What ’s it like?
As you walk through the large glass doors you are greeted with friendly, smiling faces. The spacious lobby,reception and restaurant areas are all openplan. It is a functional hotel and serves its purpose perfectly for the business traveller. The service of the staff is impeccable. The atmosphere is relaxed and even though you are on the corner of Witkoppen which is constantly swarming with traffic and the wail of police and ambulance sirens, it’s as if you are cocooned in a bubble, and the noise fades in to the background. You can walk across the road and enjoy the entertainment Mecca of Monte Casino. World-class theatre, great dining, a lavish casino as well as a cinema complex and many other opportunities will ensure you are kept well entertained if you decide to venture from the City Lodge.
Where is it?
On the corner of Witkoppen and Monte Casino Boulevard Fourways, close to all highways and the William Nicol, which leads to everywhere!
Room Facilities
Lovely, comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with double bed or twin beds. The colours are rich browns with hints of orange and turquoise. There is a flat screen television (MNet and DStv) Satellite channels offering exciting sport, breaking news and great movies. The en suite bathroom has a bath and separate shower. All city lodges have a new, innovative sliding shutter between the bathroom and the bedroom – when open it gives the room a sense of space and is able to be closed for privacy. There are tea and coffee-making facilities and an electronic safe large enough to accommodate a laptop. The broad desk offers lighting and plugs for easy connectivity. A wraparound balcony allowed in a fresh breeze. The views include a sparkling blue pool and sundeck with loungers, the facades of Monte Casino with its towering Tuscan architecture, and the busy roads with the manic Joburg traffic. It is noisy but strangely soothing, knowing that you are cocooned and not out there in the madness!
Restaurants and Bars
There is a coffee shop serving delicious meals all day, and a comprehensive menu with many choice hot and cold options. Get the perfect start to another sunny day in South Africa with a legendary City Lodge breakfast. You can choose between a Full English or Continental breakfast (buffet style) with the option to enjoy outdoors on the hotel’s large sundowner deck or indoors in the spacious breakfast area. The buffet was scrumptious and the service superb. There is an extended bar area with the option to enjoy beautiful African sunsets on the generous sundowner deck. As you leave you are given muffins and take-away coffee. Both delicious, and a thoughtful gesture. As it says on the packet – you have taken the shampoo, now take the muffin!
Business and Other Facilities
There are impressive boardroom facilities which include a 12-seater room and a 14- seater room; these include a flat-screen television with laptop connectivity and conference call capability. The infinity pool is ideally positioned on the sundowner deck, and there is safe and secure underground parking. There is a small gym with equipment to work out on before those early morning meetings and to de-stress after a long day of conferencing.
Verdict
A lovely hotel with fabulous staff- friendly, approachable and hospitable. Superb service is the mark of excellent management. I have stayed at the OR Tambo City Lodge, and this City Lodge is different in many ways. But the hotels do serve different purposes. If I had to stay in a hotel, close to this part of Johannesburg the City Lodge Fourways would definitely be my preferred choice.
Contact
Tel: +27 11 244 6000, citylodge.co.za
Melissa Jane Cook