The Michelangelo sits on the edge of Nelson Mandela Square in central Sandton, the business and shopping heart of northern Johannesburg. Its Tuscan-style architecture, with warm stone, arches and terraces, is built around an open piazza, and the hotel shares that setting with the square's restaurants, cafes and statue of Nelson Mandela. Sandton City, one of Africa's largest shopping centres, is connected by a short walkway, and the hotel is within easy reach of the Gautrain station, which links Sandton with O. R. Tambo airport, Rosebank and Pretoria in comfortable, secure carriages. That makes the hotel one of the most practical bases in the city for visitors who plan to use the train and guided tours rather than a hire car. It is a classic full-service luxury hotel, with spacious rooms and suites, a pool, restaurants and a polished, formal style of service, and it appeals to couples, business travellers and anyone who enjoys a lively urban setting.
Location and getting around
Staying on the square means you can walk to dozens of restaurants, a cinema, shops and banks in daylight and in the evening, which is rare in Johannesburg. For sights outside the northern suburbs, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and Soweto are each a drive of around half an hour depending on traffic, and most guided tours offer hotel pick-up. The Gautrain from Sandton station reaches the airport in around fifteen minutes, and the hotel's concierge can arrange transfers, tours and restaurant reservations.
Rooms and facilities
Expect generous, comfortable rooms and suites with classic decor, large beds and modern bathrooms, with upper floors giving views over the square or the surrounding skyline. There is an outdoor pool, a fitness area and a choice of restaurants and bars on site, and the piazza outside adds many more. Breakfast is generous, and the hotel is used to handling early departures for safaris and flights.
Good to know
The square and mall are busy at weekends and on holidays, and rooms facing the piazza may pick up some evening noise, so ask for a quieter side if you are a light sleeper. Rates are higher than at budget Sandton hotels but generally below the city's most exclusive properties, and they rise during conferences.
Parking is available, and security is visible throughout the complex. The hotel suits first-time visitors, couples, shoppers and business travellers. It is less suited to those who want a leafy, secluded retreat, who may prefer Sandhurst, or to those who want a neighbourhood with galleries and markets, who may enjoy Rosebank more.
Why stay here
- ✓Setting on Nelson Mandela Square
- ✓Walkway to Sandton City
- ✓Near the Sandton Gautrain station
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Fitness facilities
- ✓On-site restaurants and bars
- ✓Tuscan-style architecture
- ✓Concierge and tour desk
Good questions
Is the hotel close to the Gautrain?+
Yes. Sandton station is within easy reach, and the train reaches O. R. Tambo airport in around fifteen minutes.
Can I walk to restaurants and shops?+
Yes. Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton City are on the doorstep, with many restaurants and shops within a short walk.
Can the hotel arrange tours?+
The concierge can usually arrange Soweto, Apartheid Museum and safari tours with hotel pick-up.
