Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The Beau-tique
Press pause on your mile-a-minute lifestyle and step into a world of tranquil
luxury writes Paul Eksteen
IT WAS the day of the Royal Wedding. As Meghan made her Mark-le on the public imagination, a no less regal red carpet encounter was capturing mine in a quiet corner of Sandton suburbia.
From its entrance gate, not too dissimilar from the those of well-heeled townhouse complexes, the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa opens out into a pocket of tranquillity, a luxurious pause from the hub-hub of Africa’s richest mile, just a stone-throw away. On this day it played host to a party of wedding watchers, all resplendent in their queen-inspired hats and high-tea pomp. But, truth be told, any visit here would make for a stand-out experience.
Our rooms, set astride a small courtyard, conjured an image more suited to bespoke apartments than a mere hotel. Positively cavernous, with high ceilings and walls that seemed to block out any notion of life outside, our accommodation featured an eye-catching blend of old world charm and modern sophistication, a theme carried throughout the Fairlawns environment. With a tasty snap in the air signalling winter’s encroachment, the underfloor heating and air conditioner were welcome added features, setting up a cosy atmosphere for a room which, with its retro working desk, feels like it could be lived in, rather than merely visited.
One of Fairlawns’ most popular features is its Balinese spa, a nestled-away motif of muted lighting and the sound of running water, with a menu of treatments tailored to nearly every physical whim. A decided novice when it comes to the business of spa treatments, I approached this segment of my visit with an air of trepidation
(my tickle threshold is virtually non-existent), but I needn’t have worried. Turns out I really needed that back massage. I left that spa so relaxed, I nearly sleep-walked back to my room. Luckily, my next experience, an altogether different sensory adventure, was positively revitalising.
Amuse Bouche is Fairlawn’s aptly named feature restaurant, a perky play date for the palate in a glass box hemmed in by the venue’s manicured lawns and inviting pool (sadly, it isn’t heated). The menu is short and concentrated, with robust flavours to match the pretty appeal of each plate. I settled for sea bass on a fricasse of chickpeas and broccoli for my main, a sophisticated riff on the surf-andturf idea that smacked of the sea in land-locked Gauteng. I’d also highly recommend the cured tuna starter, as well as those succulent morsels, the scallops, and the sumptuous lamb main. Oh, and the croquettes! Oh my word! So few restaurants pay attention to this tasty little potato invention, but they should. I could have moved my stay to Amuse Bouche just for side-orders of croquettes at breakfast.
This is just one segment of the Fairlawns dining experience, which also boasts an all-day
Bistro, a sophisticated Champagne Room with it’s own tapas menu, and a little culinary detour Into
The Woods: a 12-seater dining experience set in a birchwood forest wallpaper panorama, the chequerboard tiles adding a touch of Alice in Wonderland to the proceedings.
It is to Fairlawns’ credit that each sector of the accommodation is an experience by itself, without having to sacrifice on luxury or comfort. Continues to page 9