STAYCATION ON THE HILL
Hotels such as the Westcliff are mitigating Covid pain by punting home holidays
ý There isn’t much not to like about a staycation: the ease of extricating yourself from home; the small bag you whisk around rather than backbreaking luggage; and the fact that you’re almost breathing distance from home.
In my case, within 20 minutes of leaving my house I’m at the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff. Built in 1997, the once famously pink palace has been a more sober beige for several years. But the drive up the hill to the suites in the golf buggy remains — a signal that you’re at one of Joburg’s most luxurious hotels that has hosted Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, the Dalai Lama, Brad Pitt, Will Smith and Margaret Thatcher.
There’s much that’s unique about the space — not just the fact that the walls contain 375 original SA artworks — but mostly, it’s the view you get from the top that is the hero of the property. There’s a degree of solace you get from looking out over the forest, both towards the northern suburbs and south towards the city and the Hillbrow tower.
As a venue for a staycation — a phrase recently latched onto by a leisure industry battling to find new ways to attract visitors when overseas travellers are scarcer than a vaccine — it’s hard to beat.
Consumers have also warmed to the idea, if only to mitigate the souldampening routine of working from home with little variation. For those who can afford it (and this, for many, will be the deciding factor), it’s an opportunity to escape homework and shopping lists. It evokes memories of a particular episode of the 1990s TV series Sex & the City, where Charlotte spends an afternoon alone in Carrie’s flat, paging through magazines, in solitude.
The rooms at the Westcliff, many in muted grey but with startling views, have the sort of attention to detail that have made it a repeat stay for many people: the Nespresso machines and the bottle of champagne for a start.
While I’m there, on a cloudy afternoon, I revel in the rapid
Wi-Fi, focus on work and use the hotel’s new WhatsApp system — one of my favourite finds. Instead of having to call reception for every question, you send a message for a quick response, for everything from asking for toasted cheese on rye bread to inquiring where the coffee cups are hidden.
Later, lying on a recliner outside, I order a drink and send a picture of the code next to my chair to the
WhatsApp system so they know where to bring the cocktail.
You’ll be pleased to know the food has improved. Over the years, I’ve had occasional meals at the hotel. But the food never really surprised or delighted — it was always more about the view and the environment. But evidently the Westcliff has upped its game.
In my case, a roasted cauliflower soup, followed by sea bass with couscous, asparagus, sun-dried tomato, chickpeas and parsley beurre blanc was the sort of thing you’d return for. As was the tonka bean crème brûlée with cinnamon crumble, coconut sorbet and caramelised popcorn.
There’s even a tinge of edginess, for a place as upper crust as the Westcliff, in the way they bring you bread before the meal in casual brown packets — a kind of antihero moment.
The food is overseen by Daniel Payne, who was head chef of View, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant which closed due to Covid. Now, there are smaller fine dining pockets from Thursday to Saturday. The restaurant space upstairs is now dedicated to events and parties.
It’s one of many Covid-induced changes. Not billed as much of a family hotel before, the Westcliff now has family rooms, and pets (under 20kg) even get their own their own dog blankets, plush beds and checkin cards.
The hotel’s bid to market itself as a staycation option seems to be mitigating the Covid crunch.
Whereas occupancy was often above 70% before the pandemic, it’s now about 40% on weekends — though there are still minimal arrivals during the week, since business travel is scant. For the hotel, it helps keep the wolf from the door; for customers, it’s a soothing mini-break all on its own.