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Roll your way to good times at the best roller skating rinks in Johannesburg!
One day, my nephew decided to be philosophical out of the blue and suddenly asked me that hard-hitting question: What makes you happy?
I almost said, ‘When rent is paid on time,’ but figured he wasn’t ready for that wisdom (or bitter truth) yet. So instead, I took him to one of Johannesburg’s roller skating rinks.
Fast forward two months, and he’s flying around the track, loving the physical, mental, and social perks of the hobby.
If you want to keep your inner child happy, too, here are the best roller skating rinks in the city to get started! We even included a skate school for those who’d rather not land flat on their first attempt.
RoadHouse Roller Rink
From roadhouse_roller_rink
Address: Eastgate Shopping Centre, 43 Bradford Rd, Bedfordview
Contact Details: +27 81 357 5665
Operating Hours:
- Wed – 12 pm to 6:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 9:30 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
Budget-friendly but not dull, Roadhouse Roller Rink is my old faithful.
Vibe-wise, it’s always upbeat here, thanks to their lively music choice. It’s rarely empty either, with all the crews and fams making the most of the R130-per-skater basic package, which includes skates, benches, and a table.
Those with questionable balance don’t have to sit this one out as well. Lessons don’t cost extra, and the staff are patient, judging by how well they handled my rookie nephew.
Popcorn and slush are also available in-house, though I always personally bring my own bites (it’s allowed). The rink is in Eastgate, too, so you can score grub from the mall’s restos and stalls; going out during your booked session is permitted.
| Tips: Groups of 10 or more are required to call in advance to secure a schedule. Bring your own skates to save money. Join their WhatsApp group for updates on special deals or date changes. You can drive. Covered parking is available. |
Skate World
From skateworldboksburg
Address: Centric Business Park, Cnr North Rand Road & Romeo St, Hughes, Boksburg
Contact Details: +27 65 874 0882
Operating Hours:
- Sat – 10 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5 pm, 6 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5 pm
Nostalgia is a hell of an adrenaline booster, and that’s why Skate World is seldom empty…particularly if my parents are in town. Simply put, the ‘80s never left this spot.
They don’t charge you a kidney’s worth to relive the past either; it’s just R150 per soul. Even the cafe and sports bar are reasonably priced, with burgers, booze, and doughnuts served in ‘good-luck-with-your-diet’ portions.
For me, though, booking a private function is the way to roll here. The rink is all yours for about 3 hours; you can BYO snacks to save money, and it will only set you back R250 per skater.
Downside? You can’t be sluggish when it comes to booking. Both the young and young-at-heart love throwing parties at Skate World.
| Tips: For spectators, don’t forget to inform the staff that you won’t be skating to avoid getting charged. Special events are announced on Facebook, not on their website. |
Roller Skate Arenas
From rollerskatearenas
Address: Parking Level 2, Near Entrance 5, Westgate Shopping Centre, Horizon View, Roodepoort
Contact Details: +27 10 900 0962
Operating Hours:
- Fri – 2 pm to 9 pm
- Sat – 10 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
As you probably know, roller skating needs room to move, and Roller Skate Arenas gives you loads of it. By loads, we’re talking about 1,200 square meters of smoothened space, the biggest in Johannesburg.
You also get to choose between daytime and nighttime skating. Normally, I rock up with kiddos and oldies, so daytime, when it’s brighter and easier to skate, is my go-to stretch.
Still, I’d have to say that nighttime skating is the quintessential Roller Skate Arenas experience. Rolling through a rink bathed in neon lights simply never goes out of style, and that R100 rate per skater is a massive steal if you ask any sane person.
Beginners can also ring them up for 45-minute lessons. The sessions normally cost R130 per head, but there’s a sweet R180 deal for two people, ideal for those tired of boring date nights.
| Tips: Bring your own socks, unless you want to pay extra. Same thing for protective gear, like helmets and elbow pads.If your kiddo is still learning, feel free to ask for support frames. |
Rollercade Pretoria
From rollercadepretoria
Contact Details: +27 64 880 9925
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Thu – 1 pm to 6 pm
- Fri – 1 pm to 6 pm, 7 pm to 9 pm
- Sat – 10 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 3 pm, 4 pm to 6 pm, 7 pm to 9 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 3 pm, 4 pm to 6 pm
When I first popped by Rollercade Pretoria, Menlyn Park’s biggest rink, I thought it was a cross between a vintage skating arena and a sparkly ‘90s disco dancefloor.
