I generally like the Tsogo/Southern Sun brand — they are comfortable, slightly upscale, and reasonably priced mid-range hotels. The Southern Sun Pretoria fits the mold — no surprises here, just some minor quibbles.

Located in the downtown Pretoria financial district, the exterior of the hotel is a bit tired (think yellow-ish 1970s era tile), but this improves somewhat upon entry. Plush carpets line the expansive lobby, which opens onto a lovely tree-lined courtyard with a pool area, waterfall, and outdoor dining terrace.

Rooms are moderately-sized and generically furnished, with king-size beds, mini-fridges, ample closet space, and flat-screen TVs. Ours overlooked the pool and gardens, though others overlook the street (I’d recommend requesting a pool view — it’s quieter). The bathrooms are also decent-sized, but nothing to write home about in terms of amenities or decor. Other amenities include tea/coffee facilities, safes, hair dryers, and a/c.

Downstairs is the in-house Oasis restaurant and the stylish Harambe bar. Like the rest of the hotel, the food is decent but not remarkable, and room service is available. A small but well-equipped fitness room occupies a section of the first floor, and the machinery and weights do look to be newer and well-maintained.

Overall my stay was satisfactory, the only glitches being that the wi-fi that was often slow (you get 500MB free per day), and the concierge seemed to have no clue what restaurants to recommend in the area (he Googled “sushi” when I asked him for a suggestion, at which point I told him don’t bother, I can do that myself!).

Apparently this is one of the hotels of choice for visiting diplomats and business folks due to its proximity to embassies and local corporations, but if you’re a leisure traveler, you’d be better off staying in a more upscale neighborhood outside the CBD – there’s not much within walking distance here, and the neighborhood is not what I would call charming.