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Bloemfontein Accommodation - Best & Worst

If it's romance you're seeking in the "City of Roses" look no further than the "Be Human" Middelwater Farm Hotel which is the most romantic accommodation in Bloemfontein, offering an intimate, luxurious retreat with its serene farm setting, infinity pool, hot tub, and exceptional dining curated by host Mariël. The personalised, candlelit dinners and “fantastic” breakfasts make this the ideal accommodation for couples in Bloemfontein, seeking a food-focused, secluded escape.

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Best Farm-life experience

De Oude Kraal Country Estate (30 km south of Bloemfontein) offers the best farm experience in the wider Bloemfontein area. A luxurious, family-run B&B on a working sheep farm, offering an authentic Free State farm experience. Renowned for its gourmet breakfasts using fresh, local ingredients (think homemade bread and farm produce). Ideal for a countryside escape, though a bit farther from the city. Amenities include Wi-Fi, a pool, a restaurant, secure parking, a lavish breakfast included and dinner options are available.

Most Luxurious

Anta Boga Hotel is the most luxurious accommodation in Bloemfontein, offering a true 5-star experience with its premium amenities, and exceptional on-site dining. Its “Abundance of Food” restaurant delivers culturally rich, high-quality meals, complemented by proximity to Bloemfontein’s vibrant dining scene at Loch Logan Waterfront. For business travelers seeking luxury, its business center and central location add practicality. If you prefer a more exclusive, rural retreat with unparalleled personalized dining,

Best for Business

BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central (3-star) is the best accommodation for business travelers in Bloemfontein: Located in the heart of Bloemfontein’s CBD within Bloem Plaza, this hotel offers robust business amenities at a reasonable price. Its rooms have ergonomic desks, electronic safes, and unlimited Wi-Fi, plus conference facilities for up to 280 delegates. The Courtroom Restaurant serves a carvery buffet for breakfast and dinner, with a grab-and-go option for early meetings, while Judges Bar is perfect for quick lunches or networking drinks. A complimentary airport shuttle (10 km) and backup power add value. Its central location ensures proximity to corporate offices and dining options. Business Amenities: Conference rooms, business center, multiple plug points, secure parking, and 24-hour front desk. Strong infrastructure for a 3-star price.

Best Culinary experience

From a food perspective, Southern Sun Bloemfontein is the top choice due to its highly rated Garden Grill restaurant, diverse menu, and consistent guest praise for fresh, delicious meals. Its central location near Mimosa Mall and Loch Logan Waterfront provides access to Bloemfontein’s exciting restaurant scene, including steakhouses and cafes serving Basotho and Afrikaans dishes. For a more intimate, food-focused experience,

Best Value for Money

The Suburban Guest House offers the best value for money in Bloemfontein, combining affordability with exceptional dining, rated 5/5 for its “superb” breakfasts and tailored dinners. Gustav’s personalised service, modern rooms, and proximity to dining options like Loch Logan Waterfront make it a standout for quality at a low cost. for those seeking a touch more luxury at a still-reasonable price,

For Rugby

Lala Dene Lodge is the best accommodation for travelers watching rugby matches at Free State Stadium, offering unmatched value at it is a 1 km walk to the stadium thus avoiding parking issues (and driving under the influence!), while its restaurant delivers “delicious” meals, ideal for pre- or post-match dining. Free Wi-Fi, workspaces, and backup power cater to business needs, and its proximity to Loch Logan Waterfront ensures dining variety.

Bloemfontein, South Africa

For Tolkien Fans

It’s surprising to think that the creator of Middle-earth, a fantastical world of hobbits, elves, and orcs, began his life in this relatively quiet, rose-filled city." J.R.R. Tolkien, the legendary author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, was born in Bloemfontein in 1892. Tolkien lived in Bloemfontein as a toddler before moving to England, and his birthplace is commemorated with a plaque. Visitors can explore this connection at the Hobbit Boutique Hotel, which features Tolkien-themed memorabilia, despite the original Tolkien family home no longer existing.

