We are a botique tree-top guest house in Johannesburg situated on the highest point in Melville with views across the Koppies towards Sandton. Pablo House has 8 rooms some with views, others with terraces all en-suite with rain showers, netflix TV’s and super comfy king beds. Our newly added restaurant “Pablo Dos Manos” is open for our guests - serving pizza and other delicious items cooked in our wood burning oven. They newly installed pool is also a treat to cool off on a hot day with a cold beverage which can be brought down to you. Pablo House have 24hour staff on duty to make sure you always have someone to help with whatever you need. Come stay at Pablo House and see what you think!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Languages Spoken
English
Location
3 4th Avenue Melville, Johannesburg 2092 South Africa
Pablo House
138 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
A group of friends and I stayed three nights at the Pablo House in early August 2023 prior to a safari. We occupied 4 of the 9 rooms. The Pablo House is a very special find. The location on a hill means that the rooms, restaurant, and common area have spectacular views. I was in room #4, which had two walls with windows running across both of them. The rooms and common areas are very inviting and nicely decorated. The hotel staff is incredibly welcoming, kind, and helpful. The hotel has a restaurant attached, open for all meals. The food was absolutely delicious. We ate 3 breakfasts and three dinners there. It is also frequented by locals and is a popular place with good reason. It's very convenient to have such a good restaurant in house since the hotel location is not a close walk to restaurants and cafe's although just a five-7 minute drive. The hotel also has a driver on staff who can be hired for the day, which we did. He was wonderful. Everything about the Pablo House makes it the place I will be recommending to friends when they go to Joburg.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 09 Sept 2023
Hello! and thank you so much for this awesome review, we truly appreciate it and i am so glad you had a good stay! I hope you come back and stay with us again :)
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We stayed for one night on our way from Jo'burg to safari and the room was great with amazing views across the valley, a private patio area and an electric blanket for the chillier weather.
We ate at the hotel and the food was ok. There was a regional blackout during dinner but service continued (and remained at a high standard) and added to the romantic setting with views across the valley.
The location meant we relied upon (very cheap) Ubers to get around the city.
The staff were very attentive and always wanted to help, also organising a transfer to/from the airport.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 09 Oct 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate it and hope to see you again!
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We enjoyed our quick two-night stay at Pablo House. We were recovering from jet lag and doing some sightseeing in Joburg. The staff is very warm and welcoming, our room was exceptionally comfortable with a beautiful view of the koppies, and the food at the restaurant was delicious. Cocktails were great, and I felt pampered as I spent some time hanging out at the pool when the bartender came all the way down to the pool to ensure my drink wasn't empty.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The art and location are nice. Scratch the surface though, and this place completely ignores the details. On arrival we were offered a welcome drink and asked to fill out a form. We were not given details of breakfast, check out, layout of the hotel etc and were otherwise ignored. We were then told to get up and move to the rooms as our bags were being moved. No chance to finish our drinks. We were placed in room 8 which is a huge self-contained apartment. Our bags were placed in the bathroom. There are stains on the couch. The wifi did not work from evening until the next day. The pillows on the bed were as flat as pancakes and terribly uncomfortable- my husband and I are awoke at 4am unable to sleep. There is one enormous window with no curtain for privacy. It rained heavily overnight and by morning there was a flood outside our door. They offered to organise a transfer to the airport that cost more than what I paid in Switzerland. We made a reservation for dinner at 730pm and requested a window seat, which the person at reception confirmed and booked on the computer. When we arrived at 720pm we were informed the kitchen was going to close at 730 and were not given the window seat as it had been ‘booked’ for someone else. We saw no one else arrive. It was too dark to read the menus and the lights came on as we were about to finish our meal. All in all a weird and disappointing stay for the last night of our honeymoon. I would not stay here again, I think they are going for a trendy vibe that might suit a hostel or a backpackers type traveller.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Room #01 shouldn't be rented out to paying customers:
Due to proximity to the restaurant area, the noise level in the room is unbearably high.
Other customers can look into the room through its glass door. Hence, blinds need to be closed for privacy. Then, however, the advertised view to the valley is blocked.
Advertisement for the room was misleading because there was no description of the actual situation.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 14 Jan 2023
Thank you for your review, we really appreciate the feedback. Room 1 does have the closest proximity to the dining room, but we do try ensure the restaurant area is closed off towards the end of dinner service to hep with the noise level. Thank you for the suggestion on adding to the description that the standard rooms share a communal area in front to the main door which the guests in these three rooms need to walk along to access their rooms. If you are ever in town again and are open to giving us another try i would love to offer you a complimentary upgrade to the loft room (room 8). Once again i am so sorry for your bad experience and we really hope we can make it p to you some day.
