The Crowne Plaza is located slap-bang in the middle of one of Johannesburg’s most upmarket suburbs. The 24 suite-room boutique hotel is ideal for those who have come to Joburg on business, but want to also explore the city, as its central location allows for shopping/dining (it’s a short walk to Rosebank Mall), sightseeing, and transport (it’s a 30-minute drive from the airport, two blocks away from the Rosebank Gautrain Station).

The hotel has different rooms to choose from: at the lower end of the scale there are Standard rooms, while at the top end there are Ultimate rooms, which offer a double volume bar, a dining room and a lounge. I was given a choice between a bath or shower in my King Suite room; I opted for the shower, which would pay off later as the bathrooms are fitted with Hansgrohe Raindance showers (which are great to stand under, but take a good while to heat up).

The King Suite is spacious, with an attached lounge area, complete with a large flatscreen TV and mini-bar area, ideal for holding small business meetings. There is also an iPod docking station next to the bed, and an additional smaller flatscreen TV mounted on the sleeping area wall.

However, the workspace opposite the bed was rather cramped, and the décor of the rooms (and hotel) leaves much to be desired. Dark avocado green walls and lots of square, angular design elements give the whole place a heavy, masculine feel. The carpet in the room’s lounge area looked something out of Studio 54.

The hotel has a business centre – with limited operating hours. The centre comes advertised as having an iMac, but there wasn’t a sign of one. There is a gym (open daily until late, personal trainers are also available on request) and a great outdoor swimming pool (which makes sense in summer, but becomes obsolete during Joburg’s chilly winters). There is also a spa facility.

The Crowne Plaza has two restaurants on its premises: an upmarket steakhouse franchise called The Butcher Block, as well as the Fresh Restaurant. There is also the Rosebank Café in the lobby, which offers sandwiches and deli-style snacks, with an option to eat there (comfortable couches provided in the lounge) or take-out. I ordered a toasted sandwich which needed a 20-minute wait (they weren’t busy) and the person behind the counter was less than affable. The lobby area also has a swanky bar, open until 1am but closed Sundays. I arrived on a Sunday evening, and most of the facilities were not operational.

At $160 a night, the King Suite is not a luxury experience, but it’s fine for a night or two. Considering its trendy location, I expected better décor and service. And if you’re not a Premium Member, parking for guests (along with other perks) isn’t complimentary, either.