Illovo Central Apartments

Illovo Central Apartments Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Illovo Central Apartments on Melville Road, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The building sits right in the heart of Johannesburg’s Sandton district, and you know how some of these apartment-style places can feel a bit sterile. But this four-star property actually surprised me in the best way possible.

What struck me first was how the staff seemed to genuinely get that business travelers (which, let’s face it, is most of Sandton’s crowd) need things to just work smoothly. Check-in was refreshingly quick – none of that awkward standing around while they hunt for your reservation. The apartments themselves feel more like someone’s well-appointed flat than a hotel room, which I mean, that’s the whole point, right? The kitchenettes are actually functional – I’m talking full-size appliances, not those tiny bar fridges that can barely hold a sandwich. I ended up cooking breakfast a couple mornings because honestly, the local grocery options are decent and it felt good to have that flexibility.

The location is what really makes this place shine though. You’re basically walking distance from Nelson Mandela Square, which sounds touristy but is actually where a lot of the better restaurants hang out. I found myself grabbing coffee at that little place around the corner most mornings – the barista remembered my order by day three, which always makes me feel oddly at home. What I really appreciated was being able to walk to business meetings in the area without dealing with Johannesburg traffic, which can be… well, let’s just say challenging. Parking was never an issue either, which might sound boring but anyone who’s spent time in Sandton knows that’s actually a huge relief. The building’s pretty quiet at night too – I was worried about street noise given the central location, but the windows do their job well. The WiFi holds up to video calls without drama, and there’s enough space to spread out work stuff without feeling cramped. I think what sets this place apart is that attention to the practical details that matter when you’re staying somewhere for more than just a night or two – decent water pressure, blackout curtains that actually block light, and air conditioning that doesn’t sound like a freight train.

Illovo Central Apartments Accommodations

Reviews of Illovo Central Apartments

• Very Good – Mphepo from Malawi – September 17, 2025 (8/10)

  Great location, clean room equipped with evertyhing I may have needed including an ice maker. Loved the Sandton views too.
  
  What could be improved: Was a bit concerned on security in the evenings as there was no one at the reception, no code to enter and no guard at the gate on both nights that I went out.

• Great place – Sindiswa from South Africa – September 3, 2025 (8/10)

  The location of the hotel is wonderful. So close to places. Very convenient
  
  What could be improved: The staff was unfriendly at the Cafe

• Wonderful – Wiseman from South Africa – June 25, 2025 (9/10)

  Every thing was exceptional
  
  What could be improved: The bed is a bit hard

• I loved my stay with my husband because it provided exactly what we need, the view oh my goodness-exceptional, I loved t – Sibongile from South Africa – May 26, 2025 (8/10)

  I loved the interior design, it was cosy and private, no noise in the building and easy access to what you want.
  
  What could be improved: The water , it’s luke warm throughout and I love my showers hot.

• Enjoyable and met our needs – Mana from South Africa – April 7, 2025 (8/10)

  There is a cafe in the building where you can buy food & snacks – very convenient. The convenience of the apartment was amazing – just across the road from where our water polo tournament was. The staff were great and the cafe even brought food to our room! The apartment is very well appointed. There is a storage room in reception to leave your luggage on check-out.
  
  What could be improved: A few things in the apartment were broken – the bedside lamp & the drying rack. The drying rack was a problem because it was raining and we battled to dry everything because we couldn't hang it up. But I will be notifying them, so these will be fixed. Otherwise there was nothing else.

• Wonderful – Radmore from South Africa – March 13, 2025 (9/10)

  Great host. Kept in contact and met us. Clean, well equiped apartment. Excellent location. Thank you. Highly impressed and would recommend.

• Everything was perfect – Sakhelwe from South Africa – December 1, 2024 (8/10)

  Friendly stuff
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Very Good – Kaylin from South Africa – November 26, 2024 (8/10)

  Mainly the view and the fact that it’s very peaceful and private.
  Icing on the cake would be the great staff working in the kitchen
  
  What could be improved: Only slight issue I had would be with the drainage of the showers it was very slow and created a puddle of water rising over your feet.

• Good stay but the cleaning fee was daylight robbery – Munashe from South Africa – July 20, 2024 (8/10)

  It’s comfortable, beautiful and has nice views
  
  What could be improved: I feel that while the place is value for money I believe paying a cleaning fee is daylight robbery especially since they only cleaned the room when I checked out. And R700 for one room is too much to pay for the room

• Had a lovely stay – Louw from South Africa – May 13, 2024 (8/10)

  Centrally located between Rosebank and Sandton, very safe and secure.The room is modern with spectacular views
  
  What could be improved: The room size was a bit smaller than I had imagined.

Surroundings

Facilities