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Our group of 7 really enjoyed our one night stay here. We arrived late at night due to a really harrowing travel day and were greeted so professionally and hospitably we were at ease immediately. Our rooms were beautiful and clean. My husband’s knee was hurting from an injury and we were given a room right near the lobby, so helpful. Thank you. The restaurant staff stayed up late and made us amazing dinner plates in a very laid back pace. Delicious filets and appetizers and sides paired with wine. A great start to our first time in Joburg. The next morning after a great night’s sleep, we enjoyed fresh, delicious, breakfast and saw the beautiful views for the first time in daylight! After breakfast before we left, we were given a tour of larger guest houses and we have to say that those were stunning as well, tempting us to come back! This place is a must stay when visiting here. Nothing to complain about, only happiness here! Thank you!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 04 Jun 2023
Thank you so so much for your awesome review we really appreciate it and can’t wait to have you back again!
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Wow! The place is very beautiful in an airy and green area of Johannesburg. The hotel is very nicely furnished… works of art on the walls make the place unique and warm… Our three-bedroom villa was huge and super beautiful, quiet… the restaurant is good (the only downside is the waiting time to get his dish but it was the holidays and we had time) In short, discover this great city while being in a peaceful corner, it’s a perfect place
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pablo House was the first stop on our South African trip. The heartfelt welcome from all the staff including Tiisetso, Andrew, James, Thymbani and the owners Lee and Louis, made us feel right at home. All the chefs were top notch. The food was so delicious that we looked forward to each meal - intent on trying each dish on the menu! Our 16 year old loved the pizzas which were fresh and light. The view was amazing, the accommodations comfortable and spacious. The area grocery and other shops were within walking distance. Thanks to all for making our stay so memorable.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Stay here!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 19 Jul 2023
Wow! What an awesome review thank you so so much! We hope you come back soon :)
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Pablo House is the absolute warm and welcoming. Gorgeous art, stylish furniture, beautiful views. I felt taken care of. I chose the loft apartment because I need AC and it has a lovely claw foot tub and a full kitchen. Didn’t use it because I ate at the restaurant every night. Delicious food! The staff was beyond accommodating. During load shedding (SA for rolling blackout) the staff provided lanterns and candles and set them up in the room. There were torches throughout the property so it was quite a romantic setting. They still had dinner because they use a stone oven for cooking/grilling. If a guest house can make you me feel so comfortable during a blackout, imagine when everything is filling functioning. Pablo House arranged all my airport transport and tours. Neo was my driver and he was an incredible guide. Again, I always felt taken care of. I also had a in-house massage- wonderful. Pablo House does hospitality right!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 25 Jan 2021
Frans! Thank you so much for this amazing review. So sorry for only replying now. We just loved hosting you and really hope to see you back again some time in the future.
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We only stayed one night at Pablo House but wish it could have been longer. What an awesome and trendy B&B! We loved the overall look and feel of the place as well as the vibe. The decor is tasteful and modern and the rooms super comfortable. The rooms come with a flat screen TV, nespresso machine, king size bed, rain shower, mini bar fridge etc. There are great views from all the rooms as well as from the restaurant area. The staff are super friendly, helpful and exceptionally well trained. I love the feeling of being up in the trees looking out at the greater JHB area. There is a lovely private pool area at the bottom of the property that is designed like a mini oasis. You really don't want to leave and go explore anywhere else when staying at Pablo House and you don't need to. The restaurant is fantastic serving great pizzas and beautiful wine. We will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leigh Roux, Owner at Pablo House
Responded 23 Feb 2021
Thank you so so much for this awesome review, we really appreciate it. Hope to see you back again!
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Johannesburg, South Africa50 contributions12 helpful votes
Hi there!
It can get hot during December but Joburg typically is not quite as hot as the coastal cities during that time. We have aircon in the loft unit (also known as room 8) Room 1&2 have ceiling fans and the rest have freestanding fans.
Johannesburg, South Africa50 contributions12 helpful votes
Hello
We don’t have a stand alone spa, however we have a beautician on call who comes through to do mani’s, pedi’s, massages etc. for a full list of treatments you can email us :)
There are more places to choose from in the Johannesburg area.
PRICE RANGE
R 1,700 - R 2,106 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaGautengGreater JohannesburgJohannesburg
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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