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Johannesburg, South Africa
Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa
Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa sits in Johannesburg's private-residence tradition rather than the glass-tower hotel lane. Its case rests on scale, art, gardens and history: 24 rooms, ten acres in Sandhurst, Mandela associations, La Liste Top Hotels 2026 recognition at 96.5 points, and 2025 World Travel Awards wins across boutique-hotel categories.
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- Address
- 36 Saxon Rd, Sandhurst, Johannesburg, 2196
- Phone
- +27 87 375 7777
- Website
- saxon.co.za
- Directions
- Get directions
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The record
Saxon Hotel recognition in Sandhurst
Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa carries Forbes 5-Star recognition for 2025 and 2026, plus a Michelin 1 Key in 2025. Those awards signal a hotel positioned for readers who want formal standards on the shortlist.
36 Saxon Rd access and city context
36 Saxon Rd, Sandhurst, Johannesburg, 2196 gives the property a clear street address for trip planning. Travel + Leisure placed it at No. 91 in 2026, adding another external reference point.
Frequently asked questions
Comparison Snapshot
Comparable venues by cuisine and price in the same metro.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Saxon Hotel, Villas and SpaThis venue — the venue you are viewing | At the heart of the City of Gold, beneath the warm sunshine in the ornate, tree-lined suburb of Sandhurst, lies the enchanting Saxon Hotel. A uniquely combination of rich cultural history and contemporary five-star service, the Saxon is situated on ten acres of magnificent indigenous gardens, providing a private and peaceful retreat distinctive. At the Saxon we create our own standards. Every detail is considered, from the quality of the food to the finer points of our warm hospitality, you can expect only a strong option. The stronger is what we know, it is entrenched in the roots of our African spirit. On arrival at the Saxon you will be greeted warmly by our arrivals staff and our Concierge, working together as a family to ensure your stay is a memorable one. The sense of space, the landscaped gardens and notable infinity pool set a serene backdrop for a restful journey. You become aware of the sights and sounds and the warm atmosphere as you arrive at the entrance with its sweeping staircase. The lounge and terrace offer views over the gardens. We treat every day as a journey to make you feel at home. At sunrise our Chefs visit the vegetable garden to handpick the day's ingredients which will inspire the seasonal menus. The tables are laid, the gardens are tended to, fresh flowers are arranged and the Butlers prepare themselves for a day of service. Throughout the day our team continues to work behind the scenes to make your stay pleasurable and enjoyable. The Pastry Chefs are masters at crafting rich pastries for a rich High Tea. You will always feel at home, whether you choose to relax on the sunlit terrace or enjoy a leisurely lunch under the canopy of fig trees. The Concierge is on hand at all times to assist with information and advice. In the evening, as our Butlers turn down the beds and add the final touches to your rooms, our Chefs and Sommeliers are preparing for dinner. You can take in the spectacular African sunset before heading to one of the Saxon restaurants for a memorable culinary experience. Every day at the Saxon is different and brings a renewed sense of adventure. It is this Africa that beckons you, the Africa that will leave you with a lifetime of memories.; When Nelson Mandela left prison, he retreated toSaxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, which then was home to Johannesburg billionaireDouw Steyn and his family.; La Liste Top Hotels (2026): 96.5pts; World Travel Awards is proud to announce the 2025 winner for World's Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel as Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa; World Travel Awards is proud to announce the 2025 winner for South Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel as Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa; World Travel Awards is proud to announce the 2025 winner for Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel as Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa; When Nelson Mandela left prison, he retreated to Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, which then was home to Johannesburg billionaire Douw Steyn and his family. On those grounds, the South African president edited his autobiography... Property highlights: Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa's carefully curated interiors showcase an extensive