Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa
One Michelin Key
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Hotel Details
Location
Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa · Johannesburg, South Africa
Key Highlights
- ✓Breakfast: Often inclusive and described as "outstanding" and "brilliant" with good choices. Guests appreciate in-room breakfast options.
Expert Review: Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa
The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa in Johannesburg, South Africa, a prestigious Michelin One-Key property, is widely acclaimed as a beacon of luxury and exceptional hospitality. Guests consistently describe it as an "amazing" and "world-class" destination, often referred to as a "little piece of heaven".
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The overall rating and sentiment for the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa are overwhelmingly positive, with many guests giving it exceptional scores for comfort, staff, facilities, and cleanliness. It is celebrated as one of the finest hotels in Johannesburg, offering a truly luxurious and flawless stay. The hotel earned its Michelin Key for its exceptional hospitality and world-class guest experience, standing out for its transformative stays, memorable design, and impeccable service.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently praise several key aspects that make the Saxon stand out:
- Service & Staff: The attentive, professional, and friendly staff who go above and beyond to make stays memorable.
- Design & Ambiance: The blend of modern Africana with historic elegance, featuring carefully curated African art and a luxurious yet comfortable feel. The magnificent ten-acre estate with lush gardens provides an "osmotic oasis" feel, creating a sense of arrival into paradise.
- Spa & Wellness: The world-class spa is frequently highlighted as fantastic and one of the best in South Africa, offering a range of signature treatments and facilities like a steam room and fitness center.
- Privacy & Exclusivity: The hotel is known for its discretion and the high level of privacy it offers guests, situated behind high walls in an exclusive suburb.
- Historical Significance: Nelson Mandela famously lived at the Saxon and worked on his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," in what is now the Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite.
3. Room Quality
The rooms and suites at the Saxon are described as beautiful, spacious, and extremely luxurious. They are well-appointed, often featuring an open-plan layout with separate dining and lounge areas. The design embraces an elegant contemporary-African style, incorporating African art. Comfort is paramount, with amenities like premium bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets, pillowtop mattresses, and a pillow menu. Bathrooms are lavish, including deep soaking bathtubs, rainfall showerheads, designer toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. Many rooms offer balconies overlooking the tranquil gardens and pools. Modern conveniences such as enormous plasma-screen televisions and remote-controlled features are standard.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at the Saxon is consistently lauded as fantastic and delicious, with a variety of choices to cater to any taste. The hotel boasts three restaurants, including Qunu and The Terrace.
- Qunu: Offers a modern African table, blending local and international flavors with South African gastronomic heritage, overseen by Executive Chef Matthew Foxon.
- The Terrace: Serves classics with a European flair, popular for alfresco dining near the pool.
- Breakfast: Often inclusive and described as "outstanding" and "brilliant" with good choices. Guests appreciate in-room breakfast options.
- Other offerings: The hotel also provides a lovely pampering afternoon high tea and boasts a 24-hour room service menu. Some ingredients are sourced from an organic vegetable garden.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff receive exceptional praise, being consistently described as professional, friendly, attentive, and impeccable. Guests frequently highlight that the staff "go above and beyond" and treat visitors "like family". Many mention the 24-hour butler service as a significant advantage, providing highly attentive and expert assistance. The staff's dedication to making each guest's stay memorable is a recurring theme in reviews.
6. Location & Accessibility
The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa is nestled in Sandhurst, an exclusive and leafy suburb within the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg. Its location is often described as an "urban oasis" or a "peaceful, green haven" just minutes from the center of Sandton. While not within walking distance of many stores or restaurants, it is conveniently located close to Hyde Park Corner and the Sandton Convention Centre. The property offers excellent privacy and security behind its high walls and gates. Accessibility to public transport is good, with the Gautrain and Sandton Gautrain Station a short distance away. The hotel provides free self-parking and valet parking, along with an airport shuttle service (for a surcharge).
