Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg

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"Staying at the grand Four Seasons Westcliff in Johannesburg felt like the perfect prelude to the trip: I sat on the hotel’s deck overlooking the city’s trees turning gold in autumn and even spied elephants at the zoo, using the time to casually size up and imagine the backstories of fellow travelers before we’d properly met." - Chris Wallace Chris Wallace Chris Wallace is a New York-based writer and photographer. He recently published his first book, "Twentieth-Century Man," about the late artist Peter Beard. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

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"A comfortable, family-friendly city hotel recommended as an ideal first stop to reset time zones and recharge before safari travel; it offers strong baby amenities, relaxed pool and garden areas, and a tranquil environment for adjusting circadian rhythms and decompressing." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"When the Four Seasons took over Johannesburg 's celebrated Westcliff Hotel (a colonial-style grande dame that was admittedly fraying around the edges), its brief was clear: update the tired ambience with a cutting-edge makeover. For its first property in South Africa, the luxe hotel group spared no expense, closing the hotel down for a year and a half until they were satisfied with the full revamp, which debuted in December 2014. The new Four Seasons has modern elegance in spades, from the minimalist View restaurant (the main feature here is, as the name suggests, the panoramic view over Johannesburg’s lush landscape) to the 117 rooms outfitted with chrome details and local contemporary art. For generations, the Westcliff has been the bastion of Johannesburg’s most rarefied citizens, who decamped to the hotel for special occasions or met for high tea on the terrace. With its new look, the property is ready to welcome back its longtime clientele while opening doors to a more youthful set in the process."

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff (Johannesburg, South Africa) Verified Reviews | Tablet Hotels

"Johannesburg isn’t a city known for its views, and that’s exactly what makes The Westcliff such a surprise. Draped along a ridge above the city’s leafy northern suburbs, this former residential estate has been reworked into a sprawling, villa-style hideout with a resort-like feel. The design stays subtle with natural yet pastel tones, clean detailing, and plenty of breathing room. Golf carts cruise between buildings, the scent of jasmine hangs in the air, and the terrace restaurants have quietly redefined the city’s dining scene. It’s not what you expect from Joburg, and that’s the point." - Tablet Hotels