Fairlawns Boutique Hotel: From Stately Home to Luxury Retreat

Fairlawns started life as the stately home of the Oppenheimer family before it became the beautiful property it has become under the custodianship of the “Thacker Family”, who initially bought it as a home but then couldn’t resist the option of producing a boutique hotel of significance and splendour.

John & Anna were fastidious in their remit to produce an elegant, restful retreat in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, a city of circa 12 million people.

This they have achieved in spades. The stables became suites and were so well received that Nelson Mandela stayed in one for a while; afterwards, his suite was renamed the “Mandela Suite”. To say it is wonderfully comfortable is an understatement of large proportions. All suites are named rather than numbered and reflect the styles that they represent. There is even a “Tree House” perfect for a family of four with its own kitchen. You feel elevated, quite literally, and start to wonder why you hadn’t discovered it before.

As a man of stubborn ways, I don’t do gyms or spas, so my opinion on these is presented from arm’s length; suffice to say that neither imposes on the tranquil feel of the public areas, as they have positioned them a calm walk away from your suite and the tranquillity of the general public areas.

The 42 rooms and suites are exceptional in every way, with everything at hand for even the fussiest of guests to eulogise over. What makes this possible is that the accommodations are broken up into three types of suites, each in a different part of the estate.

It is a masterclass in residential luxury; grand enough to make you feel like you are staying in a private palace, yet intimate and homely. The bathrooms complement the warm, seductive bedrooms by featuring a large freestanding bath, a large walk-in shower, and double washbasins set into a granite counter with luxury bath products, all of which make you want to stay forever.

To refuel hungry tummies, there is an eye-opening experience to be had in their à la carte dining room, which they call “Amuse Bouche,” and the fine food is paired with the best that South Africa has to offer on their extensive wine list, which is explained perfectly by their sommelier.

Should you want a mere pizza or some sushi, they are available too and are perfectly constructed and presented.

Fairlawns is a conundrum of sorts; it feels high-end yet intimate, old yet contemporary. What it really represents is the very soul of Johannesburg’s elite lifestyle.

I didn’t just stay in Fairlawns; it wrapped me up in gracious hospitality and comforted my inner self whenever I felt like doing too much. It was nearly a shame that I had to feed myself; surely there must have been someone to do that too, and it remains in my advancing years, one of the most pleasant stays that I have had worldwide.

Discover Fairlawns; it will become your very own oasis of perfection in Johannesburg. Tell your travel agent I told you. You won’t be disappointed