Book Dealers is an institution in itself. If you're looking for second-hand almost new books, this is the place to go. 

Constitution Hill is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. The site is a former prison and military fort that bears testament to South Africa’s turbulent past and, today, is home to the country’s Constitutional Court, which endorses the rights of all citizens. There is perhaps no other site of incarceration in South Africa that imprisoned the sheer number of world-renowned men and women as those held within the walls of Constitution Hill’s Old Fort,  Women's Jail and Number Four. Nelson Mandela. Mahatma Gandhi. Joe Slovo. Albertina Sisulu. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Fatima Meer. They all served time here. But the precinct also confined tens of thousands of ordinary people during its 100-year history: men and women of all races, creeds, ages and political agendas; children too; the everyman and the elite. Today, every year there is the not to be missed Basha Uhuru Creative Festival (https://bashauhuru.co.za) which is hosted at Con Hill. The fest takes place in June, the month of the historical June 16th Youth Day.

POOL is an emergent platform for curatorial and artistic production, experimentation and research, working with artists to support and commission new work situated in the area of New Doornfontein, which is also home to a few artists studios.  Emerging from a joint investigation into the role, form, and organising systems of art institutions in South Africa, POOL considers from a curatorial and artistic perspective, the question of what it means to institute and how to institute in a South African (and specifically Johannesburg) context. POOL is organised as an experiment in alternative instituent forms and as a site through which to stretch curatorial methodology and artistic practice through the frames of self-organising and self-instituting. They often have very interesting projects on exhibit and workshops taking place - best check their facebook page for this - https://www.facebook.com/poolspace/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel. While you're in the area you could also have lunch at the Troyville Hotel up the road. 

It is hard to describe exactly what Keleketla! Library is as it is a space that resists definition. Keleketla! is a movement / creative philosophy / artwork / space for conversation. Go check them out and find out for yourself...

One of the most beautiful parks in Johannesburg. Emmarentia Botanical Gardens and Emmarentia Dam is ideal for a picnic or a stroll to clear your mind. Especially majestic in Autumn.