Housed in a 60 year-old Cape Dutch house, Clico Guesthouse is a superb mix of old and new - from the original oregon pine floorboards and antique inlaid-wood Moroccan side tables, to modern stylish comfortable furniture covered in beautiful exotic fabrics.
|
Johannesburg is fast becoming a great tourist attraction not only for foreigners, but for locals as well. It offers superb restaurants and exquisite guesthouses to stay at - one of them being the stunning 5-star establishment, Clico Guesthouse, situated in the leafy suburb of Rosebank.
Recently, I decided to indulge my partner to a Father's Day treat and took up the offer to try out one of Clico Guesthouse's new packages (soon to be offered to the public), which consists of a night of pampering - which started as soon as we checked in around 4pm.
Owner Jeanette Schwegmann and partner Sean Ackermann greeted us with a glass of Moreson champagne before ushering us to our stylish bedroom with private balcony overlooking the garden. We relaxed at leisure before luxuriating in the bubble bath, and other fancy bath essences, whilst enjoying of course, another glass of bubbly!
Pre-dinner drinks were hosted in the lounge in front of a roaring fireplace and the dinner was served in the intimate dining room, which can accommodate 12 guests. What a feast awaited us! Sean - a self taught chef who cut his teeth on the art of cooking at Le Troquet in Durban, during the time that he managed the legendary restaurant - pulled out all the stoppers. Accompanied by tasting wine for each dish, starters was a lightly curried citrus butternut soup; followed by fillet steak done to perfection, served on rosti with a red wine and bone marrow sauce and finally enjoying a dessert of buttermilk panacota and a berry coulis seated in front of the fireplace in the lounge with an excellent glass of Weltevrede Oupa dessert wine before retiring to our room. Lovely fresh cut flowers adorned the guesthouse - including our suite - which I found to be a very nice personal touch!
After a sumptuous late breakfast on Sunday we bid our wonderful hosts goodbye with a promise to return for one of their wine and dine evenings. Once a month, Clico Guesthouse invites guests to wine and dine at its Chef's Table. A wine connoisseur gives a talk on the selected wines for the evening while Sean Ackermann prepares a five-course dinner, with each course being matched with a wine that complements the dish.
There is so much to do and see in Johannesburg over weekends and what I felt would compliment our one night stay at Clico Guesthouse was a walking tour conducted by the Parktown Heritage Trust named "Westcliff's West End", which started at 2pm.
This tour commenced from the Ridge School in Westcliff and explored the hilly part of the suburb of Westcliff. We meandered down steep stairs from Woolston Road to Tyson and Wexford to Pallinghurst Roads, with spectacular views and vistas overlooking Johannesburg. Our guide gave us glimpses of note worthy architecture such as the house that was built for sculptor Moses Kottler who, during the 1930-50's was probably the best sculptor of his time. The Ridge School was also built during that time as a home for Wolf Sampson, notorious for making and losing his fortune before it shortly afterwards became the Ridge School. Leck and Emley were the architects, who were also responsible for building the Rand Club in downtown Johannesburg as well as the Sunnyside Park Hotel.
The tour was fascinating and gave us a good insight of 'old Johannesburg' and was the perfect ending to a very special weekend!
Besides their normal bed and breakfast weekly rates, Clico Guesthouse now offers once a month Saturday night specials for couples, which includes a glass of champagne; 3-course dinner with matching tasting wine; special bubble bath and bath essences as well as bed and breakfast for R1500 per person (limited to four couples) Their contact number is 011 252 3300 and their website is www.clicoguesthouse.co.za
Parktown Westcliff Heritage Trust offers three different tours of Johannesburg per month and their quarterly schedule can be viewed on their website www.parktownheritage.co.za and their contact number is 011 482 3349
Besides the tour of heritage sites- Johannesburg has lots more to offer!
For a more laid back start to your Saturday, why not visit the SAB World of Beer in Newtown and for R20 you can take one of their guided tours - which include two free beers - and you can also treat yourself to lunch at their pub. Under renovation at present and opening again in August their contact details are 011 8364900 and their website is www.worldofbeer.co.za
If you are more interested in museums - it is well worth visiting both Constitution Hill in Hillbrow 011 3813100 , website www.constitutionhill.org.za -as well as the Apartheid Museum www.apartheidmuseum.org tel no.011 3094700
You can also log onto "What's Hot" on www.joburg.org.za to find out what the latest events taking place in Johannesburg are at the current time. Their tel no is 011 333 8003
|
|
|
