Though it advertises itself as a five-star establishment, the Radisson Blu doesn’t quite hit that mark. This is not to say it’s a bad place to stay – far from it.

From the views to the restaurant to the rooms, everything about the Radisson is superlative – it just doesn’t have that extra something special that catapults a hotel from four stars to the stratosphere.

Except the fitness center. The hotel shares a building with a three-level Planet Fitness, which comprises a swimming pool, three fitness studios, and endless acres of state-of-the-art weight machines and cardio equipment. A self-contained running track circles the whole facility, which sits nine floors above street level and affords amazing views of Sandton. The tastefully decorated locker rooms offer saunas, steam rooms and a Jacuzzi. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a hotel gym this good.

But I digress. The rooms at the Radisson are the next best thing after the gym. Decently sized and beautifully furnished, they come with fun little bells and whistles such as 60s-inspired furnishings, flexible book lights attached to the bedside lamps and a TV speaker system in the bathroom. The bathroom also has an interesting glass-partitioned toilet-shower compartment and a separate tub. The drawbacks to the room were few, but included an uninspired channel selection on the TV, and very basic toiletries in the bathroom.

Elsewhere in the hotel you’ll find Vivace restaurant, which offers more vividly colored 60s-themed décor, the ubiquitous fantastic views, and quasi-Italian food. I skipped the a la carte menu and opted for the buffet, which turned out to be a great choice: the meats, salads and desserts were perfectly cooked and beautifully displayed, which is more than I can say for most hotel buffets.

Other perks here include the in-house spa, the appealing outdoor pool area (again with stellar views), and free shuttle service to and from Sandton City, which is walking distance if you’re up for it. Directly opposite the hotel entrance is Mushroom Farm Park, a little oasis of green in Joburg. The Hyundai balloon offers rides here, and trails and fitness equipment offer a decent alternative to the hotel gym.

Service at the hotel is efficient and friendly, though not particularly notable. Overall the Radisson is a very pleasant place to stay, though it’s no Ritz Carlton. It appeals to a broad clientele, from leisure tourists, to business travelers to flight crews, many of whom are repeat customers — according to conversations I overheard in the elevators.