Protea Hotel by Marriott Bloemfontein Willow Lake

We chose this place after taking our time deciding where to eat, so it was a real let-down. We only came for a meal and left very disappointed. The food was below standard: the bolognese was watery, small, and seemed to lack care, while my steak was so tough that swallowing it was difficult. I had asked very clearly for just steak and salad, with no sauce or sides, because I'm on a strict meal plan. The extras still arrived. I mistook the pepper sauce for salad dressing and poured it over my salad, which was billed separately. I also ended up tasting food I was supposed to avoid, which spiked my blood sugar and derailed the evening, including an unplanned dessert. We packed the unwanted sides to give to a homeless person on the way home, which I was happy to do. Service was slow, and we spent a lot of time waiting for our waiter. On the second round, my mom's drink wasn't the Bells she ordered. It was noticeably darker, had cucumber she didn't want, and she left it untouched. We felt awkward raising our concerns because it seemed we weren't being understood or treated as a priority, possibly because we weren't hotel guests. In the moment, leaving disappointed felt easier than pushing the issue. This is meant as constructive feedback: food preparation, getting orders right, and attentiveness all need work for walk-in diners too.

The location is fantastic, and the rooms felt clean, warm, and homely. Staff were courteous, honest, and pleasant, and the service was excellent. The food was yummy too.

I always enjoy coming back to Protea Willow lake. The rooms are good and the service is on point, plus I get a welcome gift with a nice note every visit. A gym would make it even better.

I always choose to stay here over the other place. The rooms are clean and spacious, the food is nice and affordable, and the service is excellent. I'd give it a 10 if I could!