Occupying a scenic hillside location in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff delivers the supreme guest experience well-Seasoned travellers have come to expect in Four Seasons properties worldwide.
The layout of Four Seasons The Westcliff is more akin to a residential community than a traditional hotel building. The 80 rooms and suites are arranged in clusters of small buildings that form a visual village with a Mediterranean feel; the rooms’ balconies looking over pools, fountains, flowers, and greenery certainly add to that perception. The Reception building is located at the base of the
Relax in luxury at Four Seasons The Westcliff’s spa pool.
property for easy vehicular access from the street; golf carts transport guests up and down the hill. However, the short walks between buildings are quite pleasant, given the fragrant vegetation lining the paths. In a building adjacent to Reception are the gym and spa, the first a well-equipped place to challenge the body, the second a soothing place to relax indoors in the quiet lounge area or outdoors next to a beautiful swimming pool.
Johannesburg’s booming culinary scene is attracting global attention. Nowhere is a drink or dining experience more satisfying than on the airy terrace of Flames, where South Africa’s glitterati come for the leafy views, tasty drinks, exceptional food, and glamorous ambience. The interior and exterior spaces flow stylishly into each other as the flames that give the restaurant its name burn brightly in an open-air kitchen. A stellar menu is matched by the polished professionalism of the friendly staff, further enhancing the Flames experience. Come morning, breakfast is served upstairs in an indoor space that is no less charming, with extensive views over the landscape awash in jacaranda trees in bloom during the month of September. Fans of Eggs Benedict will be delighted here, though the variety of other appealing temptations likewise demands a sampling.
One of the chic guestrooms at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Beyond the usual selection of wines and alcoholic beverages available at Four Seasons, The Westcliff is a unique gin selection made by South Africa’s renowned Inverroche Distillery. Coming in a range of exotic flavours to complement more familiar ones, the Inverroche range certainly teases the palate with its smooth delivery. For true gin enthusiasts or those who would like to become one, Four Seasons is the only location in Johannesburg to experience the Inverroche Gin Academy, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours distilling your personal flavour of gin. With a small number of participants per session, the Gin Academy makes an ideal private experience for friends or colleagues travelling together.
Near Four Seasons The Westcliff are exciting attractions such as Johannesburg Zoo. There is no need to go on safari to see the Big Five; they are all here at the zoo, along with many other species less than a kilometre from the Four Seasons. Even closer is the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, almost directly across Jan Smuts Avenue. Don’t let the sombre name or serious theme dissuade visiting this fascinating facility to see the informative exhibitions presenting photos, videos, and artefacts related to the Holocaust of World War II and the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The building is an emotionally moving work of art, imbued with deep symbolism in its architectural design.
Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Traveller Deluxe
