40 Best Hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa

Occupying a former office building, this chic-industrial style hotel commemorates Jo'burg's early beginnings as a gold-mining town with touches like a big black-and-white photo of a gold mine over the headboard in each well-appointed room. Elevate, the open-air rooftop bar on the 16th floor, offers spectacular 360-degree views of the old business district, and there's a hot tub (sadly it's not heated) that is accessible to all guests on the sun deck on the third floor. A shuttle service is available for transport to local sites for a fee (free less than 5 km [3 miles]). 

Located in the west of Madikwe, Rhulani is a multi-award-winning lodge with nine private rooms, located around an attractive communal lounge and pool area, and overlooking a waterhole frequented by elephants and other animals. A hide at the waterhole, accessed through a short underground tunnel, will get you breathtakingly close to animals and birds. The service and food are first-rate and the accommodation is African chic, with an air of relaxed luxury. Each room has its own plunge pool and fireplace, and you can book a spa treatment in the comfort of your room. With only nine suites, spaced well apart, this lodge offers privacy and seclusion.

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.

In the exclusive suburb of Sandhurst, this luxurious and impeccably designed Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa has repeatedly received awards for its excellence. Heads of state have stayed here, including Nelson Mandela, who came here after his release from prison to work on his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. The butlers pride themselves on keeping files on their guests, right down to what they order from the bar. An azure pool adjoins the sleek, modern building. Inside, the feeling is calm and classical, and there's an extensive African art collection on display throughout the hotel. Rooms are huge, with big bay windows overlooking the gardens or pool. Large-screen TVs, DVD players, surround sound, and a workstation with a high-speed internet connection are standard. Qunu restaurant has an African feel to it.

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.

This 10-room hotel is decorated in a minimalist style with each suite decorated by a different interior designer. Rooms are spacious with separate lounges and bedrooms, a fireplace, and wraparound balconies. The restaurant, Winehouse (named after a large painting of Amy Winehouse), receives consistently good reviews and serves a melange of cuisines from around the world, which are often complemented with fresh vegetables and herbs from the hotel's organic garden.

This quaint, thatched country hotel is well located for trips into the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The 10 elegant rooms are decorated with a neutral palette, and the bathrooms have separate showers. Summertime (October–April) is perfect for a romantic sunset picnic (Wednesday–Sunday) in the rolling gardens, though it might be with a backdrop of a wedding party at the Olde England–style chapel.

The five-star Tshukudu Bush Lodge offers a fully-inclusive experience that includes brunch, high tea, a five-course dinner, and local beverages, as well as two daily game drives. It is built into the side of a steep, rocky hill and overlooks open grassland and a large waterhole where elephants bathe. If you watch long enough, you might see most of the Big Five from your verandah. Winding stone stairways lead up the hill to thatched cottages with private balconies, wicker furniture, African materials, and black-slate floors. Fireplaces and mosquito nets are standard, and sunken bathtubs have spectacular views of the waterhole. At night you can use a spotlight to illuminate game at the waterhole below.

Although 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. 

You can find this delightful little restaurant and hotel, the creation of sculptor Charles Gotthard, amid trees next to a river. It's made up like a fantasy fairy world, with three stories of little rooms, winding passageways, and stairs leading to colorful private alcoves and balconies. The restaurant has tasty, creative cuisine, such as South African sushi (made with springbok carpaccio), Thai chicken salad, and lime-marinated chicken breasts. A set menu ($$$) is offered on Sunday and holidays; menus change with the seasons. The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday, and bookings are essential. A small shop sells dream catchers, small fairy statues, and the like, and the Gobble D'Gook coffee shop serves homemade cakes on weekends and holidays. There are three B&B units in a restored vintage train car.