Brooklyn (Pretoria) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Brooklyn in Pretoria with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

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Brooklyn Pretoria blends leafy avenues, embassy-lined streets, University-town energy, galleries, cafés, restaurants and easy access to eastern Pretoria.

A Leafy Eastern Pretoria Neighbourhood

Brooklyn lies east of Pretoria's central districts, where broad, tree-lined roads, established gardens and low-rise streets give way to busy commercial nodes. It is best known to visitors through Brooklyn Mall and the adjoining restaurant and retail districts, yet the neighbourhood is more than a shopping destination: it is a well-connected residential area near the University of Pretoria, diplomatic properties and several of the capital's cultural and educational institutions. Its setting makes it a useful base for exploring eastern Pretoria without losing the slower rhythm of a suburban neighbourhood.

Everyday Life and Architecture

The streets around Brooklyn combine older detached houses, renovated residences, apartment buildings and office properties, reflecting decades of gradual change rather than a single redevelopment scheme. Jacaranda trees contribute to the familiar Pretoria streetscape, while cafés, restaurants, salons and specialist shops bring activity to the main roads. The character changes noticeably between the commercial corridors and quieter residential streets, where walls, gardens and mature trees create a more private atmosphere. Visitors should treat these residential areas as lived-in neighbourhoods rather than open-air attractions.

Culture, Food and Local Orientation

Brooklyn's most accessible cultural venue is Brooklyn Theatre, while the nearby University of Pretoria adds a youthful, academic influence to the wider area. Dining ranges from casual cafés and bakeries to restaurants serving South African and international food, with the strongest concentration around Brooklyn Mall and nearby shopping centres. The neighbourhood also works as a practical starting point for visits to Hatfield, Waterkloof and Nieuw Muckleneuk, although each has its own identity. Daylight walks, an evening meal and a performance provide a more representative experience of Brooklyn than a hurried visit to one shopping complex.

From Eve

My first-day picks

Use Brooklyn Mall and the nearby retail centres as orientation points, then explore the quieter residential streets on foot only where pavements are clear and public access is obvious.
Check the programme at Brooklyn Theatre before setting aside an evening, as performances and schedules change.
For university connections, Hatfield and the University of Pretoria are nearby but belong to adjacent areas, so allow extra walking time between districts.
Choose restaurants along the main commercial roads after dark and arrange a reliable ride for longer journeys rather than walking unfamiliar suburban routes late at night.
Pack sun protection and water for daytime exploring, particularly during Pretoria's hot summer months when thunderstorms can arrive quickly.

Explore Brooklyn on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Brooklyn, mapped for you.

Brooklyn essentials

Getting There

Brooklyn is easiest to reach by road from Pretoria's central districts and the eastern suburbs, with Brooklyn Road, Fehrsen Street and nearby main corridors providing the principal approaches. Hatfield railway and Gautrain connections are nearby rather than inside the neighbourhood, and can be followed by a local taxi or a short onward road journey. Visitors arriving from OR Tambo International Airport can use the Gautrain to Hatfield and continue by road, subject to the day's operating arrangements. Because Brooklyn is spread across a suburban street plan, identify the exact address of a hotel, restaurant or venue before setting out.

Getting Around

The commercial parts of Brooklyn are manageable on foot, particularly around Brooklyn Mall, Brooklyn Square and nearby restaurant clusters, but the neighbourhood as a whole is more comfortable with a car or arranged ride. Distances between the retail centres, theatre, residential streets and nearby suburbs can be longer than they appear on a map, and pavements vary in quality. Hatfield is close enough for a combined visit, although the route crosses into another neighbourhood. Cycling is possible on local roads for confident riders, but traffic, heat, hills and intermittent pedestrian infrastructure require care.

Safety

Brooklyn is a busy, mixed-use suburb rather than a pedestrian-only tourist quarter, so normal urban precautions are appropriate. Keep phones and bags secure in shopping areas, avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars and use marked or clearly managed parking facilities where available. After dark, stay on well-used commercial routes and use a trusted taxi or ride service for journeys between venues, especially if you are unfamiliar with the residential streets. Take care at driveways and crossings, where cars can move through retail and office areas with limited warning.

Emergency Situations

In South Africa, dial 112 from a mobile phone for emergency assistance; 10111 is the police emergency number and 10177 is used for ambulance and fire services. Give the operator the precise street address, nearby shopping centre or other landmark, and explain whether police, medical or fire assistance is required. International visitors should keep their accommodation address and passport details accessible, while venue staff or security personnel can often help direct responders within commercial complexes. For non-urgent medical care, ask accommodation staff or a local pharmacist to identify the most appropriate nearby facility.

Do's and Don'ts

Treat Brooklyn's residential streets as private neighbourhoods: keep noise low, do not photograph homes or security features without permission and avoid blocking driveways. In restaurants and cafés, queue patiently and ask about service charges or tipping practices rather than assuming they are included. Follow venue rules when photographing performances, galleries or cultural events, and do not touch public art or heritage features. At shopping centres, use designated smoking areas where provided and observe security instructions. A courteous approach is particularly important because much of the neighbourhood's appeal comes from ordinary residential streets rather than formal tourist sites.

