Protea Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers

I stayed six nights at this hotel. A nice (albeit quite small) room with an excellent shower and a comfortable bed. BUT...|I encountered one disappointment after another. Any one of them I might have dismissed as "one of those things" but taken together, these incidents really soured my view of the Protea Wanderers. Here's what happened...|-- Two days before arrival, I received an email asking for my personal and credit card details. I filled it in, yet the front desk had no record of it when I arrived at 10.30pm . This was more than a minor inconvenience as I was using my sister's credit card and couldn 't ph one her for the details at that time of night. With some reluctance, the desk clerk agreed to let me provide the details the next day.|-- When I got to my room, there was a note on the desk welcoming "Brian Eloff" to the hotel. I am not Brian Eloff , which meant I had to traipse back to the front desk to ensure that they had given me the right room and that I would not be disturbed by Mr Eloff in the middle of the night. |-- I had to go back to the front desk yet again when I was unable to sign into the hotel WiFi. The receptionist said the problem was that I had just checked in and got the WiFi connected. However, the next morning it was again not working -- this time, the receptionist on duty signed on using her own password. Three days later, I was disconnected again....|-- When I checked in, I asked the front desk to reserve a table for dinner the following evening for myself and four friends. The restaurant had no record of the reservation the next day. |-- The dinner turned out to be a rather bizarre experience. Three of us ordered the rump steak with three prawns and stir fry. When our dishes arrived, none had a stir fry . One came with chips (French fries), one with mashed potatoes and mine with spinach (which I detest). My brother reported that his curry was at best lukewarm and quite tasteless. At least the fifth member of our party was pleased with his oxtail casserole. For dessert, I ordered the malva pudding and custard only to be told 10 minutes later that the kitchen had run out of the custard that was supposed to come with it. (Oh yes, and one of us ordered soda water which never arrived).|All in all, my stay fell well short of what I have come to expect from a Marriott property.

The rooms were fine, they had great space. But for some reason, we couldn't get them to stock wash cloths. We had to request them daily. The staff inside the restaurant at breakfast and the bar/ coffee shop were phenomenal. We didn't have great service in/to the rooms. (E.g. one day all of the dirty towels were collected, but not replaced. We had to specifically request bath soap, because it wasn't restocked with the daily clean, and even then, was only restocked in the shower, not the bath). One night, we ordered room service for dinner, when it wasn't delivered after an hour and a half, we called for a status. Instead of being honest, and telling us that the order had never been processed, they told us it was ready to be delivered, but they just needed us to reconfirm the entire order. They called back 15 mins later with the truth. It was then too late for most take out. We were livid (and extremely hungry). The food and beverage manager found us at breakfast the next morning to apologize, but that experience will keep us from returning.

The Food was good. I had the fillet steak twice and the ribeye once. I would recommend the 300g fillet instead. Buffet breakfast was acceptable. Not that wide spread, bread, pastry, live egg station. I used the wanderers club running track and it made my day!😆 But the most wonderful part was the friendly hotel employees!

