Melville House — Hotel in Gauteng

It's a lovely little place and you get what you pay for. It could use a lick of paint in a room or two, and doesn't have the elegance of a typical Joburg bnb, but it does have a distinctly artsy, quirky Melville feel to it. Think non-conformist, down-to-earth, okay with weed, type of crowd.

Staff are lovely.

Melville is built so that it is convenient for those without cars. You won't find it's equal in Joburg, in that regard.

To the WEST of Melville House, Spar is a 5 min walk away, including Del Fournos Pizza, Steers, Crazy store and a hardware store. Charlies is the best smoke shop ever. There's a laundromat and Library too. ATMs : Capitec, ABSA & FnB. You could go to TOPs, but check out the liquor store on the way there owned by the Chinese couple to save a cent or two.

Beyers Naude opens you up to busses and taxis to Cresta Mall, The Joburg Botanical Gardens and Emmarentia Dam, and the charming Linden. (Reya Vaya C4 bus - we'll talk about it later). Northcliff point, is the highest point in Joburg, too.

On Beyers (called Main and University in different parts of town) You also have Meldene Medical centre, a chemist and a lovely butchery.

To the SOUTH of Melville house, a 10 minute walk you have MacDonalds, KFC and Campus Square including: Banks: ABSA, FNB, Capitec and Std bank. Chemists: Dischem and Clicks Pep: Home and gewone Mr Price: Home and gewone Pnp: clothing, liquor and gewone. Optomotrists Doctors and dentist offices The only downside to Campus Square is the mildly annoying droves of college kids.

To EAST is the iconic 7th st which inspired the sitcom 7de Laan. Every kind of restaurant and bar you can think of, not 10 mins away from you. Please delight in our amazing pressed ceilings and New Orleans-esque archetecture. Lot's of little cafe's to choose from. My opinion: Friendliest service: Sixes Yummiest food: Anti social Best overall bar: Smoking Kills (best prices) Best pizza: Xai Xai Best Gatsbys: Oriental Bazaar. Best coffee/brekkie: Tilt

Must see: You can visit Junkies or Bounty Hunters charity shop for cats.

Bookdealers of Rosebank

Moniques Angel Imporium (chrystals and insense etc)

The Bead shop

Family Friendly: De La Creme and Bambanani. Bambanani is delightful for kids. Sand art, activities etc

Melville Koppies East is open every day, free of charge.

Koppies West and Central need booking. Sundays only - see their website, I forget the details. Koppies is inexpensive.

Concerning the Rea Vaya bus:

The Rea Vaya bus is GREAT... when and if you can find them online 🙄. If you are lucky enough to get a Rea Vaya card it is only R35 and it should cost you between R9.00 and R15 to open a whole new world to yourself:

44 Stanley which you MUST visit. Check out the Bioscope Independent Cinema and try obscure South African Craft Wine. Seriously, uber there.

Constitutional Court and Braamfontein (please go to Braam with a local).

Many other places in Joburg, if you know how to use the bus. Again, I recommend going with a local.

Rosbank is a cheap uber away (cheaper to uber from Melville for 2 people, instead of taking taxis or Rea Vaya/Gautrain combo.

I suggest Rosebank as it has both Cinema Nuveau and gewone Ster Kinekor. If you pref Nu Metro, and you'd prefer not to be surrounded by teens, you can also take an Uber or Gautrain shuttle to Hyde Park. Pricey, but VIP movies and sundowners at the Southern Sun or a visit to the elegant Exclusive Books restaurant may be worth it to you.

Gautrain opens you up to SO much of Gauteng, in a quick, traffic free, comparatively safe way. Get it at Park station via Rea vaya or, if you 're clever, simply Uber to Rosebank station until you are Joburg Savvy enough to handle it.

Us Melville crowd are a motley crew. Actors, uni professsors, artists, rich, poor, gay, straight, triangular, orange, purple and blue. Our hood is many things, but never boring. Our beggars are a bit persistent and there is a bit of a drug...

What a disappointment, pictures on Booking.com are misleading and fake!

A few things that I experienced whilst at Melville House:

The day before I left, receptionist was telling me how scared she was of a guest who arrived with 3 firearms.... this discussion lead to her telling me that there is no need for safety (no safety security boxes for firearms on the property). I asked her if they (Melville House) allowed firearms on the property and she confirmed. This is when I asked about guest safety to which I was reminded that I signed an indemnity form and that's why Melville House allowed firearms, because they will not be found liable....

There are 20 beds in 2 dorm rooms with 2 working showers and 2 toilets.... when I sat on the toilets, my knees touched the wall .... and I'm only 1.58m tall!

There's NO hygiene consideration throughout the property - NO SANITIZERS OR EVEN SOAP IN THE SHOWERS OR BASINS.

When I asked when the showers will be cleaned, I was told that the common areas are to be cleaned by guests and that they do not employ cleaning staff due to the fact "WE ARE A BACKPACKERS AND NO BACKPACKERS EVER EMPLOY CLEANING STAFF FOR COMMON AREAS"... WOW

TOTAL lack of health, safety or hospitality service! You can't complain if none of the above are existing!

I will NOT recommend this property to anyone!!

Ps. I won't even repeat what I was told by staff when I noticed that the fire extinguishers where ALL outdated. ONE of the 2 extinguishers was last serviced in 2011...

Hygiene standards are shockingly low.

Other groups using shared spaces included a group of school kids, university students and other loud and annoying people who will not be controlled/policed effectively

My main issue is being woken up early each morning to move my car because other guests have to leave. They have no space/availability/system to book out spots to ensure guests don’t have to do this.

I booked out the most expensive room they had available only to be woken up at the crack of dawn to move my car once again, no respect given to the guest.

The lack of empathy, compassion and general etiquette from the staff towards guests who question the integrity of the venue is uncanny.

The cleaner is rude and bad at cleaning. As other reviews have stated she doesn’t deserve this job.

A clear lack of effective management and enforcement of standards all round.

Despite nice/friendly reception staff I would not recommend anyone stay here unless it’s your...