The Meikles Hotel, a grand old lady of Harare's hotel scene, celebrated its centenary in 2015 and continues to thrive. With its central location, refurbished rooms, and wide array of amenities, the Meikles is arguably the best large hotel in the city. For the last 30 years or so, the Meikles Hotel has set the standard amongst the larger hotels in Harare - and it continues to do so.
On November 15th, Meikles Hotel marked its 102nd anniversary. The hotel was founded by Thomas Meikle, who envisioned establishing a hotel on the influential site overlooking Cecil Square (now Africa Unity Square) in the heart of Salisbury, then Rhodesia's capital city.
Harare's skyline, where Meikles Hotel has been a landmark for over a century.
A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
Despite its 100 years plus history, the hotel has managed to keep up to date and still offers a high-quality, international-style stay. The five-star hotel has long been a landmark for locals and travellers to Zimbabwe. The blend of the old and the new is clear throughout, from the sculptured lions that guard the entrance to the well-equipped gym where you can work off the excesses of dinner. Despite this, the overall feel is one of traditional elegance.
Time moves on, and the hotel’s dining options are now more varied - and generally less formal - yet the very fabric of the building feels steeped in colonial style. By all means get a feel for the urban buzz on the streets of Harare, but then retire to this city oasis - perhaps to the rooftop pool, or for pre-dinner drinks at the Can-Can Cocktail Bar. Exclusive to hotel guests, it is seemingly the place to be seen.
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Meikles hotel holds the honour of being the first Zimbabwean hotel to attain the coveted 5-star rating, a feat it achieved in August 1983. Hotel grading was introduced in Zimbabwe in 1968, and the first results were announced in 1969. At the time, no local hotels received 4-stars; however, the Ambassador Hotel, Jameson Hotel and Park Lane Hotel (now the GMB Headquarters) received 3 stars each.
Meikles Hotel Rebranding into Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles
The Rooms: Comfort and Style
The Meikles’ 312 rooms are split across two multi-storey wings: the North and the South. Though still traditional in feel, they have in recent years adopted a rather modern design alongside touches of colonial décor, especially in the entirely renovated North Wing. The rooms differ in style depending on the wing, but common to both are the Park Suites, all with great views of Africa Unity Square Park and combining luxurious comfort with personalised service.
Each suite features a bedroom with private lounge and a bathroom including shower and bath. Guests in the suites benefit from a butler service, with tea/coffee delivered each morning, as well as a trouser press, and an express laundry service. Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the hotel and all rooms in both wings are air conditioned.
We tend to recommend the more modern rooms in the North Wing, especially the Club Rooms, which feature colorful hand-painted fabrics in the colors of the Zimbabwe flag. In this wing, the rooms and suites are divided into six types:
- Deluxe Rooms: Available with twin or double beds, all have a bathroom equipped with either a bath or a shower, or both. A minibar, safe, telephone, air conditioning, satellite TV and a hairdryer come as standard.
- Deluxe Park View Rooms: Offer the same facilities as the Deluxe Rooms, but they overlook the historical Africa Unity Square Park.
- Club Rooms: Offer a very personalized service to travelers, with access to the Club Lounge. This has its own kitchen, a library, a satellite TV, tea/coffee-making facilities and a bar service. The Club manager and staff are on hand to help you with any requests.
- Club Park View Rooms: Offer the same services and facilities as the Club Rooms, but overlook the park.
- Imperial Suite: Offers two separate en-suite bedrooms, three balconies with great views, a spacious lounge and a dining room. Guests also benefit from all same services as the Club Suites.
- Presidential Suite: Includes a sitting room, TV viewing area, dining area, private balconies, boardroom, kitchenette with supplied chef, and a main bedroom with spacious en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. A second bedroom with its own shower room and lounge is suitable for security or administrative staff.
Rooms in the South Wing are modern and comfortable but with a colonial ambiance from mahogany furnishings and muted earth colors:
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- Standard Rooms: Include either twin or double beds, a bathroom with bath/shower combination and tea/coffee-making facilities. Some rooms have interleading doors, making them suitable for family groups.
