Luxury with personality - The Westcliff is a charming and romantic retreat - and its accommodations are both ergonomic and unashamedly indulgent. Situated in Johannesburg's most exclusive residential suburb, The Westcliff's hillside setting with cascading, sculpted gardens and elegantly opulent accommodation evoke a bygone era of leisure and refinement in one of the world's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.

Heritage & Art
An elegant tribute to a glorious past. From the outset, The Westcliff hotel has paid tribute to those who helped shape the character of the distinctive suburb from which it takes its name. The various buildings comprising the hotel, and certain rooms are named after some of the old homes in the area, as well as those who designed, built and lived in them. Probably the most profound influence on the area came from architect Sir Herbert Baker (1862 -1946), a man who had an enormous impact on South African architecture in general and it is fitting that the special-event suite located above reception be named after him.

The Jacaranda Hill Ballroom and Conference Centre, designed in keeping with the randlord homes of the area, boasts many finishes inspired by another of Sir Herbert Baker’s landmark residential designs, “Arcadia”, located on Parktown Ridge. From its classic cream-coloured exterior (or “Herbert Baker white”), chequered marble floors and murals to its barley-twist chimneys and working weather-vane – Jacaranda Hill provides a stately venue for entertaining in the grand manner evocative of the Rand in its historic heyday.

Heritage Homes
The earthy, extravagant taste of the early-day mining magnates and the dramatic views afforded by the ridge led to a concentration of power and money that remains. The use of local stone, together with architectural features such as Sir Herbert Baker’s signature “battered foundations” detail (which gives the appearance of houses “growing” out of the rocky ridge of Orange Grove quartzite), give Westcliff an enviable air of distinction.Tours of many of these historic homes and gardens, not ordinarily accessible to the public, are arranged periodically by the Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust.

Golden Book
Since inception, The Westcliff has played host to heads of state and royalty, as well as both international and local celebrities, personalities, actors, entertainers, sportsmen, writers and musicians.

Some of our notable guests include:
The Bee Gees, George Benson, U2, Jackson Brown, Crown Prince of Thailand, Ted Turner & Jane Fonda, Dr Alban, David Copperfield, Lady Margaret & Sir Dennis Thatcher, Sting, Dionne Warwick, Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Anthony Sher, Sir Tim Rice, Alan Coxon, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Dalai Lama, Sarah Brightman, Michael Flatley, Ainsley Harriot, Brian McFadden, Al Gore, REM, Will Smith, Richard Branson, Bryan Adams, Crown Prince of Belgium, Queen of Lesotho, First lady of Ghana, Pele, Metallica, Robbie Williams, Matt Damon, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, David Gray, Frederick - Crown Prince of Denmark, Ruth Cardoso - former first lady of Brazil, Lesley Kenton, Colin Cowie, Billy Joel, Beyonce, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey, Patti LaBelle, Mariah Carey, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Spike Lee, Sir Cliff Richard, Crown Prince of Holland.

The Westcliff also recently played host to some of the worlds' finest athletes who attended the Laureus Sports Awards held in Johannesburg. Our guests included: Boris Becker, Daley Thompson, Franz Klammer, Edwin Moses, Kapil Dev, Martina Navratilova, Sir Bobby Charlton, Monica Seles and Gary Player.