Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa

As far as big city respites go, it doesn’t get much better than this former horse farm, once owned by South Africa’s diamond barons, the Oppenheimer family. Rooms are fitted with all the comforts of your (dream) home, including rain showers, underfloor heating, thick pours of sherry, and amenities from South African sustainable toiletry company Charlotte Rhys. In the leaf-decked outdoor Balinese spa, under a bamboo-shrouded pagoda, guests bounce back from their flights with jetlag recovery massages. The Terrace restaurant proffers equally restorative meals, from blueberry cured salmon to scallops in braised turnip puree.

A hotel that feels like your own private estate, manicured gardens et al.

Party-ready. The property is frequently called an “oasis,” and we like it that way.

In a faraway land, you want to feel very much at home.

You’ve awoken from lionesque slumber just in time for breakfast, and what a breakfast it is: croissant gratin with black forest ham and brie, and cointreau rolled outs in maple syrup and orange slices. You’ll save calories on your return flight.

The Terrace Restaurant - International cuisine, local produce, personalized dishes available, award-winning wine list Victoria Tea Lounge - Overlooking the romantic gardens and offering delicacies and delicious cakes Champagne Terrace - Ideal for lighter meals and oysters and champagne