South Africa Hotels / South Africa Accommodation / South Africa Safaris / South Africa Travel

After extensive refurbishment, the Monarch Hotel now welcomes guests by reservation. Transformed from the old Saxonwold Post Office, the hotel places itself at the forefront of personalized hospitality. The dining room offers lunches and dinners as a seven course tasting menu or a-la-carte whilst the bar offers cocktails and a selection of choice morsels. Menus are amended regularly in keeping with seasonal produce and Executive Chef Keith Frisley's fancies. Not catering to fussy foodies only, the menu also includes homely favourites. Ditto for the wine list, very drinkable but also featuring some rare finds. The Monarch Hotel has twisted it's stuffy old world charm by introducing contemporary South African artworks into fancy period like interiors and DJ Damian Armstrong is credited with creating upbeat playlists. No Mozart Sonatas here. The hotel offers twelve suites with dedicated service and prides itself on the best concierge service in town; always abreast of the latest and greatest in happenings and gossip. Guest itineraries are set up with the absolute care of a Contessa and Business facilities include a boardroom complete with a bulletproof secreterial assistant. VIP entrances and reservations are made at approved establishments preventing that all too familiar disappointment suffered by out of towners. Generous guest amenities are from Santa Maria Novella, Firenze, while beds are dressed with Frette linen. Despite all the boudoir treatments, suites feature internet connections, DVD, CD, DSTV and almost everything else that can plug into a socket. All suites have dining facilities, with apartment 300 seating up to 8 guests served from a dedicated chef's kitchen. This is the room to book, with a celebrity entrance, private security and grand piano, you'll miss all the paparazzi and fashion assassins alike. Security is paramount, dressed the part in an African dictator fashion. Park at the secure 2nd level basement parking in Baker Square, be escourted to the main entrance and don't look back. With a touch of hedonism and a bit of madness, the Monarch Hotel succeeds in adding personality to their hotel experience.