AshDown House

I stayed in Ashdown House more than 20 times over last 10 years & rate is very highly. Each time I stayed the personal touch by the Ashdown team makes me feel at home. Its just a fabulous guesthouse with ideal location for my meetings in Jo'burg & safety is guaranteed which is important in SA.

I often feel when staying in Johannesburg that there is a distinct lack of quality boutique hotels, it may be that they are there but kept secret by their ardent supporters!! Ashdown House is a very cute, quaint boutique guest house, views of the garden from my bedroom were a welcome site rather than a suburban jungle view. Mamma Margaret as she should be called, was very hospitable and welcoming without being overly fussy. Mamma Margaret was of great help when I arrived and then promptly left for a function, dispensing with only the necessary details was a great help. The room was large, well appointed with delightful touches such as ground coffee for making a tasty cup, fresh milk, fruit and if feeling reckless, sherry!! Wifi signal good and should I have wanted it, plenty of space to move around. Breakfast time was a little confusing as I turned up to find the dining room locked up, I could not find any available information in my room about the guest house and its facilities which might have assisted me, that being said on my second attempt all was well. Breakfast was a buffet style for cold eats and a help yourself service for tea, coffee etc. One useful gadget being a milk frother, instant capuccino without having to work a machine!!! My food was satisfactory, poached eggs and mushrooms presented well and was hot. I would have preferred fresh bread rather than pre sliced but hey, a small detail. What was more off putting was the TV tuned to a channel which was completely unnecessary. On departure, Mamma Margaret was attentive and helpful, seeing me off as though I was family. Ashdown House is hidden gem and I will most certainly return should I be in the area.

This place and its people will always put a smile on your face and the food will make your tummy smile too. As a world traveler of over thirty years living hotels all my life this is as close as you can come to home :) nothing more to say but please keep it up hope to see you next week. Kevin