precinct that includes The Playground — makes the neighbourhood a complete evening destination.

The building is accessible from the M1 or M2 highways, with the Braamfontein/Gautrain Park Station providing public transit access for guests arriving by train.

Location and Contact Details

Randlords is at the 22nd Floor, South Point Towers, 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2017 — accessible from the M1 or M2 highways; contact the venue for detailed directions.

Tel: 011 403 1833
Website: randlords.co.za

For event bookings, corporate function enquiries, and wedding packages, contact Randlords directly or visit their official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the capacity of Randlords for private events?
A: Randlords accommodates 200 guests seated for plated dinners and up to 450–500 guests for cocktail-style events. The two-storey venue with outdoor rooftop deck offers flexible configurations for events ranging from intimate corporate dinners to large-scale product launches.

Q: Is Randlords open to the general public?
A: Randlords operates exclusively for private and corporate hire, with the public admitted only on specific special event days such as New Year’s Eve. When you book Randlords, the entire venue is dedicated to your event.

Q: What types of events can be hosted at Randlords?
A: Randlords hosts corporate functions, annual dinners, product launches, weddings, New Year’s Eve celebrations, private soirées, milestone celebrations, and conferencing. The venue’s 360-degree panoramic views and exclusivity make it ideal for events where atmosphere and setting are paramount.

Q: What food and beverage options are available at Randlords?
A: Randlords offers designer cocktails, beautifully crafted tapas dishes, and multi-course plated dinners for up to 200 seated guests. The venue provides bespoke beverage and wine lists personalised for each event, with Halaal and Kosher arrangements available on request.

Q: Where is Randlords located and how do I get there?
A: Randlords is on the 22nd Floor of South Point Towers at 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2017. The venue is accessible from the M1 or M2 highways, and Braamfontein/Gautrain Park Station provides public transit access for guests arriving by train.

Q: What views can guests expect from Randlords?
A: Guests enjoy 360-degree panoramic views stretching from the Orlando Towers and FNB Stadium in Soweto on the south-west horizon to the Sandton skyline to the north. The 22nd floor vantage point also takes in the Johannesburg CBD, Braamfontein, and the entire metropolitan landscape from the mining headgear of the East Rand to the Magaliesburg foothills.

Q: What is the history behind the Randlords venue?
A: The 22nd floor was originally a revolving restaurant frequented by Johannesburg’s elite in the 1970s and 80s. Wits University later purchased the building and converted the space into a staff canteen for their Department of Drama and Film, before it was transformed into the exclusive event venue it is today.

Explore more premium event venues in Johannesburg through our Johannesburg event venues directory, or browse all Gauteng event venue listings for venues across the province.