stay at the fire & ice in melrose arch
I loved my stay at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott® Johannesburg Melrose Arch. Quite a mouthful but also quite a chic hotel. Located in the middle of the über trendy Melrose Arch Precinct it really is my perfect location when I’m visiting Johannesburg. It’s super central for me and near to everywhere I want to go in the city. The decor is dripping in 1950’s Hollywood bling, with sparkling chandeliers, silver leather couches and very tall high-back chairs. It’s quirky and vibrant just like all the other Fire & Ice hotels in the group.
My room was luxurious with a very comfortable bed shrouded in white cotton. Black out curtains, blinds and light curtain layers mean you can temper the amount of daylight you want in your room. This is a very big plus for me. Windows open up to let in fresh air if you want and aircon adjusts the temperature accordingly. The shower is big with a rain shower head and coming from drought-ridden Cape Town, I made the most of this feature.
Warm and friendly staff at every turn and a hotel filled with many nooks and cranny’s in the form of bars, lounges, pause areas, outside seating and dining rooms gives it a boutiquey feel. Even when full you can find a private corner.
The hotel specializes in gourmet burgers and shakes and it was very difficult to pick and choose from the large build your own menu. These are also dangerously available in room service too. Luckily they have a gym if you feel the need to work off any indulgence.
There is a pool, high-speed wifi, a business center and a number of bars. What else do you really need? If you want to step outside the property you will find a plethora of shops, restaurants and coffee shops within a few minutes walk:
Tashas, Primi Forum Melrose Arch, Jamie’s Italian, Paul, Escondido Tapas, The Meat Co, Moyo, JB Rivers, Sally Williams Nougat Ice cream emporium & concept store, Mezepoli, Pigalle and the famous #coffeeinacone at The Grind.
I stayed at the group’s sister hotel Melrose Arch a few years ago and LOVED that too, so both these hotels come highly recommended by me. You will also find a recipe to their eggs Benedict if you click that link.
These are a few more of my pics.
*Disclaimer – I stayed as a gues to the hotel for two nights
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