Four Seasons Hotel – The Westcliff

Revitalized and reflagged landmark hotel re-opens later this year, and is now confirming reservations for December 1, 2014

Four Seasons The Westcliff is ideally positioned as a gateway for international air travellers to explore the Sub Continent and beyond. Important game reserves are nearby, including Kruger National Park just five hours’ drive away, and Botswana’s luxury game lodges can be accessed through Johannesburg. In addition, 36 of South Africa’s top 100 golf courses are within an hour of the Hotel – some just minutes away – and open air markets, art galleries, hip restaurants and more await.

The Westcliff was originally conceived as a stately enclave for an exclusive clientele when it opened in the late 1990s. Under the guidance of Four Seasons and the vision of locally-based RSL Architects and JACKET INTERIORS as well as international design firm Blacksheep, the former grande dame is getting a facelift and a new attitude in keeping with a modern African aesthetic, and reflective of the dynamic city that surrounds it.

With 117 guest rooms and suites scattered through nine low rise buildings amid beautifully landscaped gardens, terraces and fountains, the mood is almost residential; a welcoming respite from hectic business affairs and busy days exploring. And yet, the environment within is closely connected to the pulse of the city, perhaps most notably with its extensive contemporary African art collection. A carefully curated selection features paintings, prints, sculptures and mixed media by prominent artists including Helmut Starcke, Obie Oberholzer, Gawie Joubert, Saral Petrus, Diana Hyslop, Lehlogonolo Mashaba, Louis Olivier and the team of Arlene Amaler-Raviv & Dale Yudelman, among many others.

Business travellers will find everything at their fingertips, from in-room media hub, private bar and espresso machine to a 24-hour business centre, round the clock laundry and multi-lingual concierge team. Honeymooners, couples and friends enjoying a getaway will love the all-new Spa complex, two swimming pools and endless opportunities for golf and shopping, while families will appreciate the Kids for All Seasons program and the surprise inclusion of a home theatre in some of the Hotel’s suites.

For residents of the city’s prestigious neighbourhoods known as The Parks, Four Seasons The Westcliff is destined to become a social centre with its five restaurants and lounges and day access to the Spa, as well as its gorgeous venues for weddings and other social functions.

A New Dining Destination in Johannesburg

Five all-new restaurants and lounges are preparing to welcome both local and international guests with an array of options to enjoy the very finest cuisine, accompanied by the best wines of South Africa and the world. The culinary team is presided over by Chef Dirk Gieselmann, a native of Germany and formerly executive chef of the three Michelin star restaurant L’Auberge de L’Ill in France. Passionate about seasonality and local provenance, Chef Gieselmann is currently foraging the farms and markets of the city and surrounding countryside, acquiring the best possible ingredients on which to base his menus.

The Hotel’s showpiece restaurant will be View, conceived as a gallery of culinary art where Chef and his team will be at their most creative. A dramatic interior opens to an elegant terrace, where couples, business associates and close friends will indulge in the finest seafood and meats at lunch and dinner.

Flames will boast an expansive terrace and sunset views. As the name suggests, grilled specialties are on the menu, expertly paired with South African wines and local craft beers. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and cocktails will be served in addition to dinner.

As well as the larders, the wine cellars are also being stocked now, with the country’s best regional bottles being laid down. Celebrating the marriage of the most interesting wines with the most delightful culinary creations is Cellar Door. This intimate venue will host wine tastings and other special events, and is available for private bookings for up to 20 guests.

For those on the move, Westcliff Deli is an easy drop-in spot for local residents and Hotel guests. Accessed from the front drive, it will be a great place to pick up coffee and sweets, as well as gourmet sandwiches and salads to go.

Spa goers are welcome to stay in their post-treatment robes as they lounge poolside at Après-Spa, where wines, fresh juices and light cuisine can be enjoyed at tables or on comfortable loungers. The casual atmosphere is also a great place to catch up with friends, or simply spend a quiet afternoon of relaxation in the sunshine.

All New: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg

Housed in a completely new building designed to the company’s exacting standards, The Spa at Four Seasons will be an oasis of pampering and well-being amid the serenity of the Hotel’s gardens. Inspired by the nature that surrounds them, nine treatment rooms – including a couple’s suite – set the stage of expert massage, skin care and body treatments. Full facilities for men and women – both Hotel guests and day visitors – include luxe change rooms, saunas and steam rooms, as well as Après-Spa, the city’s only outdoor spa lounge.

Close to eight acres (three hectares) of landscaped gardens offer winding jogging or walking paths, and the concierge team can also provide route maps through the park next door. Back at the Hotel, a fitness centre with all-new state-of-the-art equipment is open 24 hours, and an outdoor infinity lap pool complements the second swimming pool with its water feature and bubble bed.

“Four Seasons service is unmatched, resulting in an experience that can feel more like a relaxing vacation than as stressful business trip,” notes Director of Sales and Marketing David Barillot. “The Hotel is an urban resort with its destination spa, comprehensive fitness centre and dining hotspots, not to mention the many leisure opportunities in the immediate area, from safaris to the Cradle of Humankind, golf, Soweto tours, shopping and more.”