As I mentioned in my previous Bridesmaids Proposal Ideas Post, the girls and I had the most amazing time at The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa last month. The Ivy is owned by the Capital Hotel Group and I’m very familiar with it, and have stayed at a number of their hotels before. Usually I would stay there for work- the Capital Pearls in Umhlanga is in ideal proximity to Gateway, the Capital 20 West is right in the heart of Sandton so it’s perfect for business, and something like The Capital Rosebank is great for a bit of both work and play(as its close to Sandton but also close to a fabulous restaurant strip in Rosebank). I always saw the Capital as a “fuss-free” hotel, where you have all of the essentials you need for a lovely stay, and that’s enough. However, The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa is the crowning jewel of the Capital group, where you get all of the necessities, and all of the frills on top of it! Here are 7 reasons as to why you should choose The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa for your next special occasion (and why I choose it as well!).
Location, Location, Location!
What I love about The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa is its amazing location, which makes it the perfect venue destination. Located in the heart of Sandton, The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa is a combination of best of both worlds with incredible proximity to the Sandton CBD while still managing to maintain a serene and calm feel inside the property. The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa also provides shuttles every 2 hours to Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton Gautrain Station, which is of course super handy. You can party it up for your bachelorette in Sandton, and then escape to The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa afterwards to wind down. Ideal location to feel like you are running away from the concrete jungle, but still close enough to it in-case you need to visit Sandton for work or play.
The Staff
For me always, what makes or breaks the hotel is the staff, and The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa has one of the best teams that I have ever experienced. From the moment that you arrive on the property, you are greeted by name, as the staff at The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spatake special care in knowing who their guests are, and when they are arriving. You are treated like royalty, and I don’t just mean only if you are a part of the media, because Steve and I have been to Reuben’s which is located on the property before, and we experienced the same level of warmness towards us from the staff. They really make sure that you are very well looked after in your stay, and that all your needs are covered. When it comes to planning a special occasion, the team is also on hand to assist you with any planning and set-ups. I met with them a month before my Bridesmaid party and they took special care to help me plan it- not every hotel is like that, I tell you! The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa staff is what stood out the most for me during our stay, and the main reason I would hurry back there any day.
The Rooms
One thing that I’ve always enjoyed about The Capital in general, is that all of their rooms are equipped with a kitchenette, but tThe Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa rooms are even more awesome. We stayed in the executive suites(there are 20 of them on the property), and the 46sqm rooms all have their own lounge, en-suite bathrooms and a beautiful little patio that opens up on the view of the gardens. The property also has Luxury rooms (24 of them), and 9 2-bedroom apartments for the ultimate stay-cation! The property is surrounded in lush gardens and a pond, so it’s a real beautiful setting that you get from any room that you stay in.
The Puppies!
To be fair, they probably aren’t puppies anymore but full grown dogs, but Gigi and Duke are the resident dogs at The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa, and they are absolutely precious! As a huge animal lover, nothing makes me happier than indulging in some pet love on a Saturday afternoon. Gigi and Duke are Harlequin Great Danes, and although they are rather large in size, they are extremely gentle. I caught them here after their daily walk (and just before their 50th nap of the day) for some cuddles and love. Why wouldn’t you want to stay at a hotel that has dogs in it!?
Reuben’s Restaurant
Reuben’s Restaurant is a real treat, and since this is the only one in Joburg, you better make a plan to make your way down there! Reuben’s is down to earth with a sophisticated culinary style that celebrates food in its entirety. The menu has a worldly theme with strong Asian and Cape Malay influences that showcases the modern, eclectic and contemporary restaurant, whilst being true to its South African roots. The first restaurant was founded in 2004 by Chef Reuben Riffel in Franschhoek, where its current headquarters and flagship restaurant still serves his fine food.
The food at Reuben’s is simply divine, and Steve and I actually just went back there last weekend for a little date night treat! The menu changes up every season, which keeps things exciting and fresh. I’ve had the winter menu twice now, and can highly recommend the pear, blue cheese and walnuts salad for starters- delicious! My favorite main has been the pasta, with the addition of spicy meatballs on it, but Steve had the fillet steak last week and said that it was the best fillet he’s ever had.
For dessert I recommend the poached pear with beer ice-cream (sounds strange but works so well together) or Reuben’s Malva pudding which comes with milk tart custard and Amarula ice-cream. Reuben’s is an experience of its own and makes not only for a special meal, but I would recommend using it as a setting for your next big celebration. There is a private room at the restaurant downstairs where you can host a birthday party, and there is an awesome cigar lounge upstairs. We just had a date night there on Saturday and from the atmosphere, to the food, down to the service, it was delightful.
Camelot Spa
I love a good spa as much as the next person, but this was actually my first time visiting a Camelot Spa, and I was not disappointed! Currently the Camelot group has 18 spas around the country, and they are well known for divine treatments and beautiful surroundings. Their treatments aim to bring life back into balance, heighten the senses and inspire guests to fully appreciate body wellness and mindfulness.
We visited the spa for a 30 minute back, neck and shoulders massage and it was lovely. Besides massages, the Camelot Spa also offers different kinds of Skin Therapy (not just regular facials) such as their Silicium Super Lift Facial, MCeutic Renovation Radicale Treatment and their Anti-Wrinkle Hyaluronic Eye Treatment. The Spa offers manicures and pedicures, waxing as well as Eyelash and Brow tinting. It’s your one-stop shop to relax as well as treat yourself. Their staff was extremely professional and I really enjoyed my treatment there and can’t wait to go back soon.
All Of The Little Extras
The attention to detail is really what sold me on The Ivy Boutique Hotel And Spa. From the amazing staff who know your name, to the little room drops that they do for you at night, the fluffy robes that are waiting for you in your room, to the giant unicorn floatie by the pool, it’s easy to see why I picked this hotel for my Bridesmaid celebration! Also, if you are looking to do business, they also provide some great conference facilities (which include lunch at Reuben’s- winning!) that my company used just last week and were extremely happy with. I hope that you got a glimpse as to why we enjoyed our stay so much, and are now tempted to book a little stay-cation of your own! You can visit their website over here to make your booking.
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