Riviera Area Info

Riviera at a glance

About the suburb of Riviera

Riviera is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It lies between the historic suburbs of Houghton Estate and Saxonwold, and most of the properties in Riviera are sectional title units.  There are 450 apartments in Riviera, yet only 39 houses. Riviera is just 0,2 square kilometers in size and has an estimated population of just 1200 people.

Interesting facts about the history of Riviera

Proclaimed as a suburb in 1903 and is, of course, named after the French Riviera. The French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) is the southeastern section of France along the Mediterranean Sea and is a glamourous destination for seaside holidays.

Schools in the area

King Edward VII Primary and Senior schools, St Johns Preparatory, and St Johns College in Houghton are excellent all-boys schools near Riviera. Roedean is an all-girls private school in nearby Parktown. Riviera is also close to the Houghton mosque and Houghton Muslim Academy.

Medical facilities in the area

The Netcare Park Lane Clinic is a private hospital in Parktown, just 3 kilometers from Riviera. The Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (previously known as Joburg Gen) is also just 3 kilometers from Riviera, in Parktown. This large hospital has over 1 000 beds.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital is also in Parktown, Johannesburg, a short distance from Riviera. The NMCH is one of the only dedicated paediatric hospitals in Southern Africa. Their departments and specializations include neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, general paediatric surgery, critical care, and nephrology. According to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital website, it is their goal that "no child will be turned away due to an inability to pay," and donors from South Africa and all over the world support the NMCH.

Shopping centers and malls in the area

Both the Killarney Mall and the Rosebank Mall are near Riviera. Killarney Mall has been open for over 45 years and includes all the banking, retail, specialty stores, and restaurants you might need. They also have a movie complex. Rosebank Mall, which includes The Zone @ Rosebank, is a four-floor shopping complex with fashion outlets, anchor-tenant retail stores, top restaurants, and an artisan craft market. Rosebank Mall

Restaurants to visit in and around Riviera

Here is our list of the top 5 Halal restaurants near Riviera:

1. La Padrino on Barry Hertzog Avenue in Emmarentia is a Halal pizzeria with an authentic clay oven. They are open for dining in and takeaways, and they do deliveries.

2. Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant Rosebank is Halal, and the food is delicious. Oxford Road in Rosebank is just a few minutes' drive from Riviera.

3. Ocean Basket in the Killarney Mall is a popular Halal seafood restaurant. Food is fresh and light, and the restaurants are family-friendly.

4. RocoMamas in Melrose Arch is also a Halal option. Known for its smash burgers and American-diner style food, it's particularly enticing for teens, young adults, and hungry families.

5. Salt 'n Pepper restaurant in Mayfair is a bit further from Riviera but is well known for its traditional Pakistani, Indian, and Continental Halal menu. They also do event catering. Their menu items include curry dishes, grills, and more.

Distance to airports, main roads, and the CBD

Riviera is 23 kilometers from the OR Tambo International Airport, where travellers and commuters can take domestic or international flights. Another option for residents heading to the airport is to take the Gautrain. The nearest Gautrain station to Riviera would be the Rosebank station, and from there, it is a 15-minute journey to the airport. The train station at OR Tambo is inside the airport building; you do not need a shuttle or taxi to the airport from the station.

Less than 10 kilometers from the Sandton central business district, which houses the JSE, top law firms, telecommunications businesses, finance houses, banks, and medical businesses, Riviera is also only 6 kilometers from the Johannesburg inner city CBD.

Weather in Riviera

The Johannesburg climate is a subtropical one. Winters are mild and sunny, while summers are warm and sunny, typically with afternoon rainstorms. Johannesburg is near the Tropic of Capricorn, and the seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, North America, and Asia). Summer is from December to February and winter is from June to August. That said, it warms up from August and September, and summer often extends into balmy August days.

Make Riviera your home, your story.

Our estate agent for the Riviera area, Hajee Hoosen, is a resident in neighbouring Killarney and is best placed to advise you on the current market conditions in Riviera. You can find out about recent sales in the area and properties currently on the market. Please take a look at our properties for sale here. Seeff also has rental agents dedicated to Riviera and surrounds, and you can take a look at properties to rent here.