Pretoria’s ‘Maine’ attraction

AS SOUTH Africa’s
administrative capital,
with a high number
of foreign embassies, and
a leader in automotive
manufacturing, Pretoria
is considered a businessonly
city, with business
travellers often preferring
to book accommodation in
Johannesburg and commute.
This is set to change.
Upcoming developments
Sun International’s The
Maslow Time Square Hotel
is in the final stages of
construction. The hotel will
have 238 rooms, with 10
room types, and two suites.
Set to open on April 1, The
Maslow Time Square Hotel
will be the first hotel in South
Africa to offer three-, four-,
and five-star accommodation
and facilities in a single
building, making it perfect
for business travellers who
are precluded from staying
in five-star rated hotels.
Meetings and conferencing
facilities include breakaway
and seminar rooms that can
seat between five and 144
delegates. For time away
from work there will be two
pools and a gym.
The hotel is in the Menlyn
Maine precinct, about 30
minutes from OR Tambo
International Airport, and 10
minutes from the Gautrain
station in Hatfield.
For fun
Next to the hotel, the Time
Square Casino offers over
2 000 slot machines and
60 tables. Dining options
include Guy Fierie’s Kitchen
and Bar, Forti, Something’s
Cooking by J’Something,
authentic Indian and Chinese
cuisine, and Altitude, a
champagne bar and lounge
area that overlooks the
Menlyn Maine Precinct. The
Globe, an upmarket bar, is
above the casino entrance.
Across from the casino,
Sun Arena, which opened in
October 2017, is an events
and concert space for 8 500
people seated or 10 500
seated and standing. When
seating is folded away, the
venue can host banquets or
gala dinners for up to 1 500
people, plus a stage. The
arena has been designed
with the best acoustics for
big concerts. All the sound
and lighting equipment
comes standard as part of
the package. Sun Arena also
has a Spur and the Magic
Company children’s arcade.
Nightlife
A wide range of night-time
activities are also available
in the precinct and in the
surrounding areas. Altitude,
the champagne lounge
atop Time Square Casino,
is a trendy hangout, where
visitors can relax for a drink
or book out the VIP area. The
nearby Menlyn Park shopping
mall is perfect for catching a
movie and a bite to eat.
The Capital Menlyn Maine
offers a free shuttle service
within a 5km radius of the
hotel. Places of interest
include Cubana, a Latin
themed bar and lounge
offering cocktails, cigars, and
a limited menu, and Ayepyep
Lifestyle Lounge, Menlyn,
a trendy dining and lounge
space, that serves everything
from burgers to stews and
its signature Ayepyep ribs.
Menlyn Central Square
Across from The Maslow, is
The Capital Menlyn Maine,
which overlooks Menlyn
Central Square, a lifestyle
and retail area that includes
restaurants like Tasha’s,
Starbucks, and Koi, the latter
being fully integrated into
the hotel, with tables on the
ground floor as well as on
the pool level.
Accommodation includes
72 standard rooms, with
king beds, and en-suite
bathroom with a shower
only, while the 60 executive
rooms and six paraplegic
rooms have showers and
separate baths. For business
travellers who prefer a live-in
feel, The Capital also has
61 one-bedroom and 61 twobedroom
apartments. There
are also two two-bedroom,
and two three-bedroom
penthouse apartments.
The conference hall can
seat up to 400 delegates,
and there are meeting and
boardroom options.