We are big fans of The Peech Hotel and have been since it started out as a boutique hotel in 2004 with six rooms arranged around a 1950s heritage home set in a lush garden. In 2019 the hotel underwent a major upgrade and the results are superb. 

An additional 16 luxury eco-conscious suites set into a beautifully verdant and tangled garden-scape were added after the neighbouring property was acquired. The new rooms in eight pavilions are contemporary and uber-chic, set amid the greenery that is a standout feature of Johannesburg and offering just the right amount of privacy. They also include a luxury two-bedroom villa, perfect for family stays. All reachable via a garden path that makes you feel as if, with every step taken, you have released a few more cares. 

The pavilions designed by Meshworks appear to float in the garden and are the antithesis of a conventional hotel structure  – with musty carpeted corridors and that damn trolley that always blocks your path. Instead they convey a sense of lightness and space. Each suite comes with sliding doors onto a ground floor veranda or balcony (with wood and steelwork by Stripped Collective) that lets you enjoy the charms of Joburg’s mild weather and the pretty surroundings. 

The service at The Peech is also a cut above. You’ll be greeted warmly and looked after by people who clearly feel as if they are part of a team, and take the idea of guest experience seriously. We like owner’s James Peech’s philosophy that: “A great hotel should be a place that feels like home, only ten times better!”

Inside each room you’ll find layered luxury and elements that showcase the best of Joburg design and style including the delicate architectural drawings of Shaun Gaylard of Blank Ink designs – which also make great Joburg souvenirs (we suggest you enquire where to buy) and the beautifully sculpted wood side tables by furniture design company Houtlander. We love that The Peech has always embraced the idea of being a ‘Joburg’ hotel and celebrates its connection with the city. A standout feature in each of the new rooms is a screen that was handwoven by participants in an empowering skills craft programme at Bethany House, a shelter for abused women. A hotel with art and heart. 

Centrally located in Melrose, a short walk from Melrose Arch, the hotel has two outdoor swimming pools, a bistro with garden views and a patio to admire the superb setting. To add to its charms, it is located adjacent to a major private gym and a beautiful public park. The boardroom seats 20 people.