Situated in the heart of Parkview, one of Joburg’s oldest suburbs, a stay at this petite owner-run self-catering guesthouse has been described by previous guests as like "visiting an oasis in suburbia”. The neighbourhood is filled with pretty tree-lined streets and borders the popular Zoo Lake park while at Roscommon Cottage itself owner Moira Messenger has curated a beautiful garden that never fails to delight guests (some have even been known to ask for plant cuttings to take home with them at the end of their stay).

Moira Messenger first transformed the garden cottage of her home into a space for bed and breakfast guests in 2000 at the suggestion of a friend. As the business began to grow she added a second cottage, recognising a niche in the market for a guesthouse that specialises in self-catering accommodation with the option of breakfast on request.

Both cottages are nestled inside a serene garden and each comes with a private north-facing patio as well as a private garden area, perfect for catching South Africa’s stunning sunsets. Each cottage comes with all the necessary essentials such as free high-speed WiFi, room safes, en-suite bathrooms and complimentary tea and coffee. The 'original' cottage is the much larger of the two with a fully-equipped kitchen (including a washing machine) and private lounge and dining area. This cottage comfortably sleeps four with a double bedroom plus a fold out couch in the lounge. The second smaller cottage comes with a kitchenette and sleeps two.

While Roscommon Cottage is perfectly set out for self-catering with shops very close by, a continental breakfast is available on request which includes fresh seasonal fruits, a cold meat and cheese platter and freshly baked breads, muffins and croissants. Alternatively walk around the corner and grab breakfast at one of the great neighbourhood cafes along Tyrone Avenue like Croft & Co, whose streetside terrace is the perfect people watching spot.

Rosebank with its many art galleries, shops and the Gautrain station (from where you can easily reach the airport in 20 minutes) and the museums and sights of Braamfontein and downtown Joburg are both a 10 minute drive away, while next to Zoo Lake at the end of Roscommon Road (a 4 minute walk from Roscommon Cottage) is the stop for the open-top City Sightseeing red bus (buy your tickets in advance online and print them out to present to the driver).

Roscommon Cottage is a member of the Johannesburg Guesthouses network, which offers an excellent range of more than 20 owner-run guesthouses all based in and around the beautiful northern suburbs of Rosebank and The Parks. See the booking website johannesburg-guesthouses.co.za for the full range of options.