Restaurant oneNINEone the dining sensation in Johannesburg

As I step inside the doors of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rosebank, the beautifully designed interior embraces me and provides immediate sanctuary from the bustling, chaotic outside world that is Johannesburg, South Africa. Smiling faces at reception greet me and show me to my lunch party in the airy and sun drenched dining room of the hotel with its modern and unique design and features. I have been invited to a "chef's table" lunch to showcase the menu for the month in the one NINEone Restaurant, a stylish, modern restaurant that is the sensation of Johannesburg, a cosmopolitan setting with a modern, ethnic surrounding offering a menu reflecting the inspired cuisine that is the trademark of this superb restaurant. Seeking its inspiration from all over the world, the dishes are eclectic, offering the discerning guest a variety of cuisine from around the world, with a unique South African flair.

These are no ordinary chefs serving us today. Hyatt Regency Executive Chef Andrew Atkinson is one of the South African judges of the very popular Master Chef series and he designs fresh and delectable dishes around superb ingredients. Today the team presents to us unusual and delightful combinations such as salmon salad with rose grapefruit, avocado and roasted walnuts, while the vanilla and olive oil poached salmon has fashionable pomegranates.

To keep the menu fresh and exciting, it changes on a monthly basis with firm favorites never being neglected of course. On the menu currently you can expect delicious morsels like  smoked kudu loin;  eryngii mushroom, peas and blackcurrant;  cured duck breast and duck rillette; tuna tataki;  kimchi, red miso green tea broth;  crispy pork belly and  corn salsa with lemongrass ginger sauce - and these are just some of the starters. Among the many main courses, look out for pumpkin emulsion with crayfish tail and truffle oil;  dukkah lamb rump;  barley risotto with asparagus;  chimichurri chicken supreme; lime, coriander, ginger and garlic grilled king prawns as well as  Asian vegetables and basmati rice. The grills include a  500-gram s rib  eye steak on the bone (which we savor that evening for dinner), salmon fillet, lamb cutlets and as side dishes there are things like ratatouille seasonal vegetables and soy.

Not forgetting the desserts, you can sink your teeth into exotic creations like deep fried baileys ice cream with almond crumb, mint crème, banana, and honey comb; lemon curd ice cream with cinnamon ginger cake and orange marmalade; Guinness jelly with caramelized marshmallow and mocha dacquoise among others.

After a delicious meal, I make myself at home in my haven of a suite. With great city or courtyard views, the  71-sqare-meter suite features a sitting area, work area with free high-speed Internet access and bedroom with a king size bed and deluxe granite bath. I also have access to the Regency Club with concierge service and private lounge serving Continental breakfast, evening cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

The hotel's location is a dream for shoppers. It is  only 25 km from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport and adjacent to Firs Shopping Centre and cinemas. Guests will also enjoy easy access to the banking district of Sandton CBD, Constitution Hill, and African craft markets.

The following morning after a superb buffet breakfast I go for a heavenly massage at the hotel's Amani Spa.

The Hyatt Regency is one those must-do places - whether for business or pleasure, this hotel offers 5-star luxury and sophistication all the way.

The cool interior of the Hyatt offers refuge from city stress

Hotel Offers Guided Tours

Lion Park

A magnificent park only 30 km from Johannesburg comprises of 200 hectares of grassland and forest. Many species of game can be sighted here. See prides of lions in the lion enclosure and their cubs. There is also a petting zoo for the children.

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

The Rhino Nature Reserve is a privately owned game reserve situated in the "Cradle of Humankind", a declared World Heritage Site. The reserve covers an area of approximately 1000 hectares. Good gravel roads traverse the area and take visitors to excellent vantage points from where one can look down on the picturesque Kromdraai valley. This renowned reserve is considered a member of the Johannesburg's Big Five Tourist Destinations and has been nationally praised for their continued effort and subsequent success in various breeding programs such as breeding white rhinos, Bengal tigers and white lions to name but a few. 

SAB World of Beer

SAB World of Beer is a fun-filled showcase of brewing. From ancient Mesopotamia, through Africa and Europe, the tour unveils beer heritage all the way to a honky-tonk pub of Johannesburg, mining camp days and a traditional Soweto shebeen.

Lesedi Cultural Village

We invite you to experience the spirit of Ubuntu at this Unique Cultural Venue where the people of Lesedi welcome you with music, song and the warmth of Africa.

Let the sound of the Marimbas take you into Musi's Ndebele Theatre to be transported through South Africa's history from the Cradle of Humankind to the Cultures of Lesedi.

Lesedi and its cultural experience of old and new Africa was co-founded by renowned African explorer, Kingsley Holgate, who remains heavily involved in the day to day operations and ensures that every attraction is not only fascinating, but enriching. One of Lesedi's many differentiating factors is the village's natural and tasteful incorporation into the surrounding bushes, rivers and forests, with five traditional homesteads including Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele.

The Elephant Sanctuary

The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe-haven for our elephants and offers a platform for guest education and interaction. All the elephants are rescued African elephants and their trust is gained through unique reward based training. Elephants are highly intelligent and delightful and you will discover a different character, personality and temperament within each one. The focus is on education through interaction, so you will not only learn a lot about elephants, but also get to touch, feel, feed, walk trunk-in-hand and even ride these magnificent animals. Nestled in the Magaliesberg Mountains only one hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Elephant Sanctuary lies in a malaria-free area. It is surrounded by natural indigenous bushes and is home to impala, klipspringer, baboons, porcupine, caracal, leopard, a host of other small mammals, 350 bird species and of course six magnificent African elephants.

Contact:

191 Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2132

Tel: +27 11 280 1234

Fax: +27 11 280 1238

johannesburg.regency@hyatt.com 

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