Agterplaas Guesthouse Pty Ltd

Agterplaas Guesthouse Pty Ltd Overview

You know what surprised me most about Agterplaas Guesthouse Pty Ltd? It’s tucked away on Sixth Avenue in Melville, and honestly, I almost walked right past it the first time – which turned out to be part of its charm. This three-star guesthouse sits in one of Johannesburg’s most laid-back neighborhoods, where you can actually hear birds in the morning instead of just traffic. Melville’s got this wonderful bohemian vibe that most tourists miss completely, and staying here puts you right in the middle of it without the chaos of the city center.

The guesthouse itself feels more like staying at a friend’s well-appointed home than a typical hotel. I mean, the common areas have that lived-in comfort where you actually want to hang out with a book or chat with other travelers over coffee. The rooms are thoughtfully done – nothing fancy, but everything you need is there, and the beds are genuinely comfortable (I’m picky about mattresses, so this matters). What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, which is pretty remarkable considering you’re still very much in Joburg. The neighborhood has this residential calm that makes you forget you’re in one of Africa’s biggest cities.

Location-wise, you’re about a ten-minute walk to 7th Street, which is where Melville’s restaurant scene really comes alive – and trust me, the food scene here is seriously underrated. I found myself wandering over there most evenings, trying everything from Ethiopian to proper South African braai spots. The guesthouse staff actually gave me better recommendations than any guidebook I’d read. They pointed me toward this little Portuguese place that I never would have found otherwise. During the day, you can easily catch a taxi or Uber into the city center, but honestly, I spent more time exploring the local area than I expected. There’s something refreshing about being in a part of Johannesburg where you can walk around comfortably and get a feel for how locals actually live. The whole experience felt authentic in a way that staying in Sandton or near the airport just wouldn’t have.

Places near me in Johannesburg offer convenient access to major landmarks, where visitors can easily reach Apartheid Museum, Carlton Centre, and world-famous shopping districts in the bustling Sandton area.

Agterplaas Guesthouse Pty Ltd Accommodations

Reviews of Agterplaas Guesthouse Pty Ltd

• Great friendly staff with very tasty breakfast .. One of the best scrambled eggs I’ve had ever. Even though 7th st area – Suyoung from United States – June 19, 2025 (9/10)

  Quiet residential area
  
  What could be improved: Limited restaurants in the area

• Authentic experience of old Melville culture – Houliston from South Africa – June 15, 2025 (10/10)

  Warm welcome. Hosts went out of their way to make me feel at home. Very peaceful, lots of character. Close to amenities.

• Exceptional – Zakeyo from South Africa – June 13, 2025 (10/10)

  The staff friendliness as well as well maintained facilities that were clean and tidy.
  
  What could be improved: The TV not working was a set back but l overlooked that because l had free WiFi.

• Exceptional – Josef from United States – March 24, 2025 (10/10)

  The staff was excellent!

• Good value – Linda from Australia – March 14, 2025 (9/10)

  Helpful staff. Traditionally decorated room with all modern facilities. Well located for sightseeing in Johannesburg in a fairly pleasant area close to restaurants.

• Wonderful – Linda from Australia – March 14, 2025 (9/10)

  Welcoming staff. Great breakfast.

• We shall surely return! – David from South Africa – March 14, 2025 (9/10)

  Fantastic breakfast – very good boerewors, very good vetkoek
  
  What could be improved: very little

• Perfect ! – Alain from Belgium – February 9, 2025 (10/10)

  All was really perfect !

• A fantastic and memorable experience! – Malay from United States – January 10, 2025 (10/10)

  I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Agterplaas Guesthouse. Since I was travelling alone, I was looking for an accommodation that might allow me to meet people and have interesting conversations, and the guesthouse offered me exactly that experience!
  
  Melville is a very pretty and quiet part of Johannesburg. The neighbourhood felt safe to me, but I didn't walk around the area much since all the sites I wanted to visit were located in other parts of the city. However, like many places in Johannesburg, the guesthouse was highly gated and I was given multiple keys to navigate several doors and gates around the property.
  
  The rooms were quaint and beautiful. The hosts were always ready to attend to my requests (such as my needing an additional power adapter), and even graciously upgraded my room for free since they had a last-minute cancellation. I therefore got to enjoy a much larger room with a detached tub and large bay windows looking out into the balcony.
  
  The free breakfast included with my reservation was absolutely fantastic! I honestly don't think I've had a better hotel breakfast anywhere in the world. Rather than just the standard buffet fare one finds in most hotels, they have an à la carte menu and everything has a sumptuous local flavour. Their bobotie is to die for, and I made sure to take the recipe from them so I could try making it at home. They can also provide other meals upon request, but make sure to reserve them in advance.
  
  Finally, I would like to offer a special thanks to Agterplaas' owners and managers, Elroy and Annemie. They were both incredibly warm, friendly and inviting people who made me feel right at home. On one of my nights there, I had a long conversation with them and some other guests about South African history and culture, which was an especially enriching experience to me as a professional scholar. By the end of my stay, they felt like old family friends.
  
  What could be improved: Some of the room fixtures are old and whimsical, but that's part of the charm of the place. In any case, everything was perfectly functional and I had no problems.

• A home away from home – Thain from United States – January 6, 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful place in a great location . The owners are lovely people who really make you feel at home . Wonderful Breakfast . I will absolutely stay here again if I am in the area
  
  What could be improved: Everything was exceptional

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Facilities