Four Seasons The Westcliff: An A List Retreat in Johannesburg…

A favourite escape for A Listers, Wersha Bharadwa checks into Johannesburg’s dreamy honeymoon resort; Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.

A luxury landmark hotel, Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, feels like a compact Mediterranean village with peachy-coloured hillside villas.

The Suite at The Westcliff

We have a superior suite with a balcony and panoramic views over the Westcliff’s own eight acres as well as Johannesburg Zoo and the dynamic African city.

All 117 rooms feature pops of colourful turquoise and green African textiles in geometric and zebra print accented wallpapers with wooden carved masks. Ours is filled with freshly cut flowers and macaroons from the kitchen too – the take-home goodies are beyond delicious. There’s a stocked mini bar, Nespresso, and organic teas alongside naughty extra treats of moist cakes, chocolates and strawberries. I especially adore the bottle of both red and white gifted to us. Other takeaways include Terres d’Afrique goodies in the bathroom and pairs of luxury embroidered slippers. Swaddled like babies inside our bed’s Egyptian cotton sheets, we sleep blissfully every night.

Food at Four Seasons The Westcliff

We kick off our stay, like the many celebrities who visit do, by opting for the acclaimed Afternoon Tea. It’s so filling, we’re almost tempted to skip dinner entirely and instead gorge on cocktails in one of the three bars. We don’t, thankfully, because dinner at The View is not to be missed.

A great glass elevator takes us up to the restaurant where the many of city’s elite have already taken their seats, ready to chow down on head chef Daniel Payne’s modern African offerings. It’s part of the explosive and exciting Joburg culinary scene and for one night, we’re thrilled to be a part of it. The rooftop eaterie insists that this is the hippest hangout in town and it’s hard to resist with such amazing views over the city. I tuck into a Gemsbok tartare for starters and steak for main.

Breakfast is also served on the top level where there’s a fresh oyster and seafood station, pancakes, eggs to any specification along with an a la carte menu. The breakfast buffet is again a sight to behold; champagne and oysters on ice, and a waffle stand with all the trimmings.

What You’ll Love…

Offering views over Johannesburg but discreetly tucked away behind Jacaranda trees, the hotel’s  acilities include two stylish restaurants, two pools and an urban oasis spa.

Treatments in the spa involve KwaZulu-Natal, Himba and Mapungubwe tribal techniques using ingredients such as local rooibos, baobab, coconut oils and and Kalahari melon.

Everything, including the hotel rooms, are accessed via golf buggies on a cobbled street The service is, as expected, outstanding. All the staff, including the ones we hadn’t personally met yet, know us by our names. Every little detail really is taken into account.

Getting to Johannesburg

South African Airways flies daily from Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport.  Check in is easy and we then head over the beautifully designed Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 for some pre-flight champers where it is bright and airy with plenty of usb sockets to charge laptops and phones. We’re travelling around South Africa, so take a flight to Cape Town where we will then take transfers and internal flights – or drive – elsewhere. However, direct flights to Johannesburg are equally as frequent.

The exceptionally polite and friendly air crew aboard our South African Airways direct flight from London Heathrow to Cape Town help make our overnight flight seamless and swift. Our seats in the middle of the plane have ample legroom space, an adjustable headrest and a comfortable seat recline which make for a decent night’s sleep. Dinner options include an impressive, generously-portioned gluten-free beef bourguignon washed down with wine.  There’s a perfect selection of the latest films and box sets. Breakfast includes very agreeable omelettes, croissants and fresh fruit with coffee.

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