- Standard Park View Rooms: Include the same facilities and services as the Standard Rooms, but overlook Africa Unity Square Park.
- Honeymoon Suites: Feature a four-poster bed. Guests are presented with flowers, fruit and snack platters on arrival.
- Royal Suite: Stylish and modern with two separate entrances, two en-suite bedrooms, a walk-in closet, a spacious lounge and a dining room.
Dining and Facilities
At the hub of the hotel is a large main area that incorporates a tea lounge, a restaurant, two bars, a gym, a swimming pool, a shop and a business center. Dining at Meikles starts at La Fontaine Restaurant, which has been the hotel's main restaurant since 1958. While it has been refurbished and updated over the years, it remains traditional in style, with an extensive, upmarket grill-house menu. The adjoining Can-Can Cocktail Bar, which is open to hotel and restaurant guests only, is a good spot for a pre- or after-dinner drink. Its offerings include a wide range of whiskies, including a 20-year-old Benriach and an 18-year-old Jameson Special Reserve.
There is also the more casual Explorer's Club, kitted out in colonial style, where you can get pub lunches, daily specials and an array of light meals. For afternoon tea, look no further than the Tanganda Tea Lounge, where fresh pastries, bagels and scones jostle for attention among a selection of teas and coffees, but strictly no alcohol. Finally there’s the Pavilion Bistro. The most recent addition to the hotel’s dining scene, it’s located on the first floor with views of the hotel’s rooftop garden and on to African Unity Square Park. The alfresco terrace where guests can enjoy buffet breakfast and dinner complements an indoor dining area.
Meikles Hotel has a well-equipped gym with a range of modern equipment. After a hard workout you can cool off in the swimming pool on the 14th floor (roof) of the South Wing, which is reserved exclusively for hotel guests, or relax in privacy on the deck - perhaps with a cocktail. Retail therapy comes in the form of a smart shop. Here you'll find a range of gifts, including fine silver pieces by Zimbabwe's renowned artisan Patrick Mavros, alongside more everyday items such as books, newspapers, magazines and toiletries.
The presence of a 24-hour business centre reveals the strong business-hotel credentials of the Meikles.
A Brief History
In 1915 a charming hotel opened its doors in an elegant colonial building at the centre of the thriving city that is now Harare. The visionary who built and developed this hotel was businessman Thomas Meikle, whose name the hotel still proudly bears. The original Meikles, with its spacious, open verandahs, courteous service, value-for-money menus and comfortable accommodation, became synonymous with quality and friendship.
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Since its establishment, the hotel has undergone several renovations to give it its currently look today. For instance, in 1956 the construction of a new East Wing, over the old hotel’s garden, as an addition to the existing hotel was begun and completed two years later in 1958 just in time to accommodate a French rugby team on a visit to the country. The new wing had seven stories with 120 bedrooms. In 1976 at the height of the war of liberation which dented the national psyche and weighed negatively on the economy, it was announced that construction of the new south wing would be deferred.
An enduring and much-loved feature of the history of Meikles is the legendary pair of lions now gazing out over Africa Unity Square from the north wing. The two lions were created in 1912 by Italian sculptor Euletto Jotto and for many decades were on the hotel cupola overlooking Second Street. Legend had it that the lions roared every time a virgin walked by....
The history of Meikles is tightly woven into the history of Zimbabwe as the hotel has consistently found itself at the heart of the political drama that has shaped this country, since the arrival in 1890 of the first European settlers.
Recent Developments
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, marking the first Hyatt hotel in Zimbabwe. The five-star property aims to offer an unmatched guest experience, combining elements of Zimbabwean hospitality with the Hyatt Regency brand’s signature excellence.
Meikles Hotel: A Legacy of Excellence
Meikles Hotel stands as a testament to Harare's rich history and enduring elegance. From its colonial-era beginnings to its modern-day status as a five-star hotel, Meikles continues to offer a unique and unforgettable experience for travelers from around the world.
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