Johannesburg - I’ve always had a soft spot for the Michelangelo.
It’s where I used to go in my student days to impress my better half, and remember spending the odd afternoon next to the vast Koi pond on the ground floor sipping cappuccinos and hoping my budget wouldn’t be busted with a slice of cake.
Call it destiny, but the first thing we did when visiting the five-star establishment in Sandton recently, was sample the High Tea. There I was, having my afternoon cup of Deja vu, not 10m away from the couch I used to relax on all those years ago.
I like that, unlike other big hotels, the Michelangelo has not been under any major refurbishments and still looks exactly the same as the first time I sneaked a parking spot outside its front doors. The design is classic and it would seem timeless – even the curtains are the same colour as I remember, with the same fringes.
The establishment enjoys a prime location, with the towering statue of Madiba on the Nelson Mandela Square literally a stone’s throw away. It borders on one side of the square, but it seems to capture more the grace than the pace of the piazza. You don’t get the noise creeping into the hotel’s foyer and restaurant, but you do get to enjoy the views of the square and its surrounds.
To alleviate the busy parkade, the hotel offers residents a valet parking service at the door, which is a nice touch, and ample check-in space. On offer are 242 en suite rooms (some are suites), the Piccolo Mondo restaurant, the Il Ritrovo Lounge, and the Spa, which is adjacent to an indoor heated pool. There’s a nice little grass-covered sundeck too.
We had a suite for the night, which offered a glimpse of the Sandton skyline and was sumptuous with its sunken lounge, entrance hall and spare second bathroom. Like the feel of the rest of the hotel the rooms offer luxury, but aren’t fussy and complicated, requiring a doctorate to work out where the light switches are. For a soak in the marble bathroom, or an afternoon snooze on the couch with the balcony door open, it’s perfect.
High Tea is certainly the way to start your stay, with the selection of pastries and savouries not necessarily the biggest I’ve ever seen but certainly enough to send your blood-sugar levels into a panic. The Il Ritrovo Lounge, where High Tea is served, has a relaxed feel to it, with quite a worthy pianist tinkling your favourite tunes along in the background.
Being Sandton Square-based you sense that space is a premium, with the restaurant and conference facilities more cosy than elaborate. The Piccolo Mondo restaurant offers a well-balanced menu and that personal touch in terms of service.
My kingklip with crusted cashew nuts was of the melt-in-the-mouth variety, and the same can be said about the lamb shank my partner had – but the accompanying sauce in her dish did leave a bitter aftertaste. The crème brûlée, served as a showpiece on dry ice, was a happy way to end.
The hotel is a short walk away from the Gautrain and Sandton’s major business node, and this is where its unique selling point lies. Unlike competitors, which largely have that business feel, this Renaissance-styled hotel seems to succeed in providing an elegant yet warm environment for its guests.
The hotel can be reached on 011 806 6888 or by visiting www.themichelangelo.co.za - Saturday Star