7 Best Hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa

This exquisite, Asian-themed boutique hotel is aimed at the discerning traveler who is looking for an unusual and memorable experience and wants to be out of the center of the Johannesburg business district. Suites are large, with equally large bathrooms that have deep soaking tubs and Oriental rugs on the marble floors. There are also shower cubicles with views over the surrounding hills and a separate toilet. All suites feature collectible objets d'art. The Constantinople suite has a 300-year-old Indian four-poster bed; others have a mix of antique and period reproduction pieces. Instead of bathrobes, you will find in your wardrobes authentic galabayas, the all-in-one caftan worn in north Africa and the Middle East. Giant carved timber doors and reflecting pools are found throughout the property. All the rooms offer views over the surrounding hills. If walks in the conservancy (zebra and eland roam freely) don't appeal to you, there's an extensive library. Mosaic restaurant has been recognized for its superlative French cuisine. There's an on-site cinema and a museum of sculptor Tienie Prichard's work.

Get an insider’s insight into Nelson Mandela with a stay at Sanctuary Mandela, which has converted his former Houghton home and heritage site into a boutique hotel that pays homage to the human rights activist with specially commissioned art pieces that document his lifetime. One of the boardrooms displays the foundations of his rondavel meeting room which was added to the main house, and where CODESA talks were held. The rooms are done up in a subtle yet elegant style with hints of African design, and a flash of forest green in the bathrooms. At Insights Restaurant (open to the public with bookings), you can gratify your hunger with a meal prepared by chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya, who was the former statesman’s personal chef for more than 20 years. She prepares some of his best-loved dishes like Nguni sirloin, mushroom and samp risotto, and what the family called "sweet" chicken with contemporary flair. Though it may be new, stories come to life within these walls and through retellings by the staff. Guests can opt for an exclusive private tour of the archives at the nearby Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory (run by the Nelson Mandela Foundation)—a complimentary experience that cannot be requested without a stay, though the other exhibits of this nonprofit are open to the public.

Most of the visitors to 54 on Bath are international business travelers and foreign tourists drawn to the modern yet intimate elegance behind the towering brick facade and Doric columns, though the Champagne bar is popular with locals. It's also in the center of Rosebank and linked to the nearby mall and Rosebank Art and Craft Market by a second-floor sky bridge. The upmarket restaurant, Level Four, has established itself as one of Johannesburg's culinary centers. Travelers rave about the breakfast and dinner (an à la carte menu including dishes like rib-eye steak, duck, and salmon). One of the hotel's finest features is the rooftop garden and pool area, which has sweeping views of the northern suburbs' greenery.

This Hyatt Regency hotel is trendy and opulent, with lots of black, gold, and glass and enormous picture windows revealing stunning views of the northern suburbs. Local art lines the walls in discreetly lighted passageways, and there's an ultramodern restaurant, a wine bar, and a solar-heated pool on the roof. Sunday brunch is a favorite with guests and local families, and the lobby café serves coffee and light meals. The hotel is adjacent to Rosebank's major shopping malls.

One of the first luxury hotels to open in Sandton, the Sun has a very upmarket designer African feel. Elegant and luxurious, the look draws inspiration from bold earth tones and sculptural baobab trees. Guest rooms are small but classy and superbly laid out, with understated lighting and pared-down furniture. The spa includes eight treatment rooms and offers everything from massages and facials to waxing and manicures.

This is the original Sun City hotel, housing spacious and comfortable rooms in the complex that houses the resort's gaming casino, banks of slot machines, and other gaming activities. If gambling and nonstop action are your scene, you'll love it. The hotel pool is large, surrounded by lovely lawns and gardens. There's an area just below the hotel decked out like a Tarzan jungle, with palms, artificial waterfalls, and rope walkways. And a stay here also includes complimentary access to The Valley of Waves.

While it's too big to be called a hideaway, this four-star lodge is located on a 250-acre nature reserve with a stream running through it and a bird sanctuary. Rooms are spacious and private, the surroundings are peaceful, and the spa is glorious. The lodge is popular with corporate groups, but it's big enough for you to find a quiet spot if there's a large group in attendance (the Nature Rooms offer the most privacy). It's also one of few hotels in the area that welcomes small children, so it remains popular for independent travelers and those from Johannesburg who are getting out of the city for the weekend. Rooms have small sitting areas and some have four-poster beds and fireplaces; all have covered patios.