Sadly, I have nothing good to say about the restaurant. My 75 year old boss treated the entire office to a lunch for his birthday and it was a total disaster! He is such a wonderful man, who I have worked for, for over 30 years. He was so excited to treat us for his birthday. We were a party of 8 people and only 2 people enjoyed their meals. 2 people ordered the line fish, one grilled and one fried - the fish was cold and the grilled fish arrived fried and coated in batter, which was ordered by a GLUTEN intolerant customer. She then requested grilled fish, only to be told that they did not have stock. Then she requested a gluten free pasta dish, once again to be told they were out of stock. 2 other ladies ordered the T-bones, which were both cold and tough. The one lady ordered her meal with creamed spinach, which ended up giving her diarrhea. Another lady ordered chicken schnitzel with creamed spinach, and also ended up with diarrhea. Clearly there was a problem with the creamed spinach. Lastly, I ordered the aromatic vegetable curry, which was very well-presented, but totally un-edible. The cauliflower, baby marrows and butternut were extremely hard and quite unpleasant to try and chew. I returned the dish with a request that they simply cook the veggies a little longer as the flavours were great. When they returned with my meal, I was presented with a bowl of green peppers in a curry sauce (a totally different meal) from what I had ordered. I was so embarrassed, I asked them to please take the meal away. I absolutely hate green peppers. The Chefs came out, apologized profusely and requested me to let them try again, which I did and they brought out a lovely dish, which should have been served the 1st time around. Unfortunately, after such an unpleasant experience, it was really difficult to enjoy my meal, as my colleagues were already finishing up their dessert and I had only been served my main meal. This leaves me with the question......is this the service we are giving international visitors?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5) I visited Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers (Rosebank) in August 2025 while attending the Africa Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer Consortium Conference 2025 #AHPBCC. My stay turned out to be a memorable mix of comfort, convenience, and a few small surprises along the way. Arrival & Check-In 🛬 The hotel is about 30 minutes from O.R. Tambo Airport—smooth ride, no stress. I arrived around 6 p.m., and the lobby wasn’t too busy. Check-in was swift and professional. The lobby itself sets the tone: minimalistic but artistic, with tasteful finishing and artwork that instantly makes you feel you’re in a modern African space. One thing I did notice though—no welcome drink. In Kenya, we’re quite used to that touch of hospitality. The Room (304, Standard) 🛏️ Walking into my third-floor room, I was pleasantly surprised. It may have been a standard room, but it ticked all the right boxes: • Spacious, fresh-smelling, and spotless. • The bathroom was compact but well done—fresh towels daily, a rain shower that delivered perfectly, hot/cold water on demand, and a bathtub that felt just right. Toiletries were neatly arranged, the toilet clean. • A wardrobe with a working safe was provided. There was even an ironing board, though curiously, no iron box. • The bed—excellent. Large, dressed with silky soft sheets, a fluffy duvet, and pillows that hugged you after a long day. • Décor & lighting were on point, warm and inviting. The TV worked fine, with sports, movies, and even cartoons—though a little small for my taste. Internet speed was surprisingly fast (posting my photos was seamless). • I appreciated the study area, complete with a desk, sockets, lamp, and a coffee/tea station. It felt like something you’d expect in a European city hotel. Dining 🍳🥓🥗🥂 • Breakfast was the one area that didn’t wow me. It felt limited—bacon, sausages, juices, smoothies, some fruits, cheese, salads, and of course, the omelette station (the chef there deserves applause 👏). While satisfying, it lacked variety compared to other Protea hotels I’ve visited. • Dinner, however, was another story altogether. I had pork ribs on my first evening—hands down the best-tasting ribs I’ve had in a long time. Big portions, cooked to perfection, paired with a solid wine selection from the bar. Every meal felt hearty and worth the spend. Fitness & Amenities 💪 The gym in the basement is very well-equipped, with a wide range of machines—perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to miss a workout while traveling. No sauna or steam room, which would’ve been a welcome extra, but the gym itself exceeded expectations. Location 🌆 The hotel has a conference feel, which worked perfectly since I was attending one. It’s attached to the Wanderers Club (with more amenities I didn’t explore this time). Rosebank Mall is nearby, nightlife and clubs aren’t far, and Sandton is only 10–15 minutes by car. Location-wise, it’s a winner. Service 👨‍💼 Staff were warm and professional. Housekeeping was consistent, and my room was always spotless. The key card worked without fuss, which sounds basic but is a big deal when you’ve had bad experiences elsewhere. Final Verdict 🎯 Overall, I’d give Protea Wanderers a 4.5/5. It’s stylish, comfortable, and well-located for both business and leisure. A slightly bigger TV, a more exciting breakfast spread, and maybe a wellness spa would make it a solid 5/5. Would I stay again? Absolutely. Whether for another conference or a personal trip, this hotel balances convenience with comfort in a way that keeps you coming back.

Great stay. Friendly staff. An amazing experience. Restaurant excellent food and breakfast. Well done. This hotel is highly recommended 👍🏻. Thank you especially to Constance 😊 your customer service is superb 👌

Coming to the end of a wonderful two-week business trip, staying at Protea Hotel Marriott (Johannesburg Wanderers). I am amazed by how very friendly and professional the staff are (in every department). The service is beyond perfect, delivered with a smile and genuine interest in the well-being of guests. The food and beverage staff are so professional and efficient in delivering top service. Same for housekeeping and laundry service. Coming from France, I never see friendly service or ANY good customer service at all. I notice Singapore Airlines staff also stay here, a sure sign of approval... thank goodness Air France no longer stay here! Congratulations to all staff at the Protea Hotel Marriott (Johannesburg Wanderers).

Stayed here for 3 days. Excellent room. Clean and quiet. Had a couple meals at the restaurant. Food was great and good value. Wonderful attentive service from staff Victor, Nuk and Khum. Will definitely be back again.