Analogue culture is making a sophisticated comeback in Johannesburg. Moving beyond the standard bar scene, a new wave of listening bars and jazz spaces is prioritising live music and rare vinyl over generic playlists, redefining the city’s nightlife through a more curated, immersive lens.
Hugh’s Jazz Club: A Tribute Above Braamfontein
Hugh’s Jazz Club floats 13 floors above the streets of Braamfontein, a velvet-draped space serving as a living tribute to the legendary Hugh Masekela.
“He believed that music could hold a community together,” says Adam Levy, founder of Hugh’s Jazz Club. “That it could carry memory forward without making people feel like they are standing in a museum. I’d been sitting with the idea of a jazz club for a while, but what pushed it from idea to reality was the conversation with Pula Twala and Barbara Masekela (Bra Hugh’s sister) at the Heritage Foundation. When they described what Hugh stood for – the joy, the political consciousness, the absolute refusal to be nostalgic in a mournful way – I knew we were talking about the same thing.”
Adam wanted the room to do what great music does: transport guests the moment they walk in, while simultaneously making them feel completely at home. There’s an atmospheric quality to red velvet, dark timber, and amber light that is universally understood by the body before the mind even catches up.
Drawing from his travels to the great jazz rooms of New York, Paris, and Tokyo, he noted that they shared a specific warmth that was physical rather than merely decorative. “We worked hard to get that right,” adds Adam. “The finishes had to feel earned, not applied. Every material had to justify its presence.”
Designed to Be Heard
This vision extended beyond aesthetics to acoustics, with specialist glazing insulating the room from Braamfontein’s bustle and bespoke ceiling panels helping to create a warm, intimate sound. Even the parquet flooring was carefully engineered, ensuring every performance feels rich and immersive without overwhelming conversation.
The menu is equally thoughtful, celebrating local flavours while drawing inspiration from the global influences that shaped Hugh’s life. Like the interiors, every detail is considered. “We’d rather do fewer things exceptionally than more things adequately,” says Adam.
Ultimately, placing such a sophisticated, analogue sanctuary in the heart of the inner city was a deliberate move. Braamfontein provides the perfect foundation for the club’s high-altitude elegance. “I’ve been in Braamfontein for more than 20 years. I’ve watched it go through every version of itself: neglected, then discovered, then over-exposed, then quiet again. What has always been true about it is its stubbornness. It refuses to be one thing. It’s a neighbourhood with memory and with ambition at the same time,” Adam concludes.
Artistry’s Listening Bar
For Ruwayne Sebia, Creative Director and Head of Digital at Artistry Sandton, the city is just as integral to the identity of Sandton’s Listening Bar at Artistry. “Our three-level experience was inspired by the way Joburg moves,” he explains of the project, which was conceptualised by musician J’Something in partnership with hospitality network BlackBrick Sandton. “Guests can start with a slow, curated dining experience on the rooftop, immerse themselves in live performances and storytelling in our 100-seater theatre, and then transition into the energy of the Listening Bar as the evening unfolds.”
The Listening Bar at Artistry is, for many, the most magnetic part of this three-storey space: an “interpretation of a modern Joburg gathering place,” says Ruwayne. In honour of the city’s ability to bring people together, the Artistry team imagined this part of their venue as a place where artists, creatives, and curious music lovers could gather.
Music with Intention
A subtle distinction became important here: while many venues treat music as ‘background noise’, the creators of Artistry wanted to design an environment where music becomes an integral part of the experience. “Great sound is non-negotiable,” says Ruwayne. “We’ve invested in a sound experience that allows guests to truly appreciate the nuances of a record, a DJ set, or a live performance. The aim is to create an immersive listening experience without sacrificing comfort or conversation.”
Then there’s the curation of what you’ll hear through that state-of-the-art sound system: Ruwayne and the Artistry team work closely with “selectors, DJs, and artists who understand how to read a room while introducing audiences to new sounds. The selections move fluidly between genres and eras – from soul, jazz, disco, alternative, and house to electronic music, amapiano, and global sounds, always with a focus on quality and intention rather than trends.”
A New Rhythm for Johannesburg
Together, the two spaces point to a broader shift in Johannesburg nightlife. In a city long defined by high-energy clubs and late-night excess, these spaces invite guests to slow down, listen with intention, and reconnect with music as something to be experienced rather than simply heard. It’s a quieter kind of luxury, and one that feels perfectly in tune with where Joburg is headed.
