The Sanctuary Mandela Hotel

Wow! Where to even begin! We had the most incredible stay at Sanctuary Mandela while in Johannesburg in March. We were traveling through Johannesburg on our way to Kruger National Park and were able to stay here for two nights - we should have stayed longer! Upon arrival, we were greeted with refreshing welcome drinks and a fabulous tour of the hotel. Our room was spacious and beautifully designed and had so many historical touches that made the stay really special. We ate breakfast twice and tried almost everything on the menu. The highlights were the banana bread, breakfast salad, and pancakes but really everything was amazing! And the tomato jam that came with the full breakfast! Our second night, we had dinner at the hotel and were equally impressed with the food and service. The staff were all so kind and had excellent food and wine recommendations for our group. We were so sad to check out and leave but are excited to think about returning in the future! This hotel is wonderful and an absolute must do while in Johannesburg! Thank you so much to our wonderful hosts!

The establishment is highly commendable, offering a luxurious experience. A minor adjustment is requested: please ensure the appropriate hairdryer plug configuration is utilized for the wall sockets. Overall, the experience was excellent.

We spent a beautiful, relaxed Sunday enjoying jazz music and delicious food here.The oxtail Samosas are unique and very delicious. The staff was also very helpful and friendly. The ticket also also gets you a complimentary tour around the hotel itself which is also quite special. Highly recommended.

Staying at Sanctuary Mandela truly felt like coming home. We had Room 3 – Tata – one of only a couple with a balcony, and it felt like such a privilege from the moment we arrived. The whole team were excellent, from check-in to the bar, restaurant, breakfast, and housekeeping – it wouldn’t be fair to single anyone out as the service was outstanding across the board. The hotel is full of history, but also full of heart. Small touches like the evening turndown with notes and sweet treats made it feel very personal, and the food was thoughtful and beautifully prepared, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s own preferences. Only a small gripe that the pool is advertised as heated when it wasn’t (or at least not very well), but that didn’t take away from what was otherwise a special and memorable stay.

We had a wonderful dinner here at the Insights restaurant on a quiet Sunday night. The food was delicious, thoughtfully crafted and beautifully presented. The service was attentive from start to finish, and our friendly waiter Kagiso also gave us an incredibly knowledgeable and interesting tour of the rooms, the restoration of the house, the art pieces on display, and Mandela's life story. Highly recommend coming here for a top notch meal with warm staff and historical significance.