Lucky Bean Guesthouse

Lucky Bean Guesthouse Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first heard about Lucky Bean Guesthouse, I wasn’t expecting much from a place tucked away on 1st Avenue in Melville. But you know what? This little four-star gem completely changed my mind about what a guesthouse can be. The moment you walk through the door, there’s this immediate sense that someone actually cares about the details here – and I mean the kind of details that matter when you’re tired from traveling and just want things to work properly.

Melville itself is one of those neighborhoods that feels authentically Johannesburg without trying too hard, and the Lucky Bean sits right in the sweet spot where you can actually walk to the decent coffee shops and restaurants along 7th Street without feeling like you need to constantly look over your shoulder. The staff here – honestly, they seem to know everyone in the area, which comes in handy when you’re trying to figure out where to grab dinner that won’t break the bank or which taxi services are reliable. What really got me was how quiet it stays despite being so close to everything; the rooms face away from the busier street noise, so you actually get proper sleep (something I definitely can’t say about every place I’ve stayed in Joburg).

The guesthouse has this lived-in feel that’s comfortable rather than stuffy – think clean lines and thoughtful touches without the generic hotel chain vibe. The breakfast situation is solid, nothing fancy but done well, and they’ll sort you out with early morning arrangements if you’ve got those brutal dawn flights to catch. Parking is sorted, which anyone who’s driven around Melville will tell you is not something to take for granted. I mean, the whole area can get pretty busy, especially on weekends when the local scene really comes alive. What I appreciated most was how the place feels like it belongs in the neighborhood rather than just being dropped there – you get the sense that staying here gives you a real taste of what this part of the city is actually like, rather than just seeing it through a tourist bubble.

Best attractions in Johannesburg range from the historic Gold Reef City theme park to the trendy Maboneng Precinct and elegant venues overlooking the sprawling cityscape and Constitution Hill.

Lucky Bean Guesthouse Accommodations

Reviews of Lucky Bean Guesthouse

• Wonderful – Duniya from South Africa – September 18, 2025 (9/10)

  The room was nice and very quiet. You can have a very sound sleep at night with no noise from outside. The hosts, Conway and Natasha, were amazing, one of the nicest and finest couples I have ever met. They were very helpful in terms of suggesting places to visit, some of the best restaurants in the city to visit, and art places if you are an art lover. They arranged for my visit to Sweto, which i found very educational and eye-opening.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, can't complain about anything.

• Tranquil spot to stay when in Jo'Burg – Deborah from United Kingdom – September 12, 2025 (10/10)

  Great location, some nice restaurants within walking distance, easy to get Uber/bolt taxis to anywhere. The room was spacious and comfortable with everything you need. Staff were very friendly and helpful, nothing was too much trouble. A good breakfast was provided and freshly cooked. Conway, the owner was very helpful with local tips on where to go etc. a great place to stay when in Jo'Burg.

• Exceptional – Heather from United States – August 7, 2025 (10/10)

  Property was spacious and clean.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was great. Conway and Natasha are wonderful hosts.

• A fantastic guesthouse in a safe part of Johannesburg led by wonderful owners – Duane from United States – July 19, 2025 (10/10)

  Lucky Bean Guesthouse is a wonderful property in a safe area in the suburbs of Johannesburg. The owners, Natasha and Conway, are incredible. They are very welcoming and chill and are eager to facilitate any day trips you may want. Thanks to their recommendation, I signed up for a Sowetu tour with Cecilia Mlangeni, who was born in the township and still lives there. It was an incredible experience! Cecilia is fantastic. Highly recommended!
  
  You can easily get around the city with Uber and it is no problem getting to and from Lucky Bean Guesthouse by Uber regardless of the time.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Great place to stay with terrific suggestions and contacts for sightseeing. Conway was an excellent host who made sure w – Katrina from Australia – July 19, 2025 (10/10)

  Loved the atmosphere and wonderful, caring hosts.

• Perfect hosts in a perfect setting – Lisa from United Kingdom – July 17, 2025 (10/10)

  Natasha and Conway were excellent hosts and very informative regarding restaurants and day trips. The guesthouse is located on a tree lined street in a nice safe neighborhood. The gardens and pool are beautiful
  
  What could be improved: Sadly it was winter so could not use the pool

• We much appreciated the comfortable beds and the fine breakfast. – Linney from United States – July 15, 2025 (9/10)

  Exceptional staff. Present and involved owner. I appreciated Conway’s involvement with the staff and the guests. He was most helpful in planning a day in Joburg. A pleasant surprise. No corporate greed here.
  
  What could be improved: I tend to run cold and the room was cold through the night. A minor inconvenience.

• Amazing! – Denise from Netherlands – July 6, 2025 (10/10)

  The sweet ladies making breakfast and welcoming us to the venue. Also, if you are travelling from Joburg Airporr, Derrick can bring you to the guesthouse for a good price.
  
  What could be improved: –

• Great time in Johannesburg thanks to Conway and Natasha – Morgane from Switzerland – June 25, 2025 (10/10)

  Thanks to Conway and Natasha, our stay at the Lucky Bean Guesthouse—and in Johannesburg overall—was absolutely wonderful!
  
  They gave us so much helpful advice about the city and suggested a wide range of activities to help us discover Johannesburg. They even recommended great restaurants and bars, and took care of making all the reservations for us.
  
  The guesthouse is centrally located, making it really easy to get around. There are plenty of Ubers available at all times, so exploring the city was super convenient.
  
  Our room and bathroom were spacious, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. The garden is beautiful—an ideal spot to relax after a day of exploring the city.
  
  Everyone at the guesthouse was so warm and welcoming, and the breakfast was absolutely delicious.
  
  I can’t recommend the Lucky Bean Guesthouse enough!

• Very comfortable stay, lovely staff and lots of useful information provided – John from Australia – June 24, 2025 (10/10)

  Staff were very helpful and friendly. Very useful information about surrounding area, eating places and safety was provided. Breakfast was wonderful

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