Hobbit Boutique Guest House

Review Summary: Highly rated for its views, breakfast, and romantic appeal for couples. Guests praise the outdoor pool, free parking, and garden setting, describing it as a serene and charming retreat. Exceptional service and proximity to Oliewenhuis Art Gallery (1.4km) are highlights.

Best Self-Catering Accommodation

Duinerus Self-catering Accommodation (Universitas Ridge) offers fully equipped units with air-conditioning, private entrances, and pet-friendly options. Guests praise the friendly hostess, clean facilities, and proximity to the N1 (6 km from Loch Logan Waterfront). A basic continental breakfast is included. Amenities include Wi-Fi, secure parking, a braai area, a well-equipped kitchen and a pet-friendly yard.

Best Bed & Breakfast

Oakwood Corner Guest House (Dan Pienaar) is the best B&B in Bloemfontein; offering a modern, intimate atmosphere in the upscale Dan Pienaar suburb, close to Preller Square and Mimosa Mall. Guests praise the personalised service and tasty breakfasts, with options for dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free). A great base for city exploration. Amenities include Wi-Fi, secure parking, a garden, a full breakfast included and air-conditioning.

Best Guest House

We recommend staying at Liedjiesbos Guest House. Look at the video below from when it was featured on Top Billing to understand why.
13 Frans Kleynhans Road, Groenvlei, Bloemfontein, 9301, Free State, South Africa Tel: 083 282 5701
Fax: 086 234 8572
   

"Nico: Good evening and a warm welcome to Top Billing. Whilst it?s open to debate whether a butterfly flapping its wings here could cause a hurricane halfway around the world, tonight?s unique location in Bloem, has a remarkable butterfly roof, which certainly questions traditional building.

Narrator: On a Free State farm you might expect a bungalow shaped house with a white stoep or traditional Cape Dutch. With this property, however, architect Jan Smit has built a two bedroomed home that defies the extreme regional temperatures. He?s managed to create a remarkably temperate indoor climate, it?s all in the roof you see.

Nico: It?s incredible, I believe this once was a barn.

Architect: Yes, it was a very typical agricultural barn with steel structure and pitched roof, which we changed around into a house and then we kept the floor plan the same, the footprint of the building, and then added some scriptural elements on this side, in the sandstone. And that?s then contrasted a little bit with more slick elements like steel, the glass, so it?s a contemporary version of an agricultural setup. But obviously the corrugated iron, what would a Free State house be without corrugated iron.

Narrator: Jan and Petria run an award-winning architectural practice that focuses on interpreting landscape and climate in their designs.

Architect: It?s done quite a few things for us, it lets in Northern light into the building from a very high angle specifically for the winter. It also creates a wonderful connection with the landscape and it creates quite a beautiful space on the inside.

Narrator: Imagine one butterfly wing of the roof extending over the larger living spaces and another smaller wing covering the back and utility areas. When you?re inside, you immediately appreciate the concept of light versus volume. Custom designed fixtures give the interior a calm, practical framework for art and furniture.

Architect: My way of creating the illusion of space was by giving it much bigger volume. Another mechanism to keep the space open is that the wall between the living area and the bedroom and bathroom is not going up right through to the ceiling of the interior space, it actually acts as a dividing element rather than a wall.

Narrator: White linen on a brass bed is a strong visual reference to life on a farm from another era. But the clean, unfussy setting brings it directly into the present. The modern translation of an African vernacular turns keepsakes into talking points. The owners are avid world explorers. A more tightly disciplined traveller might leave large and fragile artwork behind but these ardent collectors simply made a plan.

Nico: Henning, I?m loving your interiors, it seems every piece has its own story .

Henning: Yes, Nico, we found stuff all over the world, like the painting at the back we found in Thailand. We couldn?t bring it like this so we took it off the frame, rolled it up and brought it as hand luggage.

Narrator: They bought these chairs in China. Their many precious objects have come into their own in their new space.

Henning: The cupboard we found in a railway auction. I just took the doors off and turned it on its side so that we can put all our collectables in there.

Narrator: As you look around your eye settles and then takes flight only to find another focus. Perhaps the butterfly effect has found a new application. While the d?cor is colourful and intriguing, the discipline of the interior finishes makