Top 6 Best Luxury Hotels in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a city I have spent a great deal of time in; my father emigrated here when I was eight years old, and I am fortunate to have travelled there often since. Mostly for work, visiting a number of the best luxury hotels in Johannesburg with a writing research and travel agent notebook in hand.
It’s a city I love to visit, and yet, I find it hard to summarise in words, partly because it doesn’t neatly fit into a box and doesn’t conform to labels. The first question ever asked is, " Is it safe? Honest answer, yes and no. Depending on where you are and who you are. In my opinion, for tourists, staying in tourist hotels in tourist areas with their wits about them, Johannesburg is safe. Walking around with your iPhone in your back pocket invites crime, as in many major cities. Johannesburg is aware of its reputation, and security presence is high in tourist areas, especially in pedestrianised zones, which are heavily policed for travellers' peace of mind.
I have created a roundup of hotels I would recommend for tourists to stay in Johannesburg. They are the hotels that stayed with me, in a good way. They are hotels I would go back to, and places I would happily recommend to others. In terms of areas, I consider Sandton and Rosebank safe places to stay in Johannesburg, where you’ll find many of the city’s luxury hotels. Hotels at the airport are convenient for short layovers. I have also made a note of Johannesburg hotels near a Gautrain stop, a train that runs from within the airport terminal building, as I found it quick, safe, and user-friendly. Value for money, especially for solo travellers, and less stressful for the times when there could be traffic congestion.
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Hotel Intercontinental Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport
Intercontinental Hotel OR Tambo Johannesburg International Airport, showing the proximity to the Terminal
If you arrive late in the evening and depart early in the morning, with no time to explore the city, staying at a hotel within easy walking distance of the Arrivals Terminal is the best choice. Requiring no transfers to or from the city centre or suburbs. There are hotels ranging from the InterContinental Airport, a 5-star hotel across the road from the Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport. With prices around GBP500 per room per night. It is the best hotel within walking distance of OR Tambo. There’s an indoor pool, fitness room, and in-house dining. For lower price points, consider the Southern Sun, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, City Lodge, bearing in mind some will require an airport shuttle.
Hyde Hotel, Rosebank
Prices from GBP250 per room per night
Opened in 2024, Hyde Johannesburg is part of the global Hyde Hotels group. A busy, trendy urban hotel with a popular artisanal café and fantastic in-house dining at Proud Mary. The main bar was buzzing with locals and hotel guests on a Thursday night. There’s also Nine Lives, a speakeasy bar, so well hidden that we didn’t find it. Loved the Art Deco theme throughout, in our room, this was seen in circular mirrors, bold prints, rounded edges, and wood finishes. A strong team or super-friendly staff are on hand to make your stay comfortable. Total 131 rooms; we stayed in a VIP King (30–37 sqm) with a comfortable deluxe king bed. Separate WC from the bathroom, which has a walk-in shower and sink. Some of the larger suites sleep three or four, and some have bathtubs. Great location in the heart of Rosebank; I felt very safe here. Ideal for anyone looking to get a feel for Johannesburg in a central, pedestrianised, secure shopping district, close to the Gautrain station serving the airport terminal. The hotel provides a golf buggy transfer from the hotel to the Gautrain’s north entrance/exit. Nice cafes, restaurants, and shopping on the same street. We had an aperitif and quesadillas at Tasha’s, an NYC-inspired café. Other restaurants to try in the area include Modern Tailors, an Indian with a modern twist, and tropical-infused Mama Samba. Click here for our full hotel review.
The Peech Hotel, Melrose
Prices from GBP 310 per Classic Room per night, breakfast included. Also, a room-only rate.
The Peech Hotel is a charming and ultra-stylish urban oasis set within two-acre leafy gardens in a safe, affluent neighbourhood of Johannesburg. Its 32 rooms are surprisingly modern compared to the historic features of the main building, which was the former family home of the current owners, Vicky and James Peech. The Peech opened as a guesthouse in 2004. It’s expanded over the years and now has two small outdoor pools and great in-house food offerings. Ideal for couples, friends, families (all ages welcome; children 3-12 can stay in an extra bed in our suites and two-bedroom villa), with some interleading rooms. Catering to the local and international market. Great for foodies, with two on-site dining options: The Garden (in-house guests; kids' menu available) and Pot Luck Club, where acclaimed chef Luke Dale Roberts consulted with James Peech (UK) to create small sharing plates and casual fine dining. Ran by Chef Ebie du Toit (Luxe Awards’ Hotel Restaurant of the Year 2026). Melrose is a chic suburb between Sandton, Rosebank and Melrose Arch, with easy access (4km) to the Gautrain terminal. They’re also close to the highway, so whichever way you decide to arrive/ depart, it’s very easy to access OR Tambo International Airport. However, you’re in a quiet and green suburb, with a villagey feel. Staff can book local activities, and owner Vicky has a great list of up-to-date recommendations, including kid-friendly dining and activities, to make the most of your stay. Read full review of our stay here.