African art collection and ethically sourced local artifacts that once belonged to the private collection of owner Douw Steyn. Ghanaian fertility dolls, tribal masks, Benin bronze leopards and woven grass baskets give a true sense of Africa's cultural diversity.A pencil portrait of Mandela from his visit to the Steyns' home hangs in the hallway, alongside other renowned visitors and guests, such as Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton. While the showstopping infinity pool is the focal point of the Johannesburg hotel, it is mirrored by a second serene pool that's beneath the shade of fig trees between two koi ponds. Follow your dip with a steam in the adjacent fitness center. The two underground wine cellars, one for reds, one for whites, feature some of the world's leading selections, which can be enjoyed as part of a private tasting or an intimate silver-service dinner, coupled with the expert guidance of Saxon's in-house sommeliers. Saxon Spa is an oasis of cascading water features and natural elements that take you on a journey of physical and mental rejuvenation by means of healing hammam, sound therapy and rhassoul mud rituals. What to know: The raised boardwalk, which is reminiscent of Kirstenbosch Garden's Boomslang tree canopy walkway, is a wooden-steel skywalk from the main boutique hotel building to three secluded villas. Spring and summer (September through March) weather may succumb to Highveld thunderstorms, but you will be rewarded with emerald-green hues and a garden in full bloom. Sarapana (the luxury hotel's rooftop fruit, herb and vegetable garden) provides organic seasonal ingredients to the Saxon's three restaurants, and particularly for Qunu's VegVegan culinary experience. Treatments: The Rooms The single-story Villa One houses seven Villa Luxury Suites, while the two-story Villa Two and Three also have four Villa Presidential Suites upstairs. These three standalone structures can be booked for sole use to ensure privacy. Villas comprise an airy lounge and dining room with a fully stocked bar and breakfast nook that leads onto a private plunge pool necklaced by a wooden deck and loungers. These luxurious facilities are accentuated with a dedicated 24/7 butler service. The spacious 861-square-foot Villa Luxury Suites are elegantly finished in a contemporary style with natural textures, stone cladding and wood furnishings, alongside geometric prints and local artifacts. The open-plan layout includes a seating and dining area with a desk and a balcony overlooking the gardens. Ornate Villa Presidential Suites feature elegant contemporary décor that exudes tranquility and a sense of homestyle comfort. The expansive 2,152-square-foot space includes a seating and dining area, a separate lounge, dining room, guest bathroom and a fully equipped butler's kitchen. Amenities: 36 Saxon Road, Sandhurst, Johannesburg, 2196 South Africa; Leading Hotels of World Member (2025); Price: 706 Rooms: 24 Rooms Impossible to imagine, but the Saxon, on the fringes of Johannesburg, was once a private residence, not bad, considering it now sleeps about fifty. And surrounded as it is by a ten-foot wall, it's about as private as a boutique hotel can get. This is where Nelson Mandela came to work on his autobiography after his release from Robben Island, quite a step up, from a cell to the suite that now bears his name, a sprawling compound within a compound, equipped with its own reception hall, dining room, steam bath, and colonnaded bedroom. From there the basic suites are a bit of a step down, though anywhere else they'd be premium. They're open-plan, but come complete with dining and lounge areas, and they're decorated in an elegant contemporary-African style, with all the modern musts: enormous plasma-screen televisions and remote-controlled everything. Along with some fine suites the Saxon steps into resort territory, with a big outdoor pool, a stylish restaurant and bar, even a spa, complete with fitness studio and exercise machines. There's a conference center as well, a reminder that you could do worse than to be sent here on business, get yourself a job in African politics and it could all be yours, at least for a few nights. | This venue |
Recognition history
Dated appearances from independent guides and award organizations, with the underlying list record or original source where available.
Forbes 5-Star
Forbes
La Liste Top Hotels
La Liste
Travel + Leisure 100 Favorite Hotels in the World #91 · No. 91
Travel + Leisure · 2026 Travel + Leisure 100 Favorite Hotels in the World
Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Partner
Virtuoso
Forbes 5-Star
Forbes
Leading Hotels of World Member
Leading Hotels of World
Michelin 1 Key
Michelin
World Travel Awards
World Travel Awards
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