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We recently took our Roaming Office to Southern Sun Sandton (Feb 2024), a day when the Johannesburg In Your Pocket team works from a hotel workspace to get the opportunity to connect with hospitality partners and explore hotel properties. Discover more about our Roaming Office adventures here.
Where we worked
We were based on the hotel's first floor (the conference floor) which has nine adaptable venues. Each room is named after a gemstone, such as emerald and ruby. Our team was stationed in the Sapphire Room, the smallest on the conference floor, and perfectly spacious for the five of us. Equipped with a flip chart, markers, sparkling or still water, mints, a whiteboard, a data projector and a screen, the standard conference package here also includes parking.For even more space, conference rooms on the ninth floor can accommodate up to 120 people and have hosted events as diverse as church services and pageants. For smaller and impromptu meetings, the lobby makes for a great space.
Culinary offerings
Breakfast was served buffet style, with yoghurt and granola cups and a variety of cut fruit. There's a food station with a small lounge just off the meeting rooms – a great design to force you to take a break and enjoy a change of location for tea times. If you are feeling indulgent, which we were, there was an assortment of fresh pastries to satisfy any sweet tooth and a wondrous pancake machine.At the press of a button, it popped out a freshly made pancake, and we got to watch the process through a glass window in the contraption. Of course, Nutella and syrup were on hand and came to good use. In short, we couldn't get enough of these. Not long after that, there was a mid-morning coffee break filled with pastries and treats, in addition to savoury foods such as wraps and sandwiches. We've noticed it's a hallmark of the Southern Sun brand to be exceptionally generous with their food offering.
For lunch, we made our way to Eclipse, the hotel's restaurant, where we were treated to a buffet that was fit for a traditional South African Sunday seven-colour meal. The spread included an array of vegetables, including rich and creamy spinach, which was a favourite, potato salad, green salad, rice, beef stew, and fried fish. To wash it all down, the restaurant offered a limited selection of cool drinks. There was also a small dessert display that featured the brightest pink ice-cream we have ever spotted. It was incredibly sweet and, unsurprisingly, strawberry-flavoured.
Lunch and dinner are also served à la carte for those who don't want to be restricted. The Eclipse Bar, located conveniently next to the restaurant, is open seven days a week and offers a varied bar selection and snacks.
The hotel has a cool ninth-floor bar called Skye Bar, once a popular place for hotel guests and the public to unwind and soak in sweeping views of the surroundings. The intimate space, which can accommodate 50 to 60 people, was closed during the pandemic but is set to reopen soon. Its floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to watch the sun go down, and the city lights come to life.
Where to rest your head
The Southern Sun Sandton is currently undergoing major renovations, and with 301 rooms, it's being completed floor by floor. The eighth floor is being renovated while the executive rooms are yet to be refurbished.We had a chance to take a sneak peek at the newly renovated Superior King Room. The room had been given a fresh coat of light, calm blue to highlight the touches of blue and neutrals that dominate the décor. The spaciousness we experienced downstairs characterised the room. It featured a workstation and chair in one corner and a cosy chair and coffee table in the other, making it perfect for couples or guests wanting extra space. The plush, king-size bed with its classic white hotel sheets looked extra inviting.
Other services
Southern Sun Sandton offers a range of amenities for its guests. In addition to conference rooms and event spaces, restaurants, and bars, the hotel also has a small, rooftop swimming pool designed more for leisure than actual exercise. While there is a small fitness gym available, guests who want to run up their cardio or strength training can take advantage of Southern Sun Sandton's agreement with Planet Fitness at The Marc. Hotel guests can use the facilities at Planet Fitness for a rate of R70 per day, a reduced rate.GET THERE WITH GAUTRAIN
Southern Sun Sandton is a short drive from the Sandton Gautrain station. See our guide to the Gautrain here and download the Gautrain app for real-time updates on when the next Gautrain and Gautrain midi-bus is due. Visit www.gautrain.co.za for more information on the timetable and fares. #YourGautrainJourneyStartsHere
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