Clico Boutique Hotel

This hotel was the worst experience of all my travels. I was travelling for business and my partner and I were going onto Pilanesberg for a few days safari. On checking in, the room we have booked was not available. The new room was much smaller. I left my partner while I went to a business meeting. She thought the bed smelt and on stripping back the sheet, she found the mattress protector was badly stained. The mattress itself even worse. Housekeeping came and changed all the bedding and turned the mattresses over. The room contained a dangerously positioned TV in a wooden enclosure with a sharp corner at eye level in the main walkway of the bedroom. The width of the walkway, (which formed the main direction of escape from the room) was made very narrow by the TV enclosure. During the first night, my partner got up in the early hours of the morning to go to the bathroom. The beside light was inoperative. In traversing the narrow section to get past the end of the bed, hit her eye on the corner of the TV enclosure. The collision broke the skin on her eyebrow which within 24 hours turned to a black eye. The hotel did not offer any first aid and responded by sticking some foam on the dangerous corners of the TV enclosure. They refused to offer another room. We asked to speak with the manager or the owner. After 2 days of asking the manager turned up and was the same person that purports to be the chef and the guy that fixed the light in our room. His name is Dario. Hostile from the start, he said it was not the hotel’s responsibility to provide first aid, he threateningly told my (female) partner to “get out of his space otherwise he would not be responsible for his actions” and said that if we did not pay the bill immediately, he would have his private security firm, throw us out. After insisting on getting an accident report, we paid the bill and left the following morning frightened and upset. As for the food, on the first night my partner wanted to try the tasting menu. That in itself was a challenge. The waiter told us the chef, (presumably the manager and maintenance man, Dario ) insisted that the whole table must have the same, yet if my business colleague and I moved to another table, my partner could have the tasting menu - go figure! We eventually persuaded him otherwise. The quality was at best amateurish and far short of the hotel claims. The chef claims to be self-taught and it shows. The scallops were not seared and drowned in herbs that completely overpowered their delicate flavour. The other courses in the tasting menu were little better. My business partner had a main course risotto that was so small he had to order another one. Breakfast was terible too. The omelette came out like a pizza, ingredients placed on top of hard, rubbery egg. There are much better hotels in the area. This is definitely one to avoid.

We could not find fault with this hotel, from the warm welcome we received, the excellent service, the friendly and helpful staff, to the excellent restaurant and food provided. This hotel is exceptional, and your stay a treat.

I had a wonderful time at the Clico Boutique hotel. The room was clean and charming. I loved my balcony at sunset! The staff very friendly! Quick walk to Rosebank Mall to catch the hop on hop off bus. I felt very safe and cared for. Prince was my waiter for breakfast at the restaurant which was included, and he accommodated my Celiac Disease ( no gluten or dairy) so graciously and the receptionist Lindy was so kind. As a solo traveler that goes a long way.

What a great little find in Johannesburg. Located in a good area close to Rosebank Mall but you really don’t need to leave the hotel as it has a nice lounge area, an outdoor bar area and a fabulous restaurant complete with wood fired pizza oven. Best of all the staff, particularly manager Peggy Silepe, waiter/ barman Prince and waiter Tallitha looked after us with tours using Jeffs Tours and airport transfers. Highly recommended.

Superb accommodation and location. They had water when the whole of Rosebank was out of water. I cannot recommend enough. My home away from home.

Nice Boutique Hotel in a good location in Johannesburg. Close to a shopping mall. Only 20 min from the airport away. Very helpful service and very comfortable bed. It is in a protected area with privat parking. Excellent restaurant with great food.