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg
Four Seasons Westcliff, view from the Flames bar and restaurant
Prices from GBP340 per room per night
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff has been a hotel since 1997, originally an Orient-Express hotel. It underwent an extensive, multi-million-dollar renovation that closed the hotel (and changed its exterior colour from pink) for over a year. It officially reopened as a Four Seasons hotel in 2014. A much-loved icon, it is one of the best hotels in Johannesburg. Perched on a hilltop, with elevated views across Jozi’s skyline, in earshot of the lions at Johannesburg Zoo. It’s in the city centre, yet tucked away among tall trees and leafy gardens, so the overall feel is that of a quiet urban retreat. Originally built as a residential estate, the hotel has evolved over the years, all the while retaining this spread of low-rise hillside villas linked by walkways, glass elevators, and, thankfully, golf-buggy transfers given the incline. True to Four Seasons style, the property offers five-star service and facilities, including a state-of-the-art gym and spa with 9 treatment rooms, as well as a heated lap pool. Nature-inspired treatments and products, including native South African flora such as rooibos, baobab, and Kalahari melon. There is also a resident-only family pool and an on-site running trail. The 117 rooms, elegant and contemporary in style, are spread across nine blocks. If the view is important, check which ones are best when booking. The terraces at Flames bar, the main restaurant/ bar, are where you’ll find High Tea served (check days) is also popular for a sunset drink or dinner with views of the city skyline. The hotel is approx 30-40 minutes drive from the airport, and within easy reach of Melville and Parkhurst, where you can find neighbourhood streets with independent cafés, shopping, and on-street dining/ bars.
The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa
Prices from GBP750 per room per night
Founded by the late South African businessman and visionary Douw Steyn, The Saxon Hotel is still proudly owned by his family today. The Saxon Hotel is set within 10 acres of indigenous gardens in Sandhurst, providing a restorative retreat for travellers in a quiet residential suburb of Johannesburg. The hotel is packed with history, and famously housed Nelson Mandela after his release from prison, when he was writing A Long Walk to Freedom. Long-serving Managing Director George Cohen has held his position since 2005, proudly guiding his expert team, who are like family. Spacious and immaculately presented suites, 53 in total, are either located in the main house or in one of their three villas. The three villas can also be booked exclusively. Everything at The Saxon is done to an exceptional standard, from world-class service and dining to an impressive art collection and excellent spa with hydro facilities, a hammam, and traditional spa treatments (facials, manicures, massages) alongside holistic therapies such as sound, reiki, and cupping. This is a hotel I often dream of revisiting; it sets a high benchmark against all other five-star hotels in the city, and as yet, nothing has matched it.
The Satyagraha House, Orchards, Johannesburg
Prices from GBP150 per room per night
The Satyagraha House is an historic hotel on my Johannesburg hotels wishlist. I hope to visit on a yoga trip; it stands out as a nice option for solo and group travellers seeking quiet contemplation. The vibe is peaceful, small and intimate. The Satyagraha House is both a hotel and a museum, and famously once housed Mohandas Gandhi (1908-1909). There are just seven rooms. I love their character, simplicity, and what they stand for. “Satya” means truth. The original thatched rondavels are well preserved, with a modern wing added in 2010. Vegetarian cuisine is served, including an elegant Tasting Menu. Massages are offered, along with yoga, meditation, a morning jog, and private evening music concerts (on request). The Satyagraha House is located in a residential area called Orchards, between Melrose and Houghton, roughly a 30-minute drive from OR Tambo International Airport.
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Sally Kirby is a UK-born travel writer based in North Africa. She has co-authored Lonely Planet Morocco and DK Eyewitness guidebooks, and writes regularly for The Telegraph, Time Out, Adventure.com, and The i Paper. She helps travellers bring their ideas to reality through her consultancy services.