The Peech Hotel, a fabulous boutique hotel tucked away in the upmarket suburb of Melrose, offers a peaceful escape from the relentless pace of Johannesburg. When you drive through the gates to a world of dark olive green walls, wooden screens and a lush garden you feel as if you’ve arrived at a chic bush retreat rather than at a city hotel.

There are only 16 rooms at the hotel, two of which are in the original residential house on the property, and the others in new double-storey units, each room featuring either a small sunny terrace or a lovely balcony. Room interiors are tasteful and luxurious, with muted colors, modern furniture, iPod docking stations, spacious bathrooms with powerful rain showers, and well-chosen African art (with price tags should you want to buy any of the pieces).

There’s a thoughtful city guide in the room, which includes places that are within walking distance. The hotel can also organise various tours, from a Soweto bicycle trip to privately guided trips around the city, which is handy if you only have a few hours spare between meetings.

While Melrose is close to the restaurants of Rosebank and Sandton, you may well want to stay in to eat at the Peech – its Bistro Restaurant is small and cosy, with a wood fireplace and glass doors looking onto the garden and pool and a fantastic café-style menu.

Certified with Fair Trade and Tourism South Africa (a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable tourism development through fair wages) and with efforts to be eco-friendly (including using green design and energy conservation), the Peech is a great option for ethically conscious travellers. There’s an option to make a small donation to a local charity – which the hotel will match – as well as the chance to purchase some of the canvas photo prints hung on the walls taken by homeless children.

The best thing about this boutique hotel is the homey-ness that the big corporate hotels lack. From the incredibly warm, friendly staff members who get to know you by name, to the comfortable, stylish rooms, it feels like you’re staying in a home rather than a hotel.