These 3 suburbs together make up the heart of Pretoria’s pulsating eastern suburbs.
Situated on the busy main thoroughfare of Atterbury Road just o¬ the N1, the suburbs of Lynnwood Glen, Menlyn and Faerie Glen together make up the heart of Pretoria’s pulsating eastern suburbs.
Established in the late ’60s, Lynnwood Glen is the oldest of the trio and has succeeded in maintaining its serene residential character under the tall trees alongside the Moreleta Spruit winding through parts of it. The Struben Dam Bird Sanctuary can also be found within the suburb. Real estate here mostly comprises large freestanding family homes and a few apartment blocks in gated areas, as well as several local business centres and friendly, old-fashioned neighbourhood shopping centres like Glen Gables. Lynnwood Glen is home to the Varsity College Pretoria campus and isn’t too far away from the University of Pretoria, so the neighbourhood is well-suited for student accommodation. Even though it’s mainly residential, the suburb neighbours the ever-bustling and developing Menlyn area, which has a variety of modern facilities and amenities.
Menlyn has developed into one of Gauteng’s most hip, upmarket and chic entertainment and business hubs. The latest developments include yet another upgrade of the well-known Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, as well as the development of the Menlyn Maine mixed-use precinct o¬ffering luxury residential, office and retail space, as well as a state-of-the-art entertainment complex: the 8,500-seater Sun Arena at Time Square Casino, a live entertainment venue and a first for Pretoria, launched on 4 November. Construction of the residential phase of a towering luxury apartment complex is well under way. The “old” Menlyn still o¬ffers a number of traditional freestanding properties, apartment blocks and townhouse complexes. Because of their central location close to the N1 and within walking distance of the business hub, schools and various churches, these properties are highly sought-after.
The adjoining suburb of Faerie Glen was established in the ’70s and, is not only the larger of the three, it’s also one of the biggest in Pretoria East. It’s a scenic, well-established suburb with a wide variety of properties ranging from bachelor units, small and large townhouse apartments, comfortable family homes, to extravagant properties – freestanding, sectional title, or in lifestyle estates. As a result, the suburb attracts a diverse population in the middle-to-high-income groups. Young and established families find Faerie Glen to be the perfect place to live because of its close proximity to a myriad daycare facilities, good schools and hospitals, as well as transport infrastructure, such as the Gautrain bus network and the municipal bus system. In addition, the many smaller local shopping malls, Glen Village, Atterbury Boulevard and Atterbury Value Mart, o¬ffer comprehensive retail services. Faerie Glen is also home to the beautiful Faerie Glen Nature Reserve in the Bronberg conservation area.
I love visiting Time Square at Menlyn Maine. There are fantastic restaurants and a huge square. Highly recommended is Old Town Italy, and Guy Fieri’s Kitchen and Bar is just awesome for burgers. Forti Grill and Bar is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Pretoria – a wonderful experience.
-Sarel Swanepoel, resident.
Things to do:
Get sporty in Lynnwood Glen and join the tennis club, squash club or Sivaya Yoga Studio. Enjoy spin zone bumper cars, glow mini-golf, bowling, arcade games, a 4D cinema, a laser maze and more at The Fun Company in Menlyn. Hang out at Time Square and enjoy the casino, day spa, top restaurants and shops, a gym and the Sun Arena, seating up to 8,500 visitors. Spend some quiet time at the picturesque and well-maintained Faerie Park in Faerie Glen. Rejuvenate body, mind and soul at Lotus Thai Spa and Wellness Centre in Faerie Glen.
Dine out nearby:
- Blos Cafe: for a varied menu with vegan and Banting options
- Thirst at 28 degrees East: for delicious pub grub
- Rock at 88: for amazing braai food
- The Belgian Triple: for great Belgian food and a wide variety of beers
- Square Time Cafe and Restaurant: for a great meal and evening out
Schools
- St Alban’s College
- The Glen High School
- Lynnwood Ridge Primary School
- Laerskool Garsfontein
- Hoërskool Garsfontein
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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