A touch of class at Cullinan Restaurant

Tsogo Sun might not be the first place you look for a luxury hotel experience, but the company is obviously trying to diversify its offering, most notably, you could argue, at 54 on Bath in Rosebank, Joburg. This is a truly classy hotel with an excellent restaurant and Champagne bar, as well as a rooftop terrace with great views over the city. In Cape Town, a collection of hotels exist around the convention centre that increasingly compete in the quality of their suites.

As anybody who tries to do business at a big conference will know, the real business gets done in places like this. The Cullinan is perfectly placed for the convention centre and is a short walk away from the foodie offerings of Bree Street. The suites are large and well-appointed, with plenty of seating for six or more guests around a table or around a more casual seating area. The lounge area is perfectly set up for a day of meetings and hard work.

Room service was prompt and a request for a time-specific turndown was handled seam-lessly. Wanted has stayed at some extraordinary properties that have been let down by levels of training among staff. The Cullinan might not be the poshest hotel but the staff are some of the best I’ve encountered; truly keen to help, unobtrusive and smartly turned out. GM Garry Reed clearly knows his game. A final surprise was the hotel’s restaurant, Stella.

Staffed by cheerful and knowledgeable people, it serves up tapas dishes with Asian-inspired flavours. The Angry Duck was magnificent and the Stuffed Calamari and Chilli Pot Stickers had my companion waxing lyrical. The confit pork belly was worth the trip alone. Add an eclectic and fun mixture of seasonal cocktails and the sheltered pool-area atrium and what you have is a genuinely fun post-work drinks location or informal dinner spot for locals and visitors alike. tsogosun.com