Tablet Plus
The Westcliff
67 Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa
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The Westcliff's 115 rooms are spacious enough, and handsome enough, to sustain the illusion that you are staying not in a hotel, but in the guest house of an aristocrat's country estate. Though this is a city hotel, the impression comes rather near the truth; Johannesburg is, of course, a wealthy colonial city, built on the riches of the South African gold rush. Perhaps this accounts for the sensation that the Westcliff's old-fashioned luxury is supported by an infinite supply of capital.
Every room and suite is unique, differing both in plan and in decoration. This is no ready-made chain hotel - master designer Graham Viney has individually finished every room in soft colors, gentle floral prints, and a delicate country house style. All rooms offer views from private balconies or terraces, many overlooking Greater Johannesburg and the Zoological Gardens.
The Westcliff is not all retro-colonial charm - the modern age intrudes in the form of an almost comical number of telephones per room, and in the Business Wing, an in-suite printer/copier/fax machine. Satellite television is standard, and as in any modern luxury hotel, data ports abound. Old South Africa meets the new global information age in the person of your IT Butler, on call to solve any technology issues which may arise. Not to be confused with the regular old-fashioned butler who is available to serve Presidential Suite guests in a more low-tech manner.
La Belle Terrasse is a fine enough restaurant to have become a Johannesburg fixture, and offers terrace seating with a bird's eye view of the city. The restaurant serves international cuisine with a South African spin. The Polo Lounge serves tea and cocktails with, naturally, spectacular views. And the casual Conservatory is the source for all-day light dining and refreshments.
The Westcliff, though not strictly a resort, offers leisure options on par with any of the world's noted destinations. Two large, heated swimming pools and two plunge pools await the hotel's guests, and the gym is staffed by an army of personal trainers. There is a floodlit tennis court with a dedicated coach, and a nearby country club is open to Westcliff guests. The Health Spa and the Executive Gym round out the hotel's full-service leisure package.
Johannesburg's northern suburbs are comfortable and cosmopolitan, offering an array of fine dining options, excellent shopping, and a rustic atmosphere of parks and gardens. The city, airport, and Blue Train embarkation point at Pretoria Station are all reachable via the hotel's limousine service, and a shuttle connects to the shopping districts.
How to get there:
The Westcliff is approximately a 30 minute drive from Johannesburg-OR Tambo International Airport. The hotel can provide Mercedes Benz transfers for up to 3 passengers or VW Microbus for 1 to 7 Passengers at an approximate cost of 490 ZAR (49 USD) one way. Please contact customerservice@tablethotels.com to arrange airport transfers.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- One complimentary glass of champagne or one cocktail, per guest, upon arrival
- Complimentary fruit plate, refreshed during the course of the stay
- Bottle of champagne or wine in room
- 117 Rooms
- Style: Contemporary Classic
- Atmosphere: Quiet
- 18 Guest Reviews
- The Westcliff
- 67 Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff
- Johannesburg, South Africa
Hotel amenities and services
- 100% non-smoking hotel
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- 24 hour medical assistance
- 24 hour room service
- ATM/bank office
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Business center
- Central air conditioning
- Free parking
- Free wi-fi
- Golf nearby
- Lounge
- Luggage storage
- No pets allowed
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Restaurant
- Spa
- Valet parking (charges apply)
- Wake-up service
Other Johannesburg hotels
18 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Wendy
- Stayed March 2013
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
fabulous food.
Amazing views.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Linda
- Stayed December 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Service was excellent
What the hotel could do better:
Spa was only open until 5pm on w/e. Seemed odd for a hotel in peak holiday season.
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- Dirk
- Stayed September 2012
- Rating: Fair
What I liked:
The Westcliff was the first stay on my wife's and my Honeymoon tour of South Africa. Our stay was good, not great. A conclusion that I draw mainly on a "bang-for-buck" basis.
The hotel had come recommended by two other friends of mine who had previously stayed there, so there were no great concerns in booking it.
And despite the fact that I had a series of negative observations, I would still say that this place, adjust for everything else, made an overall positive impression.
Especially I would like to point out that on the day of our departure the city was in traffic hell due to a early morning hail storm and the hotel was not able to get the cab I had ordered the day before to pick us up. Without any prompting they offered a hotel vehicle at a taxi cab rate, which was about a 50% discount from them. I appreciated that a great deal and considered this top-level customer oriented problem solving.
We also received a tablet upgrade to their Grand Suite upon arrival, which was a nice touch!
Th views of the Zoo, which is literally across the street are really, really nice. Great set-up.
What the hotel could do better:
Food: As somewhat of a foodie, I have to be short and blunt here, the Poolside grill is bad. And the fine dining Belle Terasse is average at best in what they do. Dishes were habitually overcooked, dry and with unremarkable flavor profiles.
The Wireless operates at dial-up speeds and barely even accommodated email. Totally unacceptable in the business capital of South Africa.
Overall the facilities are old and worn and definitely look it. This is a tough assessment, but I had a greater expectation given the cost of the stay.
