THE GREAT GATSBY
Guest House
Our Amazing Spaces
An elegant entrance hall, in tones of duck egg blue. A Tiffany lamp and crystal chandelier light the way up a Gone With the Wind staircase, that leads to the bedchambers.
Gentleman's Whisky and Cigar Lounge.
Shades of chocolate, biscuit and cinnamon. Leather couches and retro armchairs invite the discerning guest to enjoy poker nights, rugby afternoons and Gin/Wine/Whisky tastings.
The Drawing Room.
Jay Gatsby would approve. A 1930's chandelier. A marriage of honeyed walnut and mahogany. Cascading silk curtains. Velvet. An heirloom wingback chair and a glass of port , waiting for you in front of a roaring fireplace.
The perfect setting for high teas, engagements, weddings and black-tie events.
Dining Room.
Under the smokey Venetian chandelier, the mahogany table , dressed in a fine linen cloth, gleams with family silver, Bohemian crystal and antique porcelain. A sit-down black-tie dinner for twelve?
Or a cocktail and canapé affair to remember....for 50?
Bring us your fantasy wishlist and we'll make it happen.
Bespoke catering is our speciality.
The Grounds
The colonial "stoep" overlooks a lush manicured garden filled with hydrangeas, strelitzias, and agapanthas. A majestic Jacaranda tree blooms every year in bursts of purple glory.
A secluded swimming pool guarantees privacy. The cool dappled shade is the perfect setting for the party of the year.
An elevated pergola with its icing sugar pillars , brownstone gravel, fairy lights and Hope garden furniture is a mini venue on its own. Ideally suited for a micro wedding, a soiree under the stars or a traditional South African "braai".
The pièce de résistance is the "lapa" in the sky. Climb the stone steps and be rewarded with breathtaking views of North. Sunrise yoga and breakfast, sundowner cocktails, and nights under African skies around the firepit are just a few of many delicious options....
OUR SERVICES
Breakfast
Our breakfasts are prepared with only the freshest ingredients, always taking your dietary requirements into account.
Guests have the option of a medley of fresh fruit, organic yoghurt, muesli and freshly squeezed orange juice and variety of teas and coffees.
A selection of hot breakfast dishes includes a Full English Breakfast, Brioche with creamy thyme mushrooms, avocado and parmesan, Croissant with smoked salmon and creamy scrambled eggs. Our hostess is an inspired chef and will accommodate even the most discerning palate.
R150.00 P/P
Garden
An ancient camphor tree guards the entrance to the Great Gatsby with its circular drive and elegant fountain.
The verdant garden leads up to a rustic lapa offering the most iconic views of Johannesburg. The stone terraced pathways are adorned with cascading creepers.
Under the 100 year old Jacaranda tree rests a gravel lawn, surrounded by a lush tangle of greenery. The perfect spot for your next garden event.
Pool
The secluded pool is a welcome escape on sweltering summer days. Sip an exotic cocktail or read a good book under the shade of a canvas umbrella. Pool towels are available on request.
Free Wifi
All Gatsby guests have access to free and uncapped wifi.
Daily Housekeeping
All rooms are serviced daily. Our friendly staff will ensure that your bed linen, gowns and towels remain fresh throughout your stay.
Dining Options
Dinners for individual guests are available on request at an additional fee. A 24 hour notice period is required. We recommend a bespoke set menu for groups and events.
Dinner: R350.00 to R650.00 P/P
3 Course and 5 Course available
THINGS TO DO
The Wilds
In the midst of the upmarket suburb of Houghton is The Wilds, a conservation area since 2006, and 16 hectares of incredible indigenous vegetation and lovely koppies. Through all of this ramble paths up hillsides that give you fantastic views out over the city from a number of different angles.
If you love to walk in nature then the Wilds is inner city magic. The network of paved footpaths remain in good condition and traverse most of the reserve. You can make an afternoon of it.
Row Boats at Zoo Lake
Set on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and West World Street, virtually across from the Johannesburg Zoo, Zoo Lake is usually a hive of activity - dog walkers, joggers, skateboarders and kids.
Zoo Lake is a large park situated around a man-made lake that makes for perfect weekend ambles, only 15 minutes from the centre of Johannesburg. Take in the sights and sounds of the lake in one of the row boats for hire.
