Rooms under £100: Johannesburg

The heart of South Africa is a city on the up — discover its cultural developments from the comfort of one of Jo'burg's stylish budget retreats

By Julia Buckley
Published 14 Mar 2016, 08:00 GMT, Updated 12 Jul 2021, 15:43 BST
Johannesburg sunrise with telkom communications tower cityscape. Johannesburg is one of the forty largest metropolitan cities ...

Johannesburg sunrise with telkom communications tower cityscape. Johannesburg is one of the forty largest metropolitan cities in the world, and the world's largest city that is not situated on a river, lakeside, or coastline. It is also the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due being situated in the mineral-rich Gauteng province.

Photograph by Getty Images

01 The Monarch
A 1930s post office turned boutique hotel, this is the place for old-school comfort. Its huge rooms come swaddled in heavy drapes, thick carpet and classic furniture, plus the occasional free-standing bath. The public areas are more modern but equally swish. Rooms from £92.
monarchhotel.co.za

02 House Higgo
Located in the suburb of Northcliff, a 20-minute drive from central Johannesburg, what House Higgo lacks in convenience it makes up for in ambience. Guests can relax in the whirlpool bath on the sunsoaked deck or enjoy views of the surrounding hills with a leisurely stroll through the vegetable garden. Rooms from £59. househiggo.co.za

03 The Bannister Hotel
Cheap and cheerful is the name of the game at this hotel in trendy Braamfontein. Although small, the rooms are light and well designed, with parquet flooring, unobtrusive murals and disco lights that brighten the rainfall showers. Rooms from £25. bannisterhotel.co.za

04 Balalaika Hotel
Lush gardens are the main attraction at this traditionally styled hotel, which opened in 1949 in the central Sandton suburb. The 330 rooms have a business feel to them, but you're more likely to spend time listening to the resident pianist or relaxing poolside than staying indoors to write that report. Rooms from £53. balalaika.co.za

Published in the April 2016 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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