That’s most likely why it’s often considered a partying and lounging spot. Folks get their roller skating fix in a neon-lit space, all while vibing to live DJ music.
A small hiccup is that you can’t take outside food into the rink (unless you book a private party). To be fair, the in-house cafe’s refreshments and snacks aren’t shabby in terms of taste and price.
Rollercade’s glow-in-the-dark events also add spicy bits to usual sessions, and it’s even the patrons who get to decide what the theme will be. Call me showy, but I’m one of those who voted for their recent Stranger Things and Disney shindigs!
| Tips: Those with a shoe size of 10 and beyond must call first. You can BYO skates, but make sure they don’t have metal wheels. Get the map on the website. This one isn’t easy to find. |
RollEgoli
From honorable.bae
Address: 296 Main Rd, Bryanston, Sandton
Contact Details: +27 83 232 9861
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 9 am to 6 pm
- Fri to Sat – 9 am to 9 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 6 pm
RollEgoli might not always be flashy, but oh boy, is it spacious and dirt-cheap. Skaters will enjoy cruising on a covered, 1,000-square-meter rink for just R110, with Wi-Fi, 50 parking spaces, and seating as the complimentary perks.
Best of all, you can skate until your legs shake, as the entry fee gets you unlimited skate time. Other rinks on this list usually cap your gliding time at about two hours.
The entire space is also stroller-, wheelchair-, and rookie-friendly. For newbies, you can either hire the R50 balancing device or take lessons from a qualified instructor (call the number for the latter).
Now, here’s my favourite part: the RollEgoli team dishes out pizza, ice cream, beer, spring rolls, and a whole bunch of other party food and pours. Plus, it’s the only spot here that comes with a 300-square-meter and 3.5-metre-high bouldering wall!
| Tips: Avoid Saturdays if you hate huge crowds. Prepaid groups enjoy a 10% discount. Simply email [email protected]. Roll in with your other half to enjoy a special deal involving pizza. Don’t forget the little ones! There’s an interactive play area here. |
Retro Rollas Pop-Up Roller Rink
From retro_rollas
Address: 33 Abercorn Ave, Craighall Park, Randburg
Contact Details: +27 78 452 7823
Operating Hours: Sun – 9 am to 5 pm
If you’d rather skip the mall queues, Retro Rollas is the way to go. They’re a mobile, first-aid trained crew that can bring roller skates or set up a rink anywhere, as long as there’s a flat and hard surface.
What’s sweeter is they’ll give you options. For example, I booked their 150-square-metre rink for a more intimate backyard get-together, while our company got the full 300-square-meter one for our last team-building.
Each package also includes facilitators. That means we didn’t have to play the event planner or skating instructor role.
| Tips: Pick a venue that’s within 20 kilometres of their office to avoid incurring extra transport costs. They can double as caterers. You can pick the theme (though most, like us, go with the standard retro motif). |
The Skate School
From thesk8school
Address: Short St, Ferndale, Randburg
Contact Details: +27 72 908 3288
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 9 am to 6 pm
- Sun – 8 am to 3 pm
While not a rink per se (or a ‘roller skate only’ venue), we can’t leave out The Skate School. Most beginners take their first glide here.
The lessons generally range from R200 to R250 per meeting, with single-group sessions as the cost-effective choice. Their team will cover the equipment and safety gear, but you can also bring your own.
For the truly skating-obsessed, an R899 per month setup is in the books. This is the route if you prefer a smaller crowd and want in on The Skate School’s public events without paying a single dime.
| Tip: Follow them on Insta for special deals, such as free 30-minute lessons and girls-only events. They also announce the skate park’s (skate parks near me johannesburg) availability there, as it sometimes closes due to private parties. |
