Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Johannesburg Melrose Arch

Melrose Arch is such a good location, with shops and restaurants close by and a safe area to walk around. My room had lovely decor, and room service arrived quickly with good food. The front desk team were very nice and helpful, especially Thabang. Thanks for the hospitality and a great stay!

What stayed with me most from my three-night visit was a difficult interaction in the first-floor restaurant and common area on departure day. I was waiting there for a later flight when one staff member asked if I needed anything. I said no, politely. A woman who seemed to be a manager asked me the same thing as she passed, and I again said no. She kept looking at me in a way that made me uncomfortable, then asked, “Do you know you need to be dressed in smart casual to be here?” I said I hadn't known. She asked, “No one told you that?” and then wanted to know whether I'd stayed at the hotel. The questions felt rude and inappropriate. As a paying guest, I was unsettled to be made to feel as if I didn't belong in the hotel's common area. I'm a Marriott Bonvoy member and have stayed at many Marriott properties around the world; this was one of my worst guest interactions. There were several white guests in the same space who weren't dressed in what I'd call smart casual, but no one questioned or approached them. I'm a Black woman, and even though the staff member was also a black woman, I felt singled out and undervalued. The interaction came across as discriminatory. If this area has a dress code, it should be made clear at check-in and on the hotel's website. Nobody told me about one. If I had known beforehand, I would have taken my business elsewhere or not booked here. This overshadowed what might otherwise have been an enjoyable stay, and I left deeply disappointed by how I was treated.

I really enjoyed the oxtail stew: the meat was tender, fell off the bone, and melted in my mouth. The rest of the food was excellent too. At Restaurant at Fire & Ice, the room had a stunning mix of fine-dining style and luxury, and the staff welcomed us warmly. Service was efficient, with attentive waiters. A fulfilling visit, and I'd definitely go back.

The decor is really stylish, and the people are great. But those duvets feel made for a Scandinavian winter. Most Europeans use lighter ones in summer, and these are ridiculous. Turning the a/c all the way up, the full American approach, would be unpleasant and bad for the environment anyway, and the hotel's a/c can't handle it. What happens when Utah planners design South African hotels?