10 Best Hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa

If you're looking for an authentic, malaria-free safari experience close to the airport, Mongena is a great option for a couple of nights without having to leave the province. The lodge is fenced in and has lovely thatched rooms overlooking beautifully landscaped gardens, a boma with fire in the evening, a swimming pool, and resident zebra, springbuck, and nyala that roam freely around the lodge, giving guests an additional taste of the wild. Safari drives, guided walks, and boat cruises on Mongena Lake are available. To get closer to nature, check out the luxury glamping options at "Little Mongena," an unfenced accommodation overlooking the picturesque dam. 

Surrounded by a lush garden in the heart of the Magaliesberg, this lodge has rooms with beautiful antique furniture and is a good place to base yourself if you just want to get into the country for a river ramble or a mountain hike—even the drive is scenic. Dinner (reservations essential) is a four-course set menu of French-influenced cuisine that changes daily. Even if you don't stay overnight, drive through for a delightful gourmet picnic (24-hour advance bookings required) beneath the shade of the trees, along the edge of the small stocked dam, or try your hand at catch-and-release fishing.

This affordable, three-star property has a passageway that's connected to the airport building, which makes it the ideal overnight stay if you have a red-eye flight to catch. Although the property’s location isn’t suited to a long stay, it does try to create a leisurely atmosphere with its sundowner deck that looks out onto the outdoor swimming pool. With high-speed Wi-Fi throughout this three-story hotel, satellite TV, and a 24-hour gym, there’s not much more you could want from an airport hotel. Ask for a room in the new wing, which has modern décor, universal and USB plug points, but no bathtub.

This small, upmarket boutique hotel in central Rosebank is a renovated Cape Dutch house with a gracious garden that offers good value in an area known for expensive accommodations. It has an engaging mix of old and new—Oregon pine floorboards, antique inlaid-wood side tables from Morocco, custom-made couches, and modern, whimsical sculptures like one by Anton Smit, of a woman floating above water. The bedroom suites are luxurious and have heated floors; four have wheelchair access. The superb food in the Clico Restaurant showcases European-style cuisine using fresh local ingredients.

Notable for its quirky public spaces—Louis XVI reproduction armchairs, white shaggy rugs, and the very popular Circle Bar with its beaded booths—The Rosebank Crowne Plaza has standard rooms that are small but perfectly formed, with white vinyl armchairs and side tables. Most will love the black-glass bathroom cube in the deluxe rooms (except those who enjoy privacy—this is not the room to share with a buddy). The beds are comfortable, and directional lighting means you can read while your partner sleeps. Sony Bravia LCD screens with 28 satellite-TV channels, and iPod docking stations are standard in every room. Rooms also feature good work spaces, with back-supporting swivel chairs and multiple plug adaptors at eye level.

The Maropeng Boutique Hotel offers peace and tranquility with magnificent views of the Magaliesberg and Witwatersberg mountain ranges just 90 minutes from Johannesburg. Rooms are decorated in warm, earthy tones that reflect the African setting, and each one has a small outdoor space where you can watch the sun set while sipping delicious cocktails. There is plenty to do in the area: the Maropeng Visitor Centre is a short walk from the hotel; the Sterkfontein Caves are just a few minutes' drive away; and for those looking to unwind, the wooden deck and pool are the perfect spot to relax (even though they are directly adjacent to the reception and welcome lounge). Don't miss the stargazing evening with the resident astronomer on the last Saturday of the month, if the dates work out. The restaurant, which is open to the public for all meals, serves South African food that might include roasted meat (lamb, beef, barbecued chops and pap, curried chicken) with fresh-cooked veggies, such as pumpkin and roast potatoes.

One of South Africa's largest hotel spas is located at this peaceful retreat near Magaliesburg. The award-winning spa is a destination in and of itself (open 7 days a week) with a number of rock plunge pools, steam rooms, as well as therapy baths, and it offers a range of services, including couples' treatment rooms and hydrotherapy. The expansive, thatched hotel sits in the midst of beautiful gardens with drop-dead gorgeous views of the Magaliesberg Mountains from the restaurant's lookout deck. Golf carts are available to take guests across the property's facilities if needs be. The rooms feature contemporary decor with a splash of color, and most have a private terrace overlooking the landscaped grounds, while the suites have their own heated pool that's necklaced by a wooden deck. The Rambling Vine restaurant specializes in farm-to-table dishes made with fresh local ingredients. 

Located just 55 steps from the Sandton Gautrain station, this is a popular destination for international tourists and local business travelers having well-appointed rooms, an outdoor splash pool, and a deck that overlooks Sandton's high-rise buildings. The interior has a bright and modern aesthetic, and clever design elements have been incorporated throughout the hotel to mimic features of the Gautrain station and rail line. The hotel also likes to keep visitors guessing by introducing fresh new concepts to entertainment offerings and food menus, such as Central One’s Full Flavour Board for 2, or a new DJ on the deck every weekend. Ask about the weekly specials.

The newly-built Radisson RED wows guests with its rotating collection of African prints, as well as its contemporary decor and design elements that make its open spaces and rooms pop with color. The guest rooms are equipped with a work table, multiple USB ports, and a coffee machine. The rooftop bar and terrace, where you'll find the swimming pool (and the gym on the same level), is a firm favorite among locals who come here for a sundowner and a bite to eat. The hotel is situated in the same lifestyle precinct as a number of the city's most popular restaurants, which is ideal if you're staying for a few nights. 

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.