High Noon at Higher Ground

view over Greater Sandton from Higher Ground

St. Stithians College, on the border between Sandton and Randburg, is one of South Africa's most storied and prestigious preparatory schools. Founded in the early 1950's, St. Stithians began its tenure as a Methodist school chartered exclusively for boys. Girls were not admitted until 1995. Fun fact: among its noted alumni is none other than Dave Matthews!

St. Stithians is also the site of the Higher Ground Restaurant boasting one of the best views for sundowners in the city. I believe it too. Aptly named, the restaurant does have an impressive view of the skyline of the Sandton CBD from its perch on top of a high hill. Higher Ground is located inside the One & All Club, a popular venue for St. Stithians parents and alumni as the terrace overlooks one of the college's many sports fields.

cricket & Jacarandas

We went to Higher Ground - not at sundown but at high noon - to meet friends for Sunday lunch. It is the height of Jacaranda season in Sandton and beyond the cricket pitch below the terrace, the landscape was awash in purple. Jacarandas make for a nice view too!

We will be returning to Higher Ground soon to catch a famous Joburg sundown - or possibly one of its equally famous thunderstorms - during Restaurant Week South Africa 2015 which runs this year from October 22nd to November 1st. The food was pretty good too.