Weinberg Hotel: Our full report

The Weinberg Hotel, formerly known as Am Weinberg Boutique Hotel, is an understated but upmarket hotel in ...

... a quiet suburb of Klein Windhoek, within a short drive of the centre of the Namibian capital. Set on an established estate that was originally a vineyard, it is contemporary in style with plenty of facilities, yet at its heart is the original estate house, now a national monument.

The hotel stands on the Weinberg Estate, a self-contained “village” that boasts an enviable range of amenities, including five restaurants, a delicatessen, a well-equipped gym-with-a-view, an upmarket spa with a pool, and a hair salon for both men and women; there's even an on-site ATM. When we stayed in May 2022, we were impressed by the facilities and the standard of accommodation.

From the entrance to the estate, a long driveway curves around to the front of the hotel where a flight of stairs leads down to the reception area (though there's a lift for whose would prefer). Here, helpful, friendly staff are on hand to check-in and assist with any requests.

Throughout the main area, the décor is a mixture of rich textures in soft greys, with cushions in bold reds, blues, greens and sometimes floral patterns adding splashes of colour.

A library cum lounge lined with bookshelves is tastefully furnished with a range of armchairs, comfortable two- and three-seater sofas and high-back chairs. Side tables and large coffee tables are strategically placed, along with reading lamps, softened by pot plants and various pieces of artwork on the walls.

The adjacent restaurant, known as the Wine Lounge, has a relatively small indoor seating area. Instead, double glass doors open out onto the courtyard with its fountain and plenty of shaded seating, where meals are served.

The hotel's 41 rooms are linked by wide air-conditioned passages with high ceilings. Each room is en-suite, with full air conditioning and king-size or twin beds. The tasteful décor in hues of light greys, creams, silver, white and brown is enlivened by a bold-coloured fabric headboard and bright scatter cushions. A tea/coffee station is tucked away inside one of the drawers, and an electronic safe in the wardrobe. In the bathrooms – most with a shower rather than a bath and shower – you'll find luxury shower gel, conditioning shampoo and body lotion, as well as a hairdryer.

The rooms are divided into six types:

12 Courtyard Fountain Level Rooms each have a shower rather than a bath. Rooms 1 and 2, which have interleading doors, can be combined to create a family room. A third room in this style offers wheelchair access. This was the room type we stayed in on our last visit and it was perfectly comfortable, but large french doors open onto the courtyard where guests often relax with a drink or a meal. As such, those seeking a little more privacy may want to consider an Upper Level room.
18 Courtyard Upper Level Rooms are similar in size and style but are located on the first floor with private balconies looking out onto the courtyard below. For a small premium, two of these rooms come with the addition of a bath.
3 Superior Upper Level Rooms are more spacious than the other Courtyard rooms. Two of these have both bath and shower, and a balcony with a seating area facing the courtyard.
3 Loft Apartments, in a separate wing of the hotel, feature a small living area along with a dining table, kitchen counter and sink, a minibar, and espresso machine; crockery and cutlery are available on request.
7 Family Loft Apartments, in the same wing as the Loft Apartments, are set on two levels. The main bedroom with bath and shower is up a winding staircase, while downstairs are a sofa bed for two children to share, a dining table, a small kitchen counter with tea-making facilities and an espresso machine, and a minibar.

With five individual restaurants on the estate, guests have plenty of choice. In addition to the hotel's own Wine Lounge, there is the Sky Lounge, which offers a reduced menu but has beautiful views of Windhoek.

Separate from the hotel you'll also find the Butcher Block Steakhouse, The Cape Town Fish Market and Olivia's Kitchen (perhaps the best breakfast/brunch spot in Windhoek), each with its own individual style – and private dining can be arranged, too. Finally, there's a delicatessen on-site, selling wines, cheeses, and freshly baked bread. Except for the Wine Lounge, all the restaurants on the estate are open to the public, so it would be wise to book a table for dinner, especially during high season (June to October).

Finally, the estate boasts the Soulstice Spa. With 12 treatment rooms, this has proved exceptionally popular locally, but as it’s no longer part of the hotel we strongly recommend you pre-book. Treatments range from massages and flotation therapy to a rasul chamber. The spa also has a sizeable outdoor pool with a separate jet pool you will also need to pre-book use of the pool in advance. Please note, that children under the age of 13 are not permitted in the spa area.

Our view

A gorgeous hotel tucked away in a quiet suburb of Klein Windhoek, the Weinberg offers 41 stylish rooms, almost unrivalled amenities for such a small hotel, and great views from the Sky Lounge. This is a wonderful location to recover from an international flight at the beginning of your trip, or to gather yourself before returning home at the end of your Namibian holiday.

Tom Morris

Country manager: Namibia

Geographics

Location: Windhoek, Namibia
Ideal length of stay: One or two nights, usually at the start or end of your holiday in Namibia.
Directions: The Weinberg is at 13 Jan Jonker Street, just off Sam Nujoma Drive in the quiet suburb of Klein Windhoek.

