Laurice Taitz, one of our favourite Joburg fundis, spent time with us unlocking some of her own and Johannesburg's scintillating secrets.

What do you love doing in Joburg?
Discovering new places. I treat the city like it's a playground with a treasure hunt going on in it.

What do you do on a rainy day in Joburg?
Stare outside the window and deal with my Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Although I am told a pair of Hunter boots would cure that.

What are your favourite restaurants?
Joburg is a funny and fickle place when it comes to food. Today's culinary sensation could be tomorrow's disaster zone so I have started to appreciate consistency. I love Tashas (especially in Melrose Arch), Al Makka in Fordsburg for great curries, Turn & Tender in Parktown North for a fat steak with pap and tomato gravy, Troyeville Hotel for Portuguese food, Yung Chen Noodle Bar in town's Commissioner Street, Narina Trogon for weekday lunch in Braamfontein, Yamato in Illovo for the best Japanese food in Joburg and although I shun shopping centre restaurants, Emma Chen's Red Chamber in Hyde Park - there is no equal to her cucumber salad or sizzling kingklip. And lastly(OK, food is my thing)Cafe del Sol in Olivedale.

Where do you go for a fun night out?
A fun night out involves seeing or doing something new. This week it was attending Short Story South, readings by 8 writers at Boekehuis bookstore in Auckland Park. A superb way to spend a few hours.

Where do you go for a romantic night out?
To a fancy hotel.

What is an ideal Sunday for you?
A slow day. Having time to read the FT Weekend and Sunday Times and hang out with my husband and my son. Good cappuccino. Market on Main at Arts on Main in the city. A walk at the Botanical Garden in Emmarentia. Going to watch a movie. In summer there is no substitute for an extended lunch at home, cooked by me, with favourite people and lots of children.

Favourite breakfast place?
Sugo in Parktown North because we get to sit at a table on the pavement and watch the world go by and everyone knows our names and we can just order by saying "the usual".

Favourite coffee place?
Difficult choice. Guru in Parktown North because on a weekday morning it's buzzing, it's welcoming and the service is excellent; Park Cafe in The Parks Centre on Jan Smuts Ave if there's more time to be had for the best poached eggs in town, 4th Avenue Roastery in Parkhurst and if feeling adventurous, the Ethiopian Quarter in Jeppe Street, city centre.
Favourite clothing and shoe store:
New favourite would be mememe in Parkhurst and Two because they stock Melissa shoes and I can't get enough of Vivienne Westwood's designs for them. For other things the three favourite stores I can't leave out are: Collector's Treasury 

for floor after floor of collectible books, china, memorabilia and records on Commissioner Street, Nonna's for beautiful gifts in Craighall Park and Kensington Trading for   retro furniture finds.

What is your favourite historical site?

Joburg's inner city.

What are the essential places to go if you only have a weekend?

For a real and varied taste you would need to eat samoosas at the Oriental Plaza, visit the muti shops around Diagonal Street, shop at the Black Coffee and Love Jozi store, browse the galleries and then watch skaterboys zip past at Revolution skate park at Arts on Main, drop in at the Joburg Art Gallery or Constitution Hill and the Turbine Hall (Newtown) if art and architecture are your thing, take a walk around Zoo Lake or Westcliff, watch soccer at FNB Stadium or rugby at Ellis Park to get a feel for the locals, see some stand-up comedy or theatre, visit 44 Stanley Street for Sunday breakfast or lunch, drop into Hyde Park on a Saturday morning and let your head start spinning with how varied and diverse your experience of the city can be.  

What is your favourite part about living in joburg?

It's not Benoni - where I grew up.

You may want to follow Laurice's blog- Nothing to do in Joburg Besides