7. Value & Pricing
The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa is considered a very expensive property, with typical nightly rates averaging around $894. While significantly higher than the average for 5-star hotels in Johannesburg, many guests believe the exceptional amenities, world-class service, and luxurious experience offer "remarkable value for money". Deals might be found during low seasons (e.g., March and February) or on specific days of the week like Tuesday or Sunday.
8. Common Complaints
Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few minor complaints have been noted:
- WiFi Connectivity: Some guests have experienced issues connecting their laptops to the hotel's Wi-Fi.
- Service Inconsistency: A past review mentioned isolated instances of inadequate or unprofessional service from some restaurant staff during an initial stay, although this improved subsequently. Another noted a potential dip in service quality in 2022, possibly due to being "over busy".
- Cigar Lounge Availability: One cigar-smoking guest expressed disappointment that the dedicated cigar lounge was sometimes unavailable due to non-smokers using it for other purposes.
- Noise Levels: Some reviews mentioned issues with noise levels.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few minor complaints have been noted:
- •WiFi Connectivity: Some guests have experienced issues connecting their laptops to the hotel's Wi-Fi.
- •Noise Levels: Some reviews mentioned issues with noise levels.
Google Reviews
2,106 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Culinary in Paradise “Panos” Chef Panos
There is not any word to describe so unique outstanding experience from the welcome in the gate to check in to the rooms (villa) to terrace restaurant to butler's to formal dinner!! All staff exceptional polite smooth friendly with a smile 24/7. I highly recommend that hotel when ever you pass by Johannesburg. Is the only Hotel that I feel Home away from home 🏡!!!!! Congratulations to the managem...
Buyisiwe Varenzakis
An iconic institution in the heart of Sandton. The best most intimate events are hosted here and the establishment just knows how to handle them. Service can be a little lukewarm from the waiters but the doormen and other general staff make up for it. Waiters often seem a little flustered and overwhelmed. Great experience overall. It feels like being part of a rich heritage when you’re there.
Rosemary Anderson
THE SAXON HOTEL’S SPA – IN A TOTAL DIFFERENT LEAGUE OF ITS OWN Had the privilege recently of experiencing a package of Spa treatments at the Saxon Hotel in Sandhurst. The occasion was a treat for a special friend of ours - who was celebrating a milestone birthday. It was a wonderful success – with everything surpassing the three of our’s expectations and it was loads of fun too. Our friend rave...
Su six7ten
Very comfortable and convenient. The rooms and bathrooms are very clean and are always cleaned properly every day, not just a rushed surface clean. The hotel feels safe and the atmosphere is familiar. I like how the staff are both professional and helpful. Every stay so far has been a good experience.
Response from the owner
Dear Su six7ten,<br><br>Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you’ve consistently enjoyed your stays with us and that our team’s attention to detail and care made...
Zane Valerio
Absolutely wonderful service from the entrance. Enjoyed the views and drinks. Felt like a 5 star experience if it wasn’t for the security at the gate. Upon arrival we were told we are at the wrong entrance even though it was the correct entrance. We were then told if you don’t have an appointment we can’t accept you. We stood outside for a bit luckily a second security welcomed us so nicely and ar...
Response from the owner
Dear Zane,<br><br>Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the service, views and drinks, and that our team in the bar made you feel so comforta...
Gareth Lorge
Absolutely outstanding experience in every possible way - accommodation was luxurious, service beyond brilliant. Held a function there that The Saxon ran flawlessly. It is an unforgettable experience. Deserves all the accolades it has.
Response from the owner
Dear Gareth,<br><br>Thank you for your lovely review, I am delighted you enjoyed your stay, and that the team took good care of you.<br><br>We look forward to welcoming you back soon.<br><br>Best rega...
About One Michelin Key
One Michelin Key is awarded to hotels that offer a very special stay. These properties are characterized by their unique personality, high quality, and ability to create memorable experiences for guests.
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