Cafe Picobella Trattoria - Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa - Day 8

Safari ends, and we're back for another night in Jo'burg. There's a sweet Italian restaurant down the street from the Sleepy Gecko, a short enough walk that it doesn't require athleticism, a long enough walk that maybe you can pretend you walked off a couple of carbs.

They have a nice red sangria, and it goes with a sizable Pizza. The one with poached pear and Brie is a winning combination. The pancetta sprinkles some savory, nice but not necessary-Brie and pears is plenty.

The Mussels swim in a dense marinara, tender and pretty fresh. All of them are open, not a single bite is off, and the portion is sizable - no shortage of mussel-meat. 

A nice dinner, a lovely experience, a low-key and enjoyable meal. Just one more thing to like about Jo'burg! 

Lucky Bean - Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Lucky Bean. The only stop we have time for, the only taste of Jo'burg we can get this time around. 

If this is truly their flavor, then Jo'burg is decidedly delicious.

There is not a single non-standout on their menu, and our first authentic taste of South Africa is sublime. Ground meat spills generously from the Ostrich Bobotie Parcel. Thin layers of pastry dough form a lean purse, drier and milder than beef, assertively spiced with a sweet-tart banana conserve on the side.

My first unforgettable taste of Springbok starts here as well. Gamey like lamb but so much more tender, chunks of meat fall off thick marrow bones, stewed sweetly in peaches and pinotage. There's buttery meat on the bones and meat butter in the bones...Best day of my life. 

It seems like every dish carries their chef's signature, but sometimes you just want a burger. The Lucky Bean Beef Burger is an incredibly fortunate choice. This juicy, giant, handmade patty is its own party, feisty with sundried tomatoes, garlic, and sharp peppercorns. It's smeared with a layer of pert pesto and fried red onion. 

Have you ever had a place just bookmark itself into your brain? Between the sociable Sleepy Gecko and the magnetic main streets of Melville, Jo'burg earns a permanent dog-ear in my travel book.

Johannesburg, South Africa - Day 3

A quick drive through the city before we arrive at the Sleepy Gecko, situated in Melville's suburban bliss. 

Mike works with them to arrange rides and private tours, but it's unfortunately too late in the day for the latter. We are greeted by Greg, the owner of the Sleepy Gecko, and immediately, he and Mike become the most gregarious people we've ever met. 

The Sleepy Gecko is a gorgeous guest house, with spacious rooms and a breakfast that puts other places to shame. Greg gets up at 5 AM to make everyone eggs, and he includes plenty of self-serve mushrooms and tomatoes on the side. The coffee is unlimited, and there is an unlimited array of other options, including cereal, yogurt, toast, and fruit. 

If you're lucky, you'll get Nibbles to watch you eat. 

I regretfully forgot to take photos of this adorable place so here is one from their website for reference (http://www.sleepygecko.co.za). It really is worth another visit, and I do believe we'll be back for more.

We are barely halfway through this trip, and Johannesburg is my greatest regret. We only stopped in because it was much cheaper than the direct flights to Nelspruitt, but just the drive to and from the airport is more than enough to see what we've missed. Jo'burg vibrates with an undeniable energy. The urban sprawl encompasses a colorful collaboration of neighborhoods, and the city is green and lush with all sorts of life. I had hoped that this trip would show us all we wanted to see in South Africa, but now I see that there has to a second trip centered around  just Johannesburg. Wait for us Jo'burg, we're coming back for you!