Visiting South Africa’s most luxurious petrol station – Photos

The Pantry, located in Rosebank, Johannesburg, is cited as one of the most luxurious petrol stations in South Africa, with several amenities that provide a range of fancy goods you’re unlikely to find at its competitors.

TopAuto decided to check out the fuel stop to see if it lived up to the hype, and first impressions say that it certainly deserves its reputation.

Not your typical forecourt

The Pantry was created by the minds behind the affluent Marble and Saint restaurants, which is readily apparent when you pull up to the station.

The ceiling above the pumps has a flowing wooden pattern interspersed with lights, and abundant greenery lines the rafters.

It’s not a particularly big petrol station with only eight pumps, but there are also two Mercedes-Benz-branded electric-car charging points for affluent residents in the area who need them.

However, visiting the site early on a Saturday morning meant I didn’t have to wait to get a spot.

The fuel station itself is managed by Sasol, and the friendly staff were quick to come to my window to check what needed to be done.

The service went by in a flash as one attendant set about filling my car with petrol and checking the tyres while another cleaned the windows, and I didn’t even have time to finish a Duolingo lesson on my phone before paying.

Out of curiosity, I asked the attendant how busy the station can get, to which he responded that he often goes through more than 60 cars per shift once things start to pick up.

After grabbing one of the limited parking spaces, you’ll hop out to find the front of the store is lined with benches and pot plants, and the right-hand side of the area has a window to the coffee service along with stools and tables.

Inside, the Pantry is split into two main areas, with the convenience store on the left side while the other end is where you’ll find all of the kiosks for various goodies.

Starting with the shop, it has a lot of what you’d expect from a petrol stop with snacks like chips and drinks, but the shelves are also lined with a number of items that are a bit more upmarket.

The drinks area has a lot of cordials and mixers in addition to the usual soft drinks, and imported labels are a common site across the various sections.

There is a freezer stocked with ice cream, as well as shelves for things like charcoal, pet food, and cleaning products, making it a helpful stop for anyone looking to stock up for the weekend.

One shelf even had a number of fancy perfumes, candles, soaps, and other bathroom accoutrements, while another was packed with Japanese foods from ramen to mochi and Kewpie mayo.

Next to the pay tills are four large displays, one of which contained fresh flowers while another had various biscuits and chocolates.

Another bench contained fresh produce, including more exotic options like Dragon Fruit, and the last display was packed with Valentine’s Day-themed items from chocolates to small gifts.

At the back of the shop are cold-storage displays, where you’ll find everything from milk, cheese, and yoghurt, to sliced ham, ready meals, smoked salmon, and Wagyu-grade steaks.

As for the other side of the lot, there are three different counters providing meals and drinks.

First up is the coffee counter, which also houses a selection of pastries like cakes, milk tarts, and beignets (French-style doughnuts).

Next to this are two more stands populated by baked goods including fresh breads, doughnuts, and various croissants such as almond and pistachio.

Customers do not grab these items themselves; instead, there are staff on-hand who you ask to retrieve the items, who then package them appropriately for you to take to the till.

The second counter is for ordering hot foods such as burgers, chips, prego rolls, pies, or a pizza from a nearby wood-burning oven.

At the back are two more areas of interest – the first of which is a fully-stocked wine section, while the other is a milkshake and ice cream bar with soft-serve machines, cones and cups, and numerous toppings.

The amount of choice was almost overwhelming, but after eventually deciding on a few items, I found the service was quite impressive.

A milkshake was ready by the time I got back from choosing a few baked goods, and it took less than 10 minutes to get a pizza.

The staff was friendly throughout the experience, and it wasn’t long before I was on my way home with a selection of snacks I couldn’t wait to try out.

Overall, visiting the Pantry was a very pleasant experience, and it probably won’t be the last time I make a stop to try out what they have to offer.

The Pantry by Marble Petrol Station