johannesburg

24 WHERE TO STAY
Easy Hotel C-2, 90 De Korte St, Braamfontein, tel.
+27 11 242 8600, www.easyhotel.com. This stylish and
vibrant hotel overlooks The Grove piazza and is favoured by
the visiting smart set who frequent the nearby university. The
rooms are compact and the décor cheerfully nods to interesting
local historical characters – writers, musicians, paleoanthropologists
– with each floor referencing their contribution
to South African society. This is a fantastic location from
which to launch your city adventures, with great restaurants,
coffee shops, galleries and nightlife on your doorstep, easy
access to public transport and the City Sightseeing bus, and
across the road from the popular Neighbourgoods Market.
Q60 rooms: doubles R740. Internet R25 per hour. TLW
The Maslow, Sandton
The Maslow Hotel Cnr Grayston Dr and Rivonia Rd,
Sandton, tel. +27 10 226 4600, www.suninternational.
com/maslow. Opened in 2013, The Maslow prides itself
on being the ultimate business hotel, but it is also a social
hotspot with drinks at sundown on Friday and jazz events on
Sundays. Close to a Gautrain station and the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange, the hotel houses a high-tech fitness centre,
conference centre, a ballroom and an Africology Spa. It offers a
complimentary shuttle service to the airport. A special feature
is the Wayfarer lounge, a transit lounge for pre-check-in and
post-check-out with complimentary snacks and sumptuous
private bathrooms.Q280 rooms: from R1 299 per person per
night. Breakfast R175. THUFLKCwW
The Nicol Cnr Skeen Blvd and Nicol Rd, Bedfordview, tel.
+27 11 455 0549, www.urbanhiphotels.com. A business
hotel with rooms and apartments, The Nicol has the feel of living
in an attractive, fully serviced apartment block. O.R. Tambo International
Airport is close by, and Eastgate and Bedford Centre, two
major shopping centres, are less than 15 minutes’ drive away.
The one to three-bedroom apartments have full kitchens and all
other mod cons for long-term stays. It offers a 24-hour fitness
centre, outdoor swimming pool, café and access to catered
boardrooms and a conference venue for guests.Q70 rooms
from R910, one and three-bedroom apartments from R2 110.
Breakfast not included. THFLKCW
Budget design hotels
Bannister Hotel C-2/3, 9 De Beer St, Braamfontein,
tel. +27 11 403 6888, www.bannisterhotel.co.za. A
hip budget hotel in busy, buzzy Braamfontein. The popular
Neighbourgoods Market is a neighbour, as is 70 Juta Street,
with its décor stores, cycling shop and art galleries. The rooms
are bright with crisp white linen, free wi-fi and artistic touches.
Hotel owner Andrew Bannister is a former photographer, and
his iconic album-cover image of Zimbabwean singer Oliver
Mtukudzi graces the entrance. Bannister managed what
was formerly the Metro Hotel long before the hipsters arrived
and declared Braamfontein the capital of cool.Q31 rooms:
doubles R595, suites R485–R595. THLKW
4-star luxury guest house. Joburg’s
no. 1 on TripAdvisor. Close to
Sandton and Rosebank.
www.lizatlancaster.co.za
+27 83 229 4223
Johannesburg In Your Pocket
Twelve Decades Johannesburg Art Hotel G-4, 286
Fox St, Maboneng, City Centre, tel. 086 122 6787, www.
urbanhiphotels.com. An avant-garde design hotel that pays
homage to 12 decades of the city’s history, with each room
designed by a different artist to reflect a historic moment. The
décor is playful and stylish and, if you have time, ask to view
the other rooms (a favourite is room 1946-1956 titled ‘A part
love A part hate’). Referencing the official start of apartheid in
1948 and its proscription on interracial love, the room has a
number of witty rejoinders to the atrocious policies of the day.
The ground floor of the hotel houses a theatre, cinema and
loads of restaurants.Q16 rooms: doubles R870. Rates exclude
breakfast. Internet R50 per hour. THFLCwW
Guest houses and B&Bs
Chateau de Carolle 100 Mowbray Rd, Greenside, tel.
+27 82 411 2222, www.chateaudecarolle.co.za. Set in a
leafy street in the tranquil suburb of Greenside, in close proximity
to outdoor spaces Zoo Lake and Emmarentia Dam, Carol
Millard’s guest house has three comfortable cottages, each
with a private entrance, kitchenettes and luxury touches.
The décor is classical, with antique pieces and Persian rugs.
Rooms are designed for comfort, with Egyptian cotton linen,
flatscreen TVs and satellite channels.Q3 rooms: single cottages
R630–R750, double cottages R430–R600. R250 per
extra bed per night. iLW
Liz at Lancaster 79 Lancaster Ave, Craighall Park, tel.
+27 11 442 8083, www.lizatlancaster.co.za. This cosy
four-star guest house set in a lush garden offers the option
of self-catering accommodation or B&B rooms. Cottages
have private entrances and enclosed patios. Owner Liz
Delmont has thought of everything that will make your stay
as comfortable as possible, including underfloor heating for
chilly winter nights, fully equipped kitchens, wi-fi, king-sized
beds, a same-day laundry service and private phone lines. Liz
is a maven on all things Joburg (see her blog on the website),
and a driver can get you anywhere you need to go.Q7 rooms:
doubles R450–R760, king R550–R895. iT6LCW
Motel MiPiChi 35 4th Ave, Melville, tel. +27 11 726
8844, www.motelmipichi.co.za. From the metal gates
spelling out ‘MPC’ to the rough face-brick walls and stripped
wooden floors, this establishment breathes fresh air across
one of Melville’s thoroughfares. Designed by Andrew Makin,
famous for his work on the landmark Constitutional Court
building, the rooms have great original features (front rooms
have showers opening onto private courtyards). Decorated
with the owner’s light but quirky touch and some Afro-Asian
inspiration, room names are inspired by the art on the guest
house walls. Breakfast is served daily and the motel is on
a tuk-tuk (three-wheelers) route. It is a great base for many
places of interest, including the city, suburbs, Soweto, media
houses and universities.Q6 rooms: singles R650, doubles
R880. iLW
johannesburg.inyourpocket.com