The row boats can accommodate up to 6 people per boat. Fun for the kids - take along some bread for them to feed the ducks - lots of fun!
Adler Museum of Medicine
Learn about early medicine at the Adler Museum of Medicine. Established in 1962 by Dr Cyril and Mrs Esther Adler who together collected a truly remarkable private collection of medical and pharmacological memorabilia.
Today the collection consists of over 40 000 objects depicting the history of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy through the ages. In June 1974, the Museum was officially handed over to the University of the Witwatersrand.
Night Time Tour at Johannesburg Zoo
You can book a night-time tour of the Johannesburg Zoo any night from Monday to Saturday, and get ferried around to peer at the red pandas, glowing scorpions, genets, raccoons and of course, the beautiful big cats.
The Johannesburg Zoo offers two night-time tours: one for the kids, called the moonlight tour, and one for adults, the night tour. There are also sunset tours, from 4pm to 6pm, just to take the edge off the early evening.
You can take your own picnic and watch the diurnal animals settle down for the night, while the nocturnal ones wake up. And if you're feeling particularly adventurous, and don't mind falling asleep to the roar of the lions, book for a safe sleep-over in the zoo. You'll take your own tents and gear, and provide your own meal. You'll be taken on a walking tour of the zoo.
Killarney Mall
Johannesburg is the retail and commercial hub of South Africa and the Killarney Mall is one of its most established shopping centres. This mall, situated on Riviera Road, Killarney, is just 15 minutes from Sandton and less than half an hour from the international airport. It is also easily accessible from the M1 highway, making it central and convenient for busy shoppers that need a quick in-and-out trip or dedicated shopaholics that need some serious retail therapy.
The Radium Beerhall
The Radium Beerhall is the oldest bar and grill in Johannesburg, steeped in history, tumult and legend. The Radium's history reaches as far back as 1929, when the Khalil family opened it as a tea room, but it lived a double life as a shebeen, which sold liquor to black customers who were barred from drinking in that era. After 13 years, a wine and malt license was eventually acquired and the Radium Tearoom, became the Radium Beerhall.
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR
The Gatsby - Main House
The Coach House
The Bachelor Pad
The White House, Observatory - Sister Guesthouse to the Gatsby
ABOUT US
In 1926, Munro Drive, one of the most scenic passes in Johanneshurg, was a very different place. Born during the early pioneering gold rush days (almost accidentally becoming a mining township), it was completed in 1918. Its impressive stonemasonry was added later, by skilled Italian prisoners of WW II.
Below the hairpin bend, nestled under a giant camphor tree, a Randlords mansion welcomes the weary traveller.
The moment you pass through the wrought iron gate, you are transported to a another time.
Built in the Roaring Twenties, the era of elegant excess, art deco, champagne, Charleston, and fabulous parties, its grand facade, circular driveway and cascading fountain draws you into a bygone era.
ABOUT THE HOSTESS
Gina is an unconventional woman with impeccable taste, a hopeless romantic and a slave to vintage nostalgia. Fabulous parties with great food and unforgettable ambiance are her passion. Remember....the devil is in the detail!
Here are some of her hostess tips:
Thirteen at a table is unlucky only when the hostess has twelve chops.
In popular houses where visitors like to go again and again, there is always a happy combination of some attention on the part of the hostess and the perfect freedom of the guests to occupy their time as they choose.
Be pretty if you can. Be witty if you must.
But be gracious if it kills you.
True hospitality is when people leave feeling better about themselves and not better about you.
GUEST REVIEW
BANKING DETAILS
ACCOUNT NAME: SAB DIAMONDS
BANK: STANDARD BANK
ACCOUNT#: 301052751
TYPE: CURRENT ACCOUNT
REF: YOUR SURNAME
CANCELLATION POLICY
Our payment terms are seven days before check-in date.
In the event of premature departure, we will charge for the full original booking.
Cancellation Policy:
1 month before stay date: 100% of deposit is refundable.
2 weeks before stay date: 50% of deposit is refundable.
Less than 2 weeks before stay date or no-show: 0% of deposit is refundable, full invoice payable.
Refunds will incur a 10% administration fee to cover bank charges and additional admin costs.