J ohannesburg - The Rolls Royce isn’t mine, but there’s no way I’m telling hotel staff that. Why should I? When you’re driving a car worth 70 Ford Fiestas, magic things happen. Velvet ropes drop at a glance and men in white gloves materialise from thin air to lift luggage.
But alas, I’m not the only one wise to the trick and as I round the corner into Rosebank’s Bath Avenue, I’m shocked to see another massive Phantom parked front and centre in the hotel’s drop-off zone. What are the chances?
The look on Willard, the white-gloved doorman’s face is priceless, and as I do my best to assume the role of a disgruntled big spender, he’s looking for a quick solution to the R22-million double parking problem he’s faced with. But Willard’s a man full of solutions. He’s been at 54 on Bath, the five-star overnight I’m reviewing, since the day it opened and even a pair of Rollers on his stoop pales in comparison to carrying bags for Bruce Willis, Prince William and one of James Bond’s honeys. Willard can’t remember which one, but says she was “quite pretty”.
Now, I’m not famous and I’m far from rich, but Willard doesn’t know that and he treats me like royalty as he scampers just ahead of me in search of an underground parking bay suitable for six-metre land yacht dimensions. And once we’ve found it, he welcomes with a bow and insists on lugging four tog bags up to reception himself.
He’s a genuine doorman at a genuinely fancy hotel, and not just a costumed prop on set at a hotel facade. 54 on Bath quite obviously shares its name with its Rosebank address, but this venue might be better known as The Grace – the tremendously distinguished Joburg lodging that closed its doors in 2011. The outer brick husk may have remained, but a six-month interior overhaul now sees fresh crisp grey carpets and uplifting white linens where the Grace’s musty leathers and heavy ambience once was.
Reopened in 2012 under the Tsogo Sun banner, 54 on Bath is a small hotel, relatively speaking. Its 74 rooms put it into the upmarket boutique category. It might render similar services as multithousand-rand room luxury getaways, but there’s an authenticity to the personal touches here. The hotel’s workforce is small and family-like, and right from my first encounter with Willard I feel part of it.
Still, the building’s deceptively large and you’d never guess by the cozy lobby how much is crammed inside. Two entire floors are rented to separate businesses and another comprises a business centre and five conference rooms capable of hosting up to 120 people. On the fourth floor, you’ll find the aptly named Level Four restaurant, a grassy outdoor terrace leading to a city-view pool and South Africa’s only dedicated champagne bar (it’s like any normal bar but stocked with an unusual amount of Veuve Clicquot).
Level Four caters to walk-in diners for breakfast, lunch and dinner but be warned – any eatery boasting an executive chef comes with Rolls Royce pricing. A three-course dinner for two, with a decent bottle of bubbly or wine, will cost between 1 000 to 1 200 bucks. But the food is indeed as delectable as the atmosphere.
54 on Bath offers three room types starting with a Deluxe priced at R3 500. Each comes with a feather-topped bed, 42-inch LED TVs with DStv, minibar with coffee and tea facilities and free Wi-Fi connections. An Executive room for R5 750 adds a king size bed, a separate lounge area with another 42-inch TV, and a guest bathroom. Top Luxury suites priced at R7 500 get slightly bigger main bathrooms and balconies overlooking Joburg’s skyline.
All rooms are styled in the same calming “urban chic” palette, and a neat touch is that almost all ornamentation is for sale. Ladies, by the way, get a complimentary teddy bear to keep them company when staying alone.
A true boutique hotel is nothing without its afternoon tea, and 54 on Bath takes the tradition seriously. On any given day patrons meet for the occasion, which is either held on the terrace or in the foyer for a dainty spread of scones, biscuits, cakes and various quality teas. The menu ranges from a simple tea and cake for R65 to a tea and light lunch for R195 or a champagne luncheon for R265.
Positioned on a leafy side street adjacent to the Rosebank Mall (a foot bridge links the second floor to the shops), it’s obvious 54 on Bath’s main clientele will be conducting business. Sandton’s conveniently shuttle distance away, and the hotel offers the service in a fleet of silver Audis as immaculately prepared as the accommodation itself.
On departure, I let Willard in on the secret that I work for a newspaper and I’m reviewing the hotel and the Rolls Royce simultaneously. I fear he may be disappointed in having gone the extra mile for a pleb, but just as I reach into my pocket for a tip, he shuffles off to help guests arriving in a beat-up Toyota Camry. He greets them with a bow and insists on carrying their luggage up to reception himself.
l Call 54 on Bath at 011 344 8403, 011 344 8500 or visit www.tsogosunhotels.com/deluxe/54-on-bath for more information.
Saturday Star