This is the first Voco property to be opened in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Known as The Bank, it stands on the corner of Tyrwhitt Avenue and Cradock Avenue, where an FNB used to be! (Funny that)
This is the first time I have heard of a bank being converted into a hospitality space. When I was taken around the property, I did enquire if the vaults were still in the building. I was informed that they had been removed. A pity as they could have made for a wonderful intimate dinner venue.
That aside, The Bank is a haven in this trendy walk-work-play suburb. The diversity of both local and international guests gives the hotel the feeling that it might be situated in any African city.
Parking has long been an issue in this suburb, but this hotel has resolved that with valet parking, making arriving and departing guests feel like celebrities.
The miracle of modern technology(WhatsApp) allows you to call for your car when you require it and it is delivered to a parking bay in the street outside the main hotel entrance within a few minutes.
Every member of staff we interacted with was professional, friendly and respectful.
Old-fashioned class in a modern environment. We would have liked to have arrived with enough luggage to fill this, but as my wife and I were only there overnight, we had two small cases between us. Not enough to bother the staff with.
Opened in May 2022, Voco The Bank signals a new way forward for the hospitality industry here in South Africa.
The hotel shares space with chic co-working offices by Workshop 17 and the acclaimed Proud Mary restaurant. (More about our experiences at the latter is an upcoming Blog post.)
If you have not realised it by the time you step into this space, you will certainly have figured that the hotel offers an immersive experience for arriving guests.
The lighting in all the public spaces is sublime and it too makes guests gasp in awe when they take the time to look up.
When every room in almost every hotel has a coffee/tea station, how do you make yours stand out?
You add a Nespresso machine and you utilize Le Creuset cups!
It was only later in the evening that I noticed the owl logo on the coasters.
In an unrelated coincidence, an owl was also featured on the card that my wife gave me as part of my birthday gift. Serendipitous? Perhaps…
The aforementioned Le Creuset mug echoes the colour on the walls and some of the soft furnishings in the room.
Cake, something wet, and balloons…What better way to celebrate a birthday or perhaps another special occasion?
Our King Grand suite was spacious and charming, with a bed so large and comfortable that neither of us wanted to get up in the morning.
Why do hotels not use King or Queen-sized beds as the norm?
Doubles are not big enough for a couple when you are in your latter years, hence we revelled in the lavish linen and optimum space that the bed provided us.
Imbewu Design is responsible for the decor in the rooms and common areas, all of which have multiple original artworks, many produced by local artists.
Look carefully and you might even come across some of the commissioned, bespoke artworks which give the hotel another USP.
The hotel is, as a result, superb. However, I missed a signature fragrance I discovered when I stayed in hotels in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But not something that is utilised here at the southern tip of Africa.
The sofa bed was comfortable to sit on and from this position, you could watch sport on the large screen smart TV or look out over the rooftops of Rosebank.
This type of furniture can often be uncomfortable, but that was not the case in this instance.
The room decor, including the furniture, soft fixtures and artwork has been chosen with a careful eye, exquisite taste and attention to detail.
Raw concrete ceilings and spectacular lighting in our room added another layer to a space that encouraged ‘me-time’ and relaxation.
A safe that can accommodate a laptop and a clothing rack that lights up!
Another unique touch that made our stay memorable.
There are also dressing gowns and slippers for the guests to utilize.
But be warned, as the TV will tell you, items can be tracked and should a gown find its way into your suitcase, the cost will reflect on your bill when you check out.
Talking of dressing gowns…If I do have a complaint it is the fact that the gowns fitted neither myself nor my wife. Too small and too tight, I am not certain what body shape was the template for these. This is not specific to this hotel, as it seemed to be more the norm than the exception.
Perhaps, on check-in, guests could be asked what sizes are required, which could be delivered to the room while the paperwork was being completed.
Just a thought and the possibility of an opportunity to stand out from other hotels.
Being in a corner suite, the floor-to-ceiling windows gave us an expansive view of the rooftops of surrounding suburbs.
The late afternoon sunlight shines through the bathroom window, lighting up the basin.
Be aware, that there are not 1 but 2 magnifying mirrors to get you up close and personal with areas of your face that you might not recognise in a macro-close-up moment.
But they can be easily ignored and are not intrusive at all.
For those who use make-up and don’t want to ruin a white facecloth, the hotel supplies these specialist ones where the removed colours are not noticeable.
It is not a loo with a view (usually reserved for accommodation at a bush lodge) but a bath with a view out over Rosebank, Sandton, and, on a clear day, possibly as far as the Magaliesberg.
The shower caught me out the first time I turned it on as the control was set on the wall under the spray.
My TOP TIP? Use the hand shower to get it to temperature and THEN change over to the shower head, which means that the water is not cold when it cascades over you.
You can thank me later!
Take a bow Antipodes…
Why? Because these bottles have labels that you can read without spectacles.
The bane of everyone who wears glasses and forgets to check bottles before stepping into a shower.
The number of times I have washed with body lotion or conditioner is too many to count.
Want to get out and about before going to bed? Then take a stroll through this mall where there is a plethora of restaurants and specialist food shops to satisfy most late-night diners.
That is if you have not dined at Proud Mary, in which case more food would be superfluous.
The hotel at night.
It reminded me of a building that would not be out of place in Gotham City.
These human statue artists are arguably one of the reasons patrons enjoy wandering through the Rosebank Mall. From early morning to late at night this troupe of 5 can remain static until money is dropped into their collection tin.
Then they get to change poses in their silver spray-painted costumes. When children put money in the tins they were encouraged to sit on the chair while the statues interacted with them. Then it was hugs and fist-bumps before the guys juddered to a halt again.
From our room window before we headed off to bed.
Goodnight and sweet dreams.
Breakfast at Proud Mary awaits.
The name voco is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to invite’ or ‘to come together’.
To find out what the hotel offers, click on their logo.
Travel is the proud winner of this prestigious award from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife. The award is in the category Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa
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