Where the rich go not to be seen

THE proverb says that a problem shared is a problem halved. I say luxury shared is luxury doubled -- which is why, as a rule, I enjoying having an audience.

The Saxon Hotel in the exclusive Johannesburg suburb of Sandhurst is billed as a home from home. For those with the dosh – upwards of R4250 per suite – you can avoid rubbing shoulders with the very rich and famous. You see, Saxon is the kind of place where you go not to be seen which is the element that sets it apart.

Unquestionably, it is one of the most stylish properties I’ve seen. Designer Stephen Falcke won international acclaim for the interior, which is a magnificent interpretation of a contemporary African ethos. Although I don’t know Johannesburg well at all, my stomach churns at the neo-Tuscan architecture at every turn.

Saxon’s provenance is another thing that sets it apart. Once home to Auto & General’s Douw Steyn, it is the place that Nelson Mandela called home while editing his book. While the Mandela connection is ubiquitous – beautifully sketched images of Mandela with Steyn line the main corridors and the Presidential Suite is named in his honour, Madiba’s patronage is, while unavoidable, elegantly understated.

Lake-sized pool

Although there are many grand things about the hotel – matching sweeping staircases around an Ostrich Egg chandelier, giant African artifacts, custom-designed over-sized furniture, and a lake-sized pool that raises the hotel on a dais, the end result is restrained elegance.

On two separate occasions while I was waiting in the reception lobby I witnessed the level of person who stays at Saxon. A grey-minibus with darkened windows pulled up to the entrance and four men-in-black bodyguards with CIA earsets secured the area while a woman in her 30’s with Chanel glasses, an Hermes-wrapped head, and clutching a LV bag was whisked away before I could get a proper look. The following day, a man my age who seemed flustered, arrived with no luggage-in-hand and paid cash for a room.

Sandy Bailey, who handles publicity for The Mantis collection that manages Saxon, arranged my visit. I was in Johannesburg for only 48 hours and had a whole bunch of big meetings that I had arranged back-to-back. This is where staying at Saxon really became useful. In a nutshell, the hotel staff become an extension of your own and they are brilliant at arranging meeting spaces and managing the meet-and-greet aspect when one meeting is delayed by the previous one.

The real value, though, comes from the impression it creates. Saxon is correctly perceived as the very best of the best, and because access to the hotel is impenetrably controlled and governed by who is in residence, having a meeting there carries buckets of cachet. I feel fairly confident that the positive outcome of one of my meetings was purely because it was held at Saxon!

Blissful abundance

The Egoli suite in which I stayed was faultless. It is prrobably bigger than my entire apartment, and Falcke has created a private space with lounge and dining areas. The bathroom is behind the four-poster bed with shutters that open to reveal the large bath. Perhaps the only area the design falls down is the width of the tiling around the bath which makes getting in and out difficult.

As I am a slave to Molton Brown products, to have them in abundance was bliss.

Winning touches were the intelligent light-control panels next to the door, at the bed and at the workstation – I liked the option of controlling the lights individually and in three levels of brightness. I also like that the multiple plug and phone points at the workstation actually worked.

The entertainment centre included a very large TV set with DSTV and DVD players and a separate cabinet with state-of-the-art sound system.

Waiter’s enthusiasm

Again, depending on occupancy, the restaurant is open to non-residents. This was possibly the space that mesmerised me the most, with its high ceilings, latticed timber frames that cover windows and the wine selection. Three giant African clay pots hold the tone for the restaurant – the first and the last as a water feature that gently overflows while the centre one holds dried branches in a Pierneef-style tree. Food was marvelous; the whole side of smoked salmon sliced as required and a basket full of crayfish tails really impressed. Service was gentle and discreet although our waiter’s enthusiasm for dishes encouraged us to have dessert even though we had overeaten.

Considering the quality and environment, restaurant prices are very reasonable. Full breakfast costs R140, continental buffet lunch R245 while main courses at dinner range from R80 for the vegetable lasagna to R250 for the langoustines thermidor.

Saxon is perfect for conferencing – For an intimate 10-20 meeting you can hire the dining library for R1500 or the 40-seater auditorium which doubles up as an exclusive cinema for guests from R5000.

The sole annoying point, though, is the tight security which almost requires DNA testing before letting you through. At least you know you won’t bump into any riff-raff. Whisper on the streets is that Mr Steyn has sacrificed his personal helipad to make way for a Spa which, if created to the same exacting standard as everything else, will be something to look out for.

www.thesaxon.com 011-292-6000

Brian Berkman was a guest of Mantis Collection. www.mantiscollection.com