The Historic Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton

Nov 06, 2025 0

Discover updated Sandown accommodation at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton. This Sandton based hotel's amenities offer an inviting reprieve in the heart of the business hub and a unique heritage experience. The Protea Hotel by Marriott® Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton is ideally situated in the business district and financial hub of Sandton. This premium 4-star establishment is within easy, central reach of all business and entertainment centres.

In the midst of bustling Sandton, you'll stay in the Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton-an oasis of country-style architecture that offers a refreshing departure from the surrounding modern high rises. Situated amid the renowned Sandton and escaping the conventional modern high rises, this country style hotel offers a heritage experience.

A Tranquil Oasis with a Rich History

February 2016: The Protea Hotel Balalaika, in the heart of Sandton, has reinvented itself many times since starting out life as a countryside tea room during the 1940s - in the period before Sandton even existed. Turn back the clock a century, and for travellers on that road in need of refreshment, they would likely pull in at the first - and then the only - building in the area: the Good Hope Tea Room, an outspan for wagon drivers run by former British army officer Gerard Le Grand. Over the years the hotel has transformed itself from an upmarket dining and dance restaurant, to the tranquil accommodation oasis it is today.

Prime Location

500m away from the World Renowned Sandton Shopping Center and at the foot of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange this hotel is within walking distance of anywhere that is any place to be seen. This heritage hotel is centrally located, placing you steps away from The MARC and just a short stroll from the city's Nelson Mandela Square. With a choice of gardens and pools for relaxation and all of Sandton right on the doorstep, it’s an ideal option for holidaymakers.

Distances:

Nearest airport: 33 km
Nearest station: 13 km
City center: 17 km
Airport: 21 mi
Central Station: 8.1 mi
Sandton Convention Cen: 0.03 mi
Johannesburg City center: 11 mi

Directions:

Take R24 to JNB. Go for approx 10KM then take the N3 turnoff to PTA. Take the MARLBORO DRIVE off ramp turn left at traffic lights. Carry on along MARLBORO DRIVE until you get to a T-Junction then turn left into KATHERINE ST. Go along KATHERINE to 3rd set of robots. Turn right into GRAYSTON DR. Go along GRAYSTON until you get to intersection of GRAYSTON DR AND RIVONIA RD.Turn left into RIVONIA RD.

Hotel Amenities and Features

Escape to our gardens with sparkling swimming pools. Enjoy our new gym to maintain your daily exercise regime. Our 8 conference and meeting rooms can accommodation up to 300 guests. Close proximity to all major attractions with complimentary shuttles. It is a popular conference and function venue with well-equipped conference facilities for everything from an intimate boardroom meeting for 2 -16 delegates up to a conference of up to 300 attendees.

Check-in: 02:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Swimming pool
Hotel bar
WiFi
Lift

A Blend of Modernity and Heritage

While the bones of the property are vintage, recent upgrades have brought the decor into the 21st century, with a contemporary look and feel throughout the guest rooms. The hotel's bedrooms blend modern comfort and trendy design with a timeless charm. You'll find the rooms air-conditioned, complete with LCD televisions and WiFi access. Think extra-length beds, smart televisions, and complimentary Wi-Fi as standard.

Gastronomic Delights

The Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton is a true gastronomic delight. The Conservatory Restaurant tastefully blends with the overlooking garden and terrace. The Conservatory Restaurant overlooks the garden and terrace, while the Bull Run Restaurant invites you into an old-school New York-style steak house, serving quality prime South African beef cuts aged in-house.

Read also: Habitat of Protea Livingstone

Adjoining the historic Protea Hotel by Marriott® Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton, with a larger-than-life sculpted bronze bull outside, and a masculine, moneyed theme expressing this established eatery’s long history in the financial district, the Bull Run is effortlessly, yet affordably sumptuous. The Bull Run Restaurant welcomes you to an Old School New York Style Steak House, serving quality prime South African Beef Cuts aged inhouse. Showcasing a 10-seater Private Dining and the Romantic Cellar Experience.

Enjoy a tapas menu at the Destination Lounge, grab a quick coffee or deli treat at Coffee on Twenty, or immerse yourself in the history of Lords Bar-the first bar in Sandton. Destination Lounge offers a space for VIPs to enjoy a Tapas Menu. Coffee on Twenty creates a landscape for a coffee or deli treats on the go. Lords Bar showcases key history facts that went down in the first bar in Sandon. The Lord’s Bar is a vintage delight with deep-buttoned couches and wood panelling, plus a good selection of beers on tap. Likewise, the Destination Lounge, an anodyne name for a space rich in history and character.

Embracing Modernity Without Losing Soul

And while the Balalaika doesn’t boast the design cachet of newer hotels in the area, there’s something endearing about a hotel that hasn’t succumbed to every trend in the book. In a city that constantly reinvents itself, the Balalaika is a rare find: a heritage hotel that has embraced modernity without losing its soul. The Balalaika may be situated in the heart of Africa’s financial capital, but it offers something far rarer in the modern cityscape: character, history, and a calm retreat that doesn’t try too hard.

Danny Bryer, Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management for Protea Hotels, a proud member of Marriott International, the leading global hotel group, is pleased with the outcome of the renovations, commenting, “The hotel owners investment of R30 million into improving this iconic establishment is bound to produce great returns.