Amongst Africa's tallest buildings, The Leonardo dominates the Sandton skyline – a 234-metre tall, 55-storey structure that houses 241 apartments, a Legacy hotel complex, the Aurum restaurant and pool deck, a sky-high rooftop bar, and venue on the 45th floor. Owned by Legacy, who have several hotel and retail properties across Sandton, The Leonardo took over four years to build at an estimated cost of R2 billion. While the building's height dominates rather than its architectural flair, it's well worth a visit, as much of what makes it extraordinary is within The Leonardo.
Contemporary art at The Leonardo
Aside from its immense height, one of the most distinctive features of The Leonardo is its astonishing art collection. Over 100 artists were commissioned to create works especially for the building and The Leonardo contains almost 1,500 unique artworks by African contemporary artists. At the entrance (where Sandton's most stylishly dressed doormen will greet you), look up at the chandelier work titled The Ancestor, a giant metal swirl constructed from half a ton of glittering copper, brass, and stainless steel, a reference to the City of Gold, the origins of Johannesburg.
Inside the grand lobby, an impressive floor-to-ceiling mural by Mbongeni Buthelezi greets you at the entrance, stretching across a voluminous area leading up to the hotel reception area. Buthelezi's signature style of heating plastic to create an oil-painting-like effect (you see more of his work in the lobby of sister property, the Da Vinci Hotel and Suites at Nelson Mandela Square) represents a slice of South African history.
There are specially commissioned pieces in the lifts and stairwells, inside the conferencing rooms, and in all apartment suites managed by The Leonardo. Among the many notable large-scale works in the reception area are sculptural works by Bronwyn Lace, an incredibly intricate, hedge-like wooden sculpture by artist Winston Luthuli, and some breathtaking textile works. Call The Leonardo to book a guided art tour of the building's contemporary art collection. It's a great way to start your visit before drinks or a meal at Aurum.
Aurum at The Leonardo
Among The Leonardo's numerous dining destinations are Leo’s Lounge, Bar, and Deli Kitchen, the swanky restaurant and wine bar Aurum on the seventh-floor roof terrace, and a more casual, wood-fired restaurant-bar Octo Bar (also on the seventh floor). On the rooftop of the building is the exclusive Alto234 Bar (bookings essential). At a dizzying 234 metres above the ground, it is the highest bar in Africa.
The 250-capacity Aurum Restaurant is one of the most glamorous restaurant settings in Sandton. As soon as you step inside the cathedral-like space with its vaulted ceilings you'll be struck by the ribbons of gold mesh that spool out above you. The restaurant opens onto the roof terrace overlooking a 25-metre pool. This is also where the spa is located.
The light-filled Aurum is a great stop in the day for a casual brunch or lunch, while dinner presents an opportunity to dress up and enjoy lavishly plated contemporary cuisine and cocktails. The pool deck is perfect for afternoon drinks, and if the mood strikes, an extended stayover to lie by the poolside. Enquire about details with your Aurum booking.
Alto 234 Bar
Sitting at the very top of the building at a dizzying 234 metres above the ground, you can’t get higher than the Alto234 sky bar. This is an exclusive spot offering unparalleled 360-degree views of the entire city; of course, Moët & Chandon Champagne is the drink of choice. For snacks there are gourmet nibbles like oysters, wagyu beef biltong, or langoustines.
Prior booking is essential and a R370 p.p. entrance fee applies (includes a complimentary glass of Champagne). You can book a time slot starting from 12:30, but the sunset hour is the most covetable.
Level 45
Level 45 is an eventing space located on the 45th floor of the building. Offering a blank slate waiting to be transformed, it’s perfect for an elevated conference, a special birthday, an elaborate event, or even a wedding. Built around the centre of the building, the elevators open to either side to reveal a space built in a circle with a bar in the middle, meaning you’ll be afforded 360-degree views of Joburg.
The Legacy Balance Spa at The Leonardo
In addition to apartment hotel rooms, a range of dining options, the rooftop pool, and a variety of meeting spaces, The Leonardo (of course) has its own wellness and beauty spa next to the pool on the seventh-floor deck.Serviced apartment stays at The Leonardo
The Leonardo contains some 241 apartments, including a super-sized penthouse set across the top three floors (rumoured to be Africa's most expensive apartment).
Visitors can rent serviced apartments for short or long stays managed through Legacy Hotels. There's a choice of expansive one- or two-bed apartment suites (located on the upper floors of the building), with fully equipped kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, and spectacular views. Breakfast is served in Leo's Lounge or you can pick up something from the deli counter to enjoy in your apartment.
Meetings at The Leonardo
Located in the heart of the Sandton Central business district (the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is barely 200 metres away), The Leonardo has always had business in mind with superb conferencing and event facilities. The largest event space can seat up to 500 people banquet-style but for smaller meetings, you can choose between boardrooms (ideal for smaller team meetings and business discussions), meeting rooms (seating between 20 and 30 people), and conference rooms (seating up to 45 people).
We spent a day working at The Leonardo in 2021 just as the world opened up again after Covid. We recently returned for a second Roaming Office (June, 2024) to a more relaxed atmosphere and found the conferencing spaces in tip-top condition. We worked in the Aurora Boardroom 1, a spacious, comfortable space with state-of-the-art tech, perfect for presenting your next million-dollar idea. The dedicated service that comes with the meeting rooms makes for a painless experience, with refreshments appearing almost as soon as we'd thought about asking for them. The staff made lunch as seamless as possible for a work day, allowing us to pre-order so we could go up to the restaurant at the appointed time. We ate our meal at Aurum (we really couldn't resist) but you can just as easily have it in the adjoining bar area, Leo's Lounge Bar and Deli Kitchen.
Akido at The Leonardo
Located on the ground floor at street level, Akido is headed by chef Earl Akido. This elegant restaurant is one of Joburg's most authentic Japanese restaurants, and certainly its most atmospheric. A cut above in service, food, and price we think it's definitely worth visiting if you have a discerning palate. The fish here is flown in from Cape Town's top suppliers and the drinks menu is a bow to Japan with sake, Japanese beers and Hibiki whisky.
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