Interviewing international award winning chef, Chantel Dartnell is slightly overwhelming. This petite, soft spoken chef has some of the worlds top accolades hanging on her walls, and visiting her restaurant is beyond an incredible experience. In fact, we are still battling to find the words to best describe our visit… Arriving at The Orient is like arriving in a magical kingdom. Although a mere 45 minute drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, once you have entered the Moorish themed gates you may forget the hustle and bustle of the city and revel in the beautiful gardens, and the view out over the Francolin Conservancy which is an oasis of green and beautiful bird life too. The best description for both The Orient and Restaurant Mosaic itself is a ‘destination’. You would not wind up here by accident, but when you do arrive, your mind will be subsequently blown from arrival…
Jambo! – the welcoming cry of Hello is one of the first words that you will learn upon arrival in Kenya, and you may surprise yourself by how quickly you pick up Swahili during your stay – the words Asante, Pole Pole and Sana will also be rolling off your tongue in no time. The land of many attractions is certainly an applicable phrase, from the beautiful beaches seen on Instagram, to the wildlife migrations in the Masai Mara to Big 5 Safari’s and beautiful scenery set to take your breath away – there is something in Kenya for every traveller. Our home during our stay was the beautifully appointed Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa, which is situated roughly 14 kilometers north of Mombasa on Bamburi Beach, and literally is everything you could ever have dreamed of for a beach paradise holiday. The joy of staying at Sarova is…
Johannesburg truly has exquisite hotels and beautiful places to stay, and as you know we love exploring in and around our city, and The Peech Boutique Hotel is certainly a gem that we are glad that we discovered. Located in the prestigious suburb of Melrose and close by to Sandton and Rosebank, it is ideally positioned in a suburb with boutiques, cafés and an adjacent park as well as a shopping centre easily and safely accessible. The Peech originally used to be a private family home which was built in the 1950’s and was discovered by James Peech who subsequently bought the property with the plans to turn it in to a beautiful and upmarket boutique hotel. The Peech’s still own and run the hotel to this day, as well as living on the property themselves which lends to the air of a home away from home, if you will.…
We love discovering new spots and J. Rabbit’s has just opened its doors where the old Griffin used to be located. In case you were wondering it is named after that famed cartoon character, Jessica Rabbit and the vibe and décor lend itself perfectly to that notion, too. Following the speakeasies of yesteryear, access to the bar is through the laundromat in the front of the building before arriving in the plush Mexican styled bar at the back. Offering one of the biggest selections of tequila we have ever seen, J. Rabbit’s cocktail menu uses predominantly tequila and mezcal and even features some tequila brand’s that are not yet available to the public in SA yet. The food menu is South American inspired, yet offers some great classics as well, and this will certainly be an experience like no other for discerning foodies and cocktail lovers alike. A: 5, Illovo…
We recently spent a night at the beautiful four star Southern Sun Montecasino hotel, and were blown away by the beauty of this Tsogo Sun Property. Echoing the Italian theme that Montecasino is well known for, the hotel is inspired in it’s design by the 15th century Palazzo Corsini villa in Italy’s picturesque mountain region of Gianicolo, and you would be forgiven for thinking you had slipped back in time to an old-world Venetian era. Of course the hotels services and amenities are anything but old world and bullet speed Wi-Fi is always a huge plus in our world, and they delivered it. From a speedy check in, to pre-dinner drinks on the pool deck to efficient and attentive service in the onsite Punchinello’s restaurant our stay was a pleasure from start to finish. Punchinello’s offer a buffet breakfast and lunch (which are healthy and plentiful too) as well as…
The buzz on the lips of Sandton’s socialites has to be all about the latest nightlife hot spot, where everyone who is anyone, is making appearances – the avant-garde, underground venue and best address for luxury dining in Sandton. Alice & Fifth is located, obviously, on the corner of Alice Lane and Fifth Street, and is located in the Sandton Sun, and is a deep and retro styled venue – sporting velvet upholstery, marble flooring and a lot of dark wood combined with brass fittings and heavy curtains – think an old school gentleman’s club and you have it in one. It embraces its upmarket and high end luxury status as is befitting a venue of this nature located on the golden mile in Sandton, and is frequented by celebrities, business men, politicians and international guests. Designed by Tristan Plessis and his StudioA team – Tristan took the brief from…
Who doesn’t love a yummy burger or rack of ribs – we certainly do, and are firm believers that a great burger can cure a number of ills – and seeing as it is the festive season, we feel that we may be visiting the newly opened Ribs & Burgers restaurant, located in the bustling new The Marc precinct in Sandton quite a bit! Ribs & Burgers is a global Brand, with outlets in Australia and England, and is fast becoming South Africa’s favourite boutique fast casual restaurant. The first store that opened is located in the popular Menlyn Maine shopping area in Pretoria and the Sandton store is the second – with a few more stores planning to open around Johannesburg in 2019. Specialising in slow cooked wholesome ribs, premium burgers, wings, salads, free range chicken and more, within a welcoming and authentic environment – these guys keep it…
We love discovering beautiful gems in our local Sandton and surrounds, and Clico Boutique Hotel is just that. Located on a rather busy road in the bustling suburb of Rosebank, you would be surprised to find that behind the walls of this beautifully appointed hotel, lies an unexpected peace and quiet that is set to restore the soul. Many choose to make Clico their base when in Johannesburg, whether from overseas or visiting from other cities for work, purely for the fact that not only is it really convenient and centrally located, but also really close to the Gautrain station, making getting in and out of the city that much easier. Clico also offers function facilities are unique and varied and suit intimate events and meetings perfectly. Recently revamped, the conference room now boasts in own separate entrance, as well as big sliding doors that open onto the shady garden,…
Named after his two late grandfathers, Douglas + Hale is Chef James Diack’s fourth venture and we love it! If funky, cool and creative cocktails are your thing – then you will love it as much as we do, too. From the décor which carries a rather ritzy, burlesque feel, to an extensive wine selection which will leave every taste and palate satisfied this is an experience from start to finish. Cocktails are created with passion and the names are delightful – The Black Pearl, a rum based cocktail, was a huge hit at our table. The Electric Coolaid also had us intrigued and cocktail guru and master drink creator Jesse Chinn (who bares an uncanny resemblance to Captain Jack Sparrow), kept us well entertained as he explained his creation process and showed us step by step how a few of the cocktails are made, much to our delight! The…
In case you had not realised – we love to travel and seeing as we live in such a beautiful country, and a weekend escape requires a mere hour or two in the car, we are all in for exploring more. Our travels have of course led us to the beautiful De Hoek Country Hotel located cosily amongst the Magaliesberg Mountains and only an hour and fifteen minutes away from Johannesburg. Driving through the gate and over the rickety bridge would give you the feeling that you have finally escaped from the madness of the outside world, and beaming faces await, ready with a water, a glass of bubbly and a hand to help with your luggage. The beautiful old stone building are nothing short of charming and the beautifully manicured gardens lend to the general air of countryside calm. Breathe. Again. Aaaah. Whether you are here for a romantic…