Local Tips

Brooklyn is easiest to understand as a series of connected nodes rather than one compact centre: begin around Brooklyn Mall, compare the nearby independent dining areas, and then continue towards Brooklyn Theatre or the quieter streets off Brooklyn Road. The University of Pretoria and Hatfield are useful nearby additions, while Waterkloof and Nieuw Muckleneuk lie in other adjoining areas and should be described as separate stops. Pretoria's summer rain can be heavy, so plan outdoor walks earlier in the day and keep a flexible indoor option such as shopping, dining or theatre available.

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics

English	Local	Say it
Hello	Howzit	[hau-zit]
Goodbye	Cheers	[ch-ee-rz]
Yes	Ja	[yah]
No	Nee	[nee]
Please/You're welcome	S'il vous plait	[see-voo-play]
Thank you	Dankie	[dahn-key]
Excuse me/Sorry	Sorry	[saw-ree]
How are you?	Hoe gaan dit?	[ho-uh gahn dit]
Fine. And you?	Goed. En jy?	[goot. en yay]
Do you speak English?	Praat jy Engels?	[praht yay eng-guhls]
I don't understand	Ek verstaan nie	[eck fur-staan nee]

Eating & Drinking

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to see the menu, please	Ek wil die spyskaart sien, asseblief	[eck vil dee spay-skar-t seen, as-se-blief]
I don't eat meat	Ek eet nie vleis nie	[eck ayt nee flay-s nee]
Cheers!	Gesondheid!	[guh-sund-hate]
I would like to pay, please	Ek wil betaal, asseblief	[eck vil buh-tahl, as-se-blief]

Emergencies

English	Local	Say it
Help!	Hulp!	[hulp]
Go away!	Gaan weg!	[gahn vehg]
Call the Police!	Bel die Polisie!	[bell dee poh-lee-see]
Call a doctor!	Bel 'n dokter!	[bell un dohk-tuh]
I'm lost	Ek is verlore	[eck is fuh-law-ruh]
I'm ill	Ek is siek	[eck is seek]

Shopping

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to buy...	Ek wil koop...	[eck vil cope]
I'm just looking	Ek kyk net	[eck k-ayk net]
How much is it?	Hoeveel kos dit?	[hoo-vayl kus dit]
That's too expensive	Dit is te duur	[dit is tay doo-uh]
Can you lower the price?	Kan jy die prys verlaag?	[cun yay dee pray-s fuh-rahg]

Time & Numbers

English	Local	Say it
What time is it?	Hoe laat is dit?	[ho-uh laht is dit]
It's one o'clock	Dit is een uur	[dit is ayn oor]
Half past (10)	Half tien	[hahf teen]
Morning	Oggend	[oh-ghund]
Afternoon	Middag	[mih-duhg]
Evening	Aand	[ahnt]
Yesterday	Gister	[gih-stuh]
Today	Vandag	[fun-duhg]
Tomorrow	Môre	[maw-ruh]
1	Een	[ayn]
2	Twee	[twee]
3	Drie	[dree]
4	Vier	[feer]
5	Vyf	[fayf]
6	Ses	[says]
7	Sewe	[suh-vay]
8	Agt	[ahgt]
9	Nege	[nee-guh]
10	Tien	[teen]

Transport & Directions

English	Local	Say it
Where's a/the...?	Waar is 'n/die...?	[vahr is un/dee]
What's the address?	Wat is die adres?	[vaht is dee ah-drehs]
Can you show me (on the map)?	Kan jy vir my wys (op die kaart)?	[cun yay fur may vays (ohp dee kahrt)]
When's the next (bus)?	Wanneer is die volgende (bus)?	[vah-nuhr is dee fuhl-guhn-duh (buhs)]
A ticket (to ....)	'n Kaartjie (na ....)	[un kar-chi (nah)]

History of Brooklyn

A Suburban District Takes Shape

Brooklyn developed as part of Pretoria's eastward suburban expansion in the early twentieth century, when the capital's built-up area began spreading beyond the older central districts. Its spacious plots, detached homes and tree-lined roads reflected the suburban planning preferences of the period, while the neighbourhood's position along routes leading towards newer eastern settlements made it increasingly accessible. The name is generally associated with Brooklyn in New York, a pattern also found in several South African place names, although the neighbourhood's identity was shaped more by Pretoria's own expansion than by any direct connection with the American borough.

Homes, Institutions and Eastern Growth

During the twentieth century Brooklyn became part of a broader eastern Pretoria landscape of residential suburbs, schools, offices and institutional land. The growth of the University of Pretoria in nearby Hatfield influenced the area's social and economic life, bringing students, academics and service businesses into the surrounding districts without making Brooklyn itself a university campus. Larger homes were gradually joined by flats, professional offices and new commercial premises, while mature gardens and established street trees preserved much of the area's suburban appearance. This mixture explains why the neighbourhood feels both residential and commercially active.

From Local Shops to Retail Nodes

Late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century development changed how visitors encounter Brooklyn. Retail and dining concentrated around purpose-built centres, most notably Brooklyn Mall, while older houses and small businesses continued to occupy neighbouring streets. The result is a layered local economy in which national retailers, independent restaurants, offices and long-established residences sit close together. Redevelopment has increased property values and altered land use in parts of the suburb, but it has not erased the low-rise street pattern that remains central to Brooklyn's visual character. Today the neighbourhood functions as one of eastern Pretoria's prominent mixed residential and commercial areas.

Brooklyn in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

Neighbourhoods near Brooklyn

The closest neighbourhoods to Brooklyn, if you have time for more than one stop.

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