The hotel can book airport transfers and transfers into the city centre, both at an extra charge.
Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: There is a choice of five restaurants on the estate. The hotel's own restaurant, the Wine Lounge, serves the following meals:

Breakfast, from 6.30 to 10.00am, is a cold buffet of cereals, fruit juices, bread, yoghurt and tea or (very good) coffee, followed by menu items from a traditional cooked breakfast to crumpets served with fresh strawberries, cream and syrup.

Lunch (11.00am–4.00pm) and dinner (6.00–10.00pm) are served from a set menu. On one of our visits this included starters of baked bone marrow, risotto, mini burgers or cheese filo pastry, with mains of steak, salmon or pork belly with related sides. Dessert choices included mini milk tarts, apple crumble, crême brulée or a mix of all three.

On our most recent visit we arrived in Windhoek early and thoroughly enjoyed brunch at Olivia’s Kitchen – despite a lack of sleep! The menu ranges from a traditional cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs to French toast and an impressive selection of smoothies and hot drinks.

For dinner, we visited the Butcher Block Steakhouse and split a 1kg T-bone between two. This was perfectly cooked and was well complemented by a glass of South African cabernet sauvignon.

Both meals were superb and reasonably priced – we wouldn’t hesitate to return.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: As well as individual tables in the various restaurants, there is a separate private dining room in the hotel where small groups can choose to be served their meal.

Room service is offered until 10.00pm
Drinks included: No drinks are included except for tea and coffee that you prepare in the rooms and two complimentary bottles of water are provided on arrival: one still, one sparkling.

Special interests

Family holidays: The Weinberg Hotel is an excellent option for families travelling in Namibia. Spacious family apartments in a separate wing have baby cots and changing tables available. The hotel restaurant has a children's menu, and there's a choice of four other restaurants on the private estate.; See ideas for Family holidays
Solo Travel: With excellent facilities and amenities on a private estate not far from the centre of Windhoek, including a well-maintained gym, a state-of-the-art spa and five restaurants, The Weinberg would make a good choice for solo travellers in Namibia.; See ideas for Solo Travel
Honeymoons: With couples' packages at the Soulstice Spa, a choice of five restaurants within the estate's grounds, and the option of private dining, The Weinberg would make an excellent start or end to a honeymoon in Namibia.; See ideas for Honeymoons
Wellbeing: The range of treatments and facilities at estate’s Soulstice Spa is exceptional, from flotation therapy to a rasul chamber and an outdoor pool with a jet pool. For all-round pampering on a Namibia holiday, this would be a great option.; See ideas for Wellbeing
Luxury: On a private estate in an upmarket suburb of Windhoek, The Weinberg offers comfortable and stylish rooms, five on-site restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa. For a spot of luxury in the Namibian capital, it's a strong contender.; See ideas for Luxury

Children

Attitude towards children: The Weinberg Hotel welcomes children of all ages.
Property’s age restrictions: Children under the age of 13 are not permitted in the spa area, so cannot make use of the pool.
Special activities & services: There are no special activities for children, but The Weinberg has special family loft rooms, and can organise a childminder for young children if parents want to go out. Note, however, that he/she may not be formally qualified in childcare.
Equipment: There are cots, a baby bath and a changing table, but no highchairs in the restaurants.
Generally recommended for children: The Family Loft Apartments are in a different wing of the hotel, away from the other guest rooms, which is a plus, and there is plenty of space for children to run around. Note, however, that as children under 13 are not permitted in the spa area, they cannot make use of the pool.

Communications

Power supply notes: Mains with a back-up generator
Communications: There is a telephone in each room and the Family Loft Apartments have telephones both downstairs and upstairs. There is very good, fast WiFi on the estate and also cellphone reception, but note that no cellphones are permitted in the spa area.
TV & radio: Each of the rooms has a TV with satellite channels, discreetly hidden behind an arched mirror.
Water supply: Mains
Water supply notes: Only rooms 30, 26, 27 and 28 have both a bath and shower; the majority of rooms have only a shower.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: No
Medical care: There are doctors and hospitals in Windhoek.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: The Weinberg Hotel is on a secure property with a guardhouse and lockable gates. There is secure undercover parking available and guests are supplied with keys to the gates for 24-hour access. A security guard is on the property during the night.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are positioned throughout the hotel and outside some of the rooms, and there is an emergency evacuation plan in each room next to the door.

Activities

Cultural excursion

Extras

Disabled access: In Place
Laundry facilities: A laundry service and a dry-cleaning service are available at extra cost; every room has a laundry list with prices.
Money: There is an ATM on site. Each room has an electronic safe for storing travel documents and valuables.
Accepted payment on location: All major credit cards are accepted, except Diners' Card, as are cash payments in Namibian dollars and South African rand.