BACKGROUND: In 2013, Sun International embarked on a new large-scale mixed-use ‘green city‘ project in Menlyn, Pretoria. Its ambitious Time Square project opened in phases, starting with the casino and restaurant complex in 2017 and followed by the multipurpose 8,500-seater Sun Arena. In early 2018, it opened the final phase – The Maslow Time Square Hotel.
WHERE IS IT? The hotel and entertainment complex is part of the Menlyn Maine node in Pretoria. Just off the Garsfontein offramp on the N1 highway, it’s about a 45-minute drive from Johannesburg (depending on the time of day) and 30 minutes from O.R. Tambo International Airport. You can also take the Gautrain to the Pretoria or Hatfield stop and hop on a bus, which will drop you off a short walk from the hotel.
ROOM FACILITIES: The Maslow Time Square’s accommodation offering is fairly unique, with a choice of three levels of comfort and luxury available. The 238 rooms are spread over 17 floors with 96 Foundation (thee-star), 94 Median (four-star), and 47 Zenith (five-star) rooms, and one Penta suite. My Foundation room on the third floor was decently sized at 24m2, with space for a comfortable queen-size bed, a work desk, an easy chair and a luggage bench. The entrance to the room housed cupboards, a mini fridge and the obligatory tea and coffee-making accoutrements. I was grateful for the blackout curtains as my room overlooked the Porte Cochère and entrance with multi-coloured lights illuminating a star-shaped sculpture throughout the night. The bathroom was compact; the sliding shower door acted as a door to the toilet stall as well, and worked very well in the space. The large frosted glass insert in the wall separating the bedroom and bathroom gave the rooms a feeling of openness and connectivity. There were ample plug points around the room, with USB ports and two and three-prong plugs at the desk. The complimentary, unlimited wi-fi connected easily and the speed was satisfactory.
RESTAURANTS & BARS: Tasto is the hotel’s buffet restaurant for both breakfast and dinner. The breakfast buffet offered the usual suspects – eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato, pastries, fruit, cereal, yoghurt, cheeses and cold meats. I opted for an unusual combination of French toast, bacon, sausage and chocolate croissant (not all on one plate), with a first course of muesli, yoghurt and fruit salad, washed down with strawberry juice and cappuccinos. The waitrons were friendly and helpful. Guests on the Zenith level have exclusive access to the Luminary Lounge for breakfast. The Time Square complex offers a number of other restaurants to suit all tastes – from Indian and Mexican (the newly-opened La Rosa restaurant) to celebrity restaurants Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar and Something’s Cooking By J’Something.
BUSINESS & MEETING FACILITIES: The Maslow is primarily a business hotel and as such many of the areas are conducive to small meetings. But it also has a conference and meeting offering with 13 bespoke conference rooms, 13 adaptable meeting rooms and two large banqueting/event venues.
LEISURE FACILITIES: The casino is the hotel’s largest leisure offering, with over 2,000 slot machines and 60 casino tables. Onsite you’ll find a gym and a pool which are available to all guests. Zenith Level guests have access to the Solis Bar pool as well. Nearby is Central Square shopping centre. Here you’ll find a large variety of restaurants and shops and a Virgin Active gym.
VERDICT: Whichever level of luxury you choose at The Maslow Time Square Hotel, you’ll receive five-star service from friendly and helpful staff. And even at Foundation level, you get a high-quality experience, with furnishings and finishes way above three-star expectations.
CONTACT
A: 209 Aramist Ave, Menlyn
T: +27 12 003 6011