Melville's most-loved neighbourhood bar. Eclectic art on the walls, a garden terrace under the jacarandas, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that keeps a bar full on a Tuesday night for over a decade.
Lucky Bean opened on 7th Street in 2011 and has been a fixture of Melville's social life ever since. That longevity says something. Melville is a neighbourhood that rewards consistency over novelty, and Lucky Bean delivers both in equal measure. The bar occupies a double-storey space with exposed brick, mismatched vintage furniture, and enough local art on the walls to hold your attention between rounds.
The main draw is the garden terrace. It runs along the side of the building, covered enough to stay open during light summer rain, and strung with warm-toned lights that make the space glow on weekend evenings. About 60 percent of the clientele head straight for the garden — the other 40 prefer the more intimate bar counter inside. Both work well.
The cocktail list is approachable rather than ambitious, which suits the vibe. You will find well-made standards alongside a handful of South African twists. The brandy-and-spiced-honey sour has been on the menu since opening and remains the signature drink. The craft beer selection runs to 12 taps and changes monthly — ask the bartender what has just come on.
Lucky Bean draws a genuinely mixed crowd: Melville regulars, students from the nearby university, creative professionals, and the occasional visiting journalist who got the recommendation right. Nobody is out of place. The bar opens daily at 4pm and keeps going until 2am — later on weekends. For a full picture of what Melville and its surrounding neighbourhoods offer, the after-work bars of Johannesburg page covers a dozen strong options across the city.
Lucky Bean is on 7th Street, which is Melville's main strip. The bar is easy to find and well-served by Uber. Street parking is available on 7th Street and the side roads, though weekend evenings fill up quickly. The garden entrance is on the right side of the building — if you are visiting for the first time, the terrace is the right starting point.
The kitchen serves simple food: loaded fries, nachos, boards of dips and mezze. It is not a restaurant, but you will not go hungry. Wednesday is quiz night, which draws a loyal crowd from 7:30pm. Thursday evenings usually feature a DJ from 9pm and the bar gets considerably livelier. Saturday afternoons on the garden terrace are one of Johannesburg's underrated pleasures.
Lucky Bean sits comfortably alongside the Croft & Co cocktail bar in Parkhurst as a two-stop evening — Croft for the precise cocktail experience, Lucky Bean for something more relaxed and communal. The Johannesburg bar guide covers the full picture of what the city offers across all eight categories.