The Peech, Johannesburg, South Africa - Explore & Book

"In a quiet backstreet of Melrose, wrapped around by a mature, high-walled garden, this small boutique hotel offers guests a safe, comfortable and stylish haven well away from the cut and thrust of the city centre. James Peech completely gutted then refurbished this 1950s house and built two additional garden annexes to create one of the city’s coolest retreats, which happily marries the best of contemporary design with a big splash of afro-ethnic attitude. A predominantly beige and white colour scheme provides a quiet backdrop for some colourful furnishings and fabrics: ochre velvet sofas and feature wallpapers mix with more ethnic elements like carved ebony tables, blesbok and antelope skin rugs and kuba cloth wall hangings. The Peech’s 32 stylish and airy bedrooms have every mod-con, Basalt and the Garden Restaurant are up to the mark, there’s a rotating exhibition of paintings and photography, and the hotel is imbued by the easy, open nature of its young owners. Highs Spacious light-filled bedrooms with stacks of designer attitudeA quiet garden, dripping in greenery, with a small swimming pool and lots of shaded spots and loungersFriendly, helpful staffWe hear Basalt serves delicious food, so there’s no need to leave the hotel if you’re looking for top-notch cuisine (plus the Garden Restaurant serves simpler meals)Melrose is one of Johannesburg's most attractive suburbs with a great choice of bars, restaurants and shops, and it's close to both Rosebank and Sandton Lows The Peech is a good 20-minute taxi ride away from the city centre and you’ll need transport to get to restaurants, museums, markets etcSome feedback suggests that hotel-arranged taxis can be unreliable, so be sure to give yourself plenty of timeJohannesburg does have safety issues – but The Peech is in a good neighbourhood and is designed to ensure security so that guests feel at ease" - Guy Hunter Watts