11 of Pretoria's Best Boutique Hotels

With panoramic views and five-star cuisine, 131 on Herbert Baker is an exceptional boutique hotel situated in the leafy suburb of Groenkloof. As there are only nine rooms and a deluxe Presidential suite available, visitors can be assured of personal and preferential treatment. With free WiFi, a private pool, bar, onsite restaurant, and decadent high tea, not to mention the fabulous sunsets seen from your private balcony or the hotel terrace, this hotel is the place to be for those living la dolce vita.

Nestled among tranquil gardens, water features, and majestic trees, Lombardy Boutique Hotel in Pretoria East offers 20 stylish suites and an elegant atmosphere. The hotel is styled after an Italian villa and is a popular wedding venue, with an onsite chapel and lavish honeymoon suite. The Presidential suite features its own jacuzzi. An onsite restaurant and nearby spa turns this idyllic venue into the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for rest and relaxation.

Named for the setting of Shakespeare’s famous play, Twelfth Night, Illyria House offers an enchanting colonial lifestyle experience, complete with white-gloved butlers, fine antiques, and 17th-Century tapestries. Six luxury rooms and six classic rooms, furnished in soothing shades of cream and white, provide guests with an indulging and relaxing experience. The evenings here are filled with the sounds of classical or jazz music as pre-dinner soirées, hosted by world-class musicians who later indulge in a romantic dining experience on the veranda overlooking the lantern-lit garden. For even more indulgence, a treatment at the spa or a dip in the outdoor jacuzzi and sauna room comes highly recommended.

Centrally located and across the road from Menlyn, the largest shopping center in Africa, Menlyn Boutique Hotel is small and upmarket with 27 tastefully decorated modern rooms, including two self-catering units. Black Bamboo, the onsite five-star restaurant, is headed by celebrated chef Pellie Grobler and offers the very best of South African fine dining. A wide range of treatments are available from the Beauty Within spa located on the premises. This hip and trendy boutique hotel is the place to be if you want to be seen with the in-crowd.

If you’re looking for a taste of the Middle East in Africa, then look no further than the Orient Hotel. Situated just outside the western borders of the city, the hotel is a destination unto itself. There are nine extravagant suites to choose from, decorated in Colonial and Moorish décor, providing a haven of exotic sensuality for the affluent visitor. Apart from its stunning architecture, there is also a warm wood-paneled library to explore, wildlife to encounter along the walking trails within the Francolin Conservacy, and games of pétanque or croquet to play on the neatly manicured lawns. Art lovers will delight in the hotel’s fine collection of South African art, featuring such artists as Emily Boyley and Aleta Michaletos.

Intensely modern lines and striking contemporary décor brings a chic South African flair to the Alpine Attitude Boutique Hotel. Each of its seven rooms and five luxury apartments have been tastefully decorated to one of seven themes—African, Black and White, Funky, Leather, Pebble, Transparent, and Nature. Guests can relax in the bright and airy atmosphere, only minutes away from modern conveniences such as shopping malls, golf courses, and spas. Foodies can enjoy the Create Café’s mouthwatering selection of seasonally-sourced dishes and canapes.

Exclusive, modern, luxurious. The Blue Diamond Boutique Hotel aims to be a home away from home for visitors in the east of Pretoria. With free WiFi, satellite TV, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and a spa, most guests will wish this was their home! Rooms are spacious and comfortably furnished, and one wheelchair friendly room can accommodate disabled guests. The restaurant’s seasonal menu, created by Chef Gregory Henderson, is unpretentious yet elegant and caters to the most discerning of palates.

The four-star Isiphiwo Boutique Hotel & Spa is just a 15-minute drive north of Pretoria and provides a warm countryside atmosphere for those wanting to escape city life. The hotel is environmentally friendly and makes use of solar-powered geysers and gas, and they grow their own vegetables and herbs. An award-winning spa, conference and wedding venues, as well as The Stables, an entertainment venue aimed specifically at children, makes this a must-visit destination.

The rooms in the Duke & Duchess Boutique Hotel are decorated in the classical French / English style and guests can sit back and relax in a private lounge furnished with antiques, plush fabrics, and a grand fireplace. The hotel is located in an upmarket neighborhood close to award-winning restaurants, the Pretoria Country Club, and Brooklyn shopping mall.

From sun-downers on the roof and a view that stretches as far as the eye can see, Veroz Boutique Hotel combines an elegant European style with luxury and sophistication. The hotel boasts a restaurant, spa, and hair salon and is only an hour’s drive from Pilanesberg and Sum City.

If the Rose, Fairy, and French gardens are not enough to entice you, then perhaps the Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel’s whiskey and cigar lounge will. Travel back in time to a more elegant era as you savor the rich aroma of a cigar while sipping on a glass of golden whiskey beside a roaring fireplace. Afterward, explore the hotel’s fine collection of local art or indulge in their selection of fine wines.