Living up to its palatial name, this majestic Tuscan-inspired structure is seemingly transported from a Mediterranean hillside to Johannesburg's suburban ring. It was undergoing a complete re-branding from an InterContinental to the Southern Sun name at inspection, and many changes were being implemented to improve the guest experience. The lobby is an active station of arrivals, business guests waiting for transfers to offices, and others simply taking in the buzz.
Medeo is the sole restaurant on the property but makes up for it with a wide choice of menu items. Breakfast buffets spread across the continents to include an Asian selection (an indication of the tour groups that pass through here). Lunch and dinner see a more focused menu of Mediterranean specialties. The bar is an animated
hot spot and competes with the adjacent shopping center's dining and entertainment options.
A large outdoor pool sits squarely in front of the building in a glamorous setting surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. Light meals and drinks are on offer throughout the day to satiate those who mingle here. Others spend their time in the well-equipped fitness room or the ever-popular casino, where the constant jingle of machines and roars of humans keep the atmosphere pumping.
Meeting facilities are not as vast as at the prime Rosebank or Sandton properties but can still accommodate medium-sized groups with ease. The business center is occasionally flogged with conference guests 
but otherwise sits idle thanks to wireless Internet signals in the public areas. Free parking in the front lot is available.
Accommodations here are mellow with unassuming furnishings less dramatic than those in public areas. Floral prints grace the fabrics, and mahogany armoires and desks are in all rooms. Coffeemakers, minibars, phones with voice mail and data ports, and high-speed Internet are the prerequisites, with suites boasting even more modern pleasures such as CD/DVD players, VCRs and surround-sound stereos. Baths are luxurious and spacious, providing scales, robes, slippers, separate shower stalls and a substantial supply of toiletries. Water pressure is excellent, and the vanities allow for a veritable army to unpack their wares.
Room service operates at all hours. Housekeeping provides excellent service with double daily visits and a meticulous cleaning regimen. Pets are not permitted, and the decent soundproofing keeps out exterior noise (although the rattling air-conditioning units have been known to keep some guests awake at night). A trio of rooms meets the requirements for disabled guests, and more than half the rooms are designated smoke-free.
Although a bit of the initial panache of this place is wearing off thanks to a brisk tourist business, guests still find a respectable offering in this well-run property.