News and Events
New boutique guesthouse opens in Rosebank
AS SO MANY frequent travellers spend time away from home, especially when visiting other centres on business, such guests welcome a peaceful home from home. Add a central location, scrumptious dining, fine décor, a beautiful garden to escape city stress as well as gracious service, and you would be describing Clico Guesthouse at 27 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg is recognized as the business capital of southern Africa and gateway to the country’s many other attractions, including award-winning game lodges, golf courses, the Cape Winelands and the sublime beaches of the Cape as well as KwaZulu-Natal.
Tastefully decorated in the finest silk drapes, feather soft beds, inviting sofas and hues that will soothe the senses, this former private residence has been transformed into a warm and welcoming haven to offer superior service, complete with private balconies overlooking the magical garden and pool. Guests could even enjoy private dining in the garden, ideal for small groups, including intimate wedding parties.
The fairy garden is designed to bring forest and streams into this central location to provide guests with an escape from city stress – so near yet so far – within walking distance of the Rosebank shopping and business hub, a ten-minute drive from Sandton and the Johannesburg central business district. Pristine golf and beauty treatment facilities close by.
Owner Jeanette Schwegman and chef Sean Ackermann put their heads together and realized that a fine establishment such as Clico Guesthouse would not only fulfill a need in the business and leisure travel industry but offer sanctuary to the travel-weary discerning guest in need of personal attention. The boutique guesthouse manager is the young and vibrant Adele de Waal, who offers a wealth of local as well as international experience in tourism management.
Sean’s 20+ years spent in the restaurant industry, which included learning the ropes from the bottom, such as training as a waiter at Leopold’s in Durban, working as cocktail barman at London’s Café Laziz, relief chef at The Singing Fig in Norwood and creating mouthwatering dishes for private dinner parties, resulted in the Clico brainchild being born!
Sean explains where the sparkle for creating Clico began: “Jeanette, a high-powered executive in the pharmaceutical industry, was one of my much-valued clients, who utilized my culinary creations at her private parties. When she decided to open a luxury guesthouse in a good location, there was no doubt as to whom the chef would be – me!” And the rest, as they say, is history.
Sean helped design a kitchen in which to create his French-styled cuisine, incorporating glorious reductions and utilizing mostly fish and red meats, truffle oil and organic veggies. Butternut is one of his most treasured and versatile vegetables. While delicious, his dishes are also healthy.
Cooking with alcoholic beverages to add further panache to the cuisine is a regular occurrence in the innovative kitchen – after all, Clico’s name was derived from the owner’s favourite drink: Champagne! Locally produced fine cheeses (Sean has discovered a special boutique cheese outlet in Johannesburg) also play a major role in spring and summer menus, including a variety of goats cheeses and deliciously healthy and versatile cranberries. Food and wine matching is important at this guesthouse, where guests savour the experience in elegant surroundings.
Once a month a chef’s table will be on offer at Clico, with the focus on teaming up cuisine with that of visiting wine-makers’ tipples, whilst also playing host to some of our top local chefs.
Clico could be described as a colonial, timeless and luxurious guesthouse with modern touches, creating a warm and welcoming ambience. All bedrooms, the dining room, kitchen as well as lounge offer views of the lovingly tended garden, where tranquility is further enhanced through elegant water features, one of which is on view through a large picture window on entering the front door - for that much sought-after feng shui feel - heaven after braving meetings in stuffy offices all day…
All 7 rooms are en-suite and designed to executive standards, complete with mini-bars, and 1 room is suitable for wheelchairs. Air-conditioning, under-carpet heating and heated bathrooms, telephones in the rooms, wireless internet and ADSL facilities, fax, scanning and photocopying facilities keep guests in contact with the outside world yet in a tranquil environment. Secure parking on the premises.
Rates include bed and breakfast, VAT and Tourism Levy, starting at R1,130 per person single and R1,490 per double room (2 sharing). Special rates will be on offer, depending on seasons. Call Clico Guesthouse at +27 (0)11 252 3300, fax at +27 (0)866368770, email at adele@clic-o.com and view at www.clic-o.com