To hear founder Gabrel Leavell describe the 10-room Daze House it is "everything I am interested in under one roof – art, design, history, stories, experiences." From the outside Daze House is a traditional-looking two-storey suburban property with some ornate flourishes, located in the middle-class residential neighbourhood of Observatory, set high up (so offering great views) on the city's eastern edge.

Once you step inside, the story of this hotel changes. Leavell has created a cool space filled with colour inspired by journeys across Africa, contemporary design and artworks. Leavell, whose origins are an exotic fusion of American, Cuban and Egyptian, is a traveller who has been influenced by his journeys across the globe to create the ultimate hotel for the Millenial traveller. A space to find refuge, but also one in which you get to connect with like-minded people, curated by a series of music, art and food events, such as the monthly First Sundays pool party. Daze House is all about curation and a dedication to style – from the beautiful interiors to the perfectly shot Instagram images on their page.  

Gabriel Leavell cut his hospitality teeth by setting up properties using the ultimate hotel disruptor, Air B'nB, in New York City. However, he soon saw that the model of simply giving a traveller a bed for the night had its limits for a new generation who desire more of a personal connection with the places they visit. Leavall was drawn to South Africa, and in particular Joburg, where he bought a home that had belonged to an Italian family for the past 50 years, and set about its transformation into a chic contemporary hotel.

At Daze House each room is inspired by the colours of a different African country – Tanzania, Rwanda, Lesotho and Morocco are some of the rooms you can book – that Leavall has visited. Each country is recalled in the design elements of the room and the idea is for this develop into a portal of sorts to showcase and sell design products from across the continent.

Leavell is also intent on creating a cooking experience at Daze House, having taken classes wherever he has travelled. The idea is for the hotel to have a "cooking school" of sorts and to bring chefs from elsewhere to share their skills. Other special events includes occasional Paint 'n Sip experiences, live music,  and coffee tastings. 

Daze House offers standard suites and luxury suites. It's convenient location means you are close to OR Tambo International Airport (a less than 15-minute trip by car) and even closer to the city neighbourhood of Maboneng and the Victoria Yards Makers complex is also within very easy driving access.