Visiting South Africa’s most luxurious petrol station – Photos

Rosebank in Johannesburg is home to one of the, if not the most luxurious, petrol stations in South Africa – The Pantry – where motorists can do much more than refuel their cars.

Inside, visitors can expect to find far more than they would in a standard convenience store, as the petrol station hosts what can only be described as a full grocery store, a bakery, and multiple fresh food takeaway counters.

TopAuto visited the site last year and decided it was time to revisit the forecourt, which has garnered a reputation as South Africa’s most luxurious.

A different kind of petrol station experience

Upon arrival, it is clear to see that this petrol station is not your average roadside refuelling station, especially for someone who has just recently moved to South Africa’s richest province.

The Pantry is the brainchild of the creators of two luxurious restaurants – Marble in Rosebank, and Saint in Sandton – evident when looking at the forecourt aesthetic and the store’s layout and design.

The fuel station is managed by Sasol, and features eight pumps and two Mercedes-Benz-branded electric-car charging points, all of which were in use when I arrived, with motorists queuing for their chance to refuel and charge.

Finding a parking space was also quite a challenge at brunch time on a Saturday, despite a relative abundance of parking bays.

Stepping out of the car, I was greeted by a well-lit forecourt that could easily have been an indoor space, with a ceiling decorated with shaped wooden beams and an abundance of greenery.

Leading up to the two entrances are rows of seats and benches – all of which were occupied by patrons.

Despite it being a relatively cold winter morning, the outdoor seating area was full of families and young people enjoying something to eat or drink.

This was thanks to several space heaters that were hanging from the forecourt ceiling, which kept the area nice and toasty.

Entering the Pantry, visitors are met by a split shop layout, with what initially seems like a standard kiosk to the left, and multiple takeaway counters to the right – each with a unique speciality.

Walking through the convenience store, I quickly realised that I could easily do my month’s grocery shopping at this single store, including fresh produce, meat products, frozen meals, and even toiletries.

The shelves are not only fully stocked with local offerings, but also with several imported drinks, snacks, and various upmarket products.

One could even prepare quite easily for an afternoon braai, simply by visiting this luxurious petrol station, which stocks not only charcoal briquettes and firelighters, but also a variety of butchery items including Wagyu steaks.

Beyond food and drinks, the shop has an extensive gifting section, including an aisle dedicated to toys, with high-end offerings like Lego sets and Pokémon cards.

Other shelves were lined with perfumes, candles, and soaps, while some even featured an extensive range of cocktail ingredients and imported Japanese food and snacks.

Once you’ve completed your monthly grocery shop, you are led towards a bakery, fresh food counter, pizzeria and café, and even an ice cream parlour by aisles of fresh flowers and Father’s Day presents.

The right side of the Pantry is exactly what its name suggests, with a wide range of fresh food offerings, and, surprisingly for a petrol station, a wide variety of wines displayed in the corner.

Greeting you as you enter this area is the coffee counter, which is also where you will find a selection of fresh pastries, like cakes, croissants, and more.

This is also where you pay for any of the fresh breads found between the takeaway counters.

Across from the coffee and pastry counter, you can expect to find a hot food ordering area, where shoppers order freshly prepared roast veg, burgers, pasta, and pizza.

All of these can be enjoyed in the café-like seating area that separates the counters, which was completely occupied the morning I visited the petrol station, or taken away and enjoyed at home.

Patrons clearly enjoy the atmosphere created by the Pantry, so much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the busiest spot in all of Rosebank on the day.

On my way out, I grabbed a coffee and some baked goods, all of which took five minutes to prepare and pack, and emerged from the convenience store to find the forecourt just as busy as it was when I arrived.

To my surprise, the two electric cars (EVs) that were charging when I arrived – a Geely E5 and a Mercedes-Benz EQE – had been replaced by an MG Cyberster and a BYD Dolphin Surf.

Overall, I enjoyed my time visiting the Pantry, and I was truly amazed by what it had to offer.

The Pantry petrol station