The establishment bills itself as a boutique hotel but I think considering it as a smart guesthouse where you will have every comfort but also the intimacy of being only among a few other guests is a better way of thinking about it.
Founder Jeanette Schwegman is a foodie of note and her certificate of appointment to the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary club is prominently displayed.
The cuisine we enjoyed really was excellent and guests should also take advantage of the well-priced dinner options. We dined in the garden, heady with Jasmine with a full warm Johannesburg moon above us. Clico's location, close to the Gautrain Station which can deposit you here from OR Tambo Airport within 20 stress-free-minutes is also within easy access of the Rosebank Mall and The Zone. The former is getting an extreme makeover and should be very fabulous once complete. We really enjoyed shopping at The Zone and heading to Tasha's for coffee.
I've stayed in Rosebank three times in as many years and there is always building of some sort going on. The building of the Gautrain project was very disruptive but I think everyone agrees Rosebank is much better for it now that it is complete. One of the last remaining less than glam (think dodgy) apartment blocks was about to be knocked down and will soon be replaced with yet another high-end development. Despite the goings-on, I found Clico unexpectedly quiet and relaxing.
Because Clico was once a home the scale of things is human rather than gargantuan and this is very appealing to me - no long corridors to walk to your room.
I loved having at least five magazines in the room - not just these ubiquitous advertising-funded free ones they cram into hotels nowadays but magazines I actually want to read: decor, travel, and foodie-titles among them.
I thought the service from all the staff excellent and again felt like I was in my own home or in the home of a trusted friend.
The rooms are equipped with proper tea and coffee-making facilities including a coffee plunger and quality coffee. Milk comes in a jug rather than those Tetrapak containers.
My only complaint was that our bathroom was separated from the room only by a screen. As you know, I like to have a toilet to myself. Inasmuch as hotels ask if you'd like twin or king-sized beds, I think they should also ask if you'd prefer a private bathroom. Of the nine suites six have queen-sized beds and three have the option of twins or king. All beds are extra length and all rooms are equipped with both air conditioners and under-carpet heating.
I liked that our ground-floor room opened onto the pretty garden and pool while the upstairs rooms have a balcony. Rooms are non-smoking but there are ashtrays on the outside tables.
For more information go to www.Clicohotel.com.
Clico, 27 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196. Telephone:+27 (0) 11 252 3300. Email moc.letohocilc@ofni.
