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The Rand Club: Architecture

The architecture of the Rand Club is a masterclass in colonial opulence and psychological intimidation. Its most famous feature is the main bar, which, at 31 meters long, was for decades rumored to be the longest bar in Africa (and by some accounts, the Southern Hemisphere). It was designed so that a man could walk in, find a spot at the counter, and conduct a million-pound deal without ever having to wait for a drink. The building also features a magnificent Victorian birdcage elevator, a massive stained-glass dome that floods the central staircase with light, and a library that houses one of the most significant private collections of Africana literature and maps in existence.