Ten Bompas Hotel and Restaurant

Overall impression Ten Bompas, a remarkable boutique hotel near Sandton, is now one of our favorite small hotels. When we first heard about it, we were hesitant. We had planned to stay at one of Johannesburg’s larger and more opulent properties, which offered all the usual bells and whistles. The more we learned about Ten Bompas, the more we wanted to stay there. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcome by the hotel staff. Conveniently situated in an attractive Johannesburg neighborhood, it offered a wonderful haven of quiet African elegance with accommodating service, delicious food, a selection of fine wines and a guest-centered emphasis on comfort.

After a couple of weeks in the bush, a much delayed flight and airport delays, we could hardly wait to arrive at our warm and cozy Ten Bompas rooms. In spite of a late arrival, our rooms were waiting. A home-style meal at Sides Restaurant brought us back to life. We liked it so much, we wish there were Ten Bompas hotels in other cities.

Class Of Accommodation Superior luxury

General Manager Andrew Paterson

Handicapped Access Suite 2

Length Of Stay In total we have spent five nights on separate occasions at Ten Bompas. During our last visit we were there for one night

Location It is situated in Dunkeld West, one of the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg, a residential suburb close to the business and shopping centers of Hyde Park, Sandton, Rosebank, Parktown and Randburg. It is 30 kilometers from O.R. Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International Airport).

Owned Peter Aucamp and Christoff van Staden

Size The one acre property was home to 10 luxury suites and employed 35 staff members.

Year Opened-Renovated The property opened in 1997. The most recent major renovation took place in 2003. Ongoing maintenance was carried on regularly.

Lobby And Common Areas Ten Bompas was the former family home of one of the owners who converted it into a small deluxe hotel. It featured modern décor with African artifact accents from Amatuli Fine Arts, a Johannesburg purveyor of African art. The bottom half of the bar had the words for one of the South African national anthems sketched on a glass overlay.

Bathroom There were two bathrooms in each of our suites. More accurately, there was a half bathroom with a water closet and sink conveniently situated for guests near the suite entrance. An en suite full bathroom included a bathtub, water closet, a separate steam shower and twin sinks.

Suites The suites were elegant and comfortable with a homey feel. Since our first visit to Ten Bompas, we have stayed at several suites. Most recently we stayed in Suite Six. Without exception, our suites were spacious and professionally designed with attention to detail. Each suite had a different design ranging from colonial to contemporary with colors ranging from powerful red to tan, blue and African hues. The ones we stayed in had an anteroom or lounge with a love seat, three chairs, coffee and side tables, a mini bar, a dual lounge/bedroom fireplace, remote controlled TV, small sound system, and fax machine. A doorless space connected the lounge and large bedroom, the centerpiece of which was a king size bed with a night table and lamp on each side.

An electronic safe was inside the wall to wall closet. In the middle of the closet, there was a small vanity area with a stool and mirror. The ground level suites connected to a pretty garden area through sliding glass doors in the bedroom and lounge. The upper level suites connected to balconies.

The decor in Suite Six was designed to embody a crossover between modern western and ethnic African society in an effort to mirror the new South Africa. Contemporary decor was juxtaposed with traditional artwork in the colors of the African bushveld.

Furnishings and floors, sourced locally from natural materials, wore neutral colors of wood, stone and grass and were peppered with sunset orange; while ragged walls were included to add vibrancy and warmth to the south facing area.

Food And Restaurant A la carte meals were available at Sides Restaurant and via room service. What a pleasant surprise to find a small property serving refined “home cooked” style meals. Breakfast was made to order. It included a light yogurt sorbet, freshly made juices and breads; and that was before the individual orders arrived.

During dinner we sampled two appetizers: green salad with crispy onion rings and aubergine cannelloni with rocket and parmesan. For mains we had grilled chicken breast with wild mushroom salad, Parma ham and polenta croutons, and beef fillet with pumpkin and basil pesto. For dessert we sampled the warm orange cake with vanilla ice cream and chai syrup. Everything was delicious and attractively presented.

Behind the dining room there was a free standing wine cellar with 3,500 bottles of choice wines from South Africa and Europe.

Amenities We enjoyed the suite’s L’Occitaine toiletries including shower gel, shower cap, nail file and cuticle stick, shampoo, and hand lotion. There was also a small plate of fresh fruit, a jar of chocolates and a well stocked complimentary mini bar. There were two bathrobes and two pairs of slippers for use during our stay. We found a welcome half bottle of South African bubbly and two yummy bite size appetizers on our arrival.

Facilities There was a computer room with an Internet connection, guest lounge; Sides restaurant; wine cellar; bar, conference room and small pool.

Pool Yes, there was a narrow outdoor swimming pool 15 meters in length and 1.5 meters deep.

Conference Facilities One meeting room for a maximum of 12

Other An exercise bicycle was available at guests request. Hotel guests were also able to work out at a nearby gymnasium. At our request, the hotel staff organized airport transfers for flights, allowing us to pay for the service at checkout. This was particularly convenient because we were two hours late exiting the international arrivals hall and didn’t have rand in cash on arrival.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Last Visit May 2008

ReviewersArticle by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Service From the waiters to the managers, the staff members we met were friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Rooms were serviced multiple times during the day. Memorable touches included a welcome half a bottle of chilled South African sparkling wine in an ice bucket and delicious pre-appetizers.

Would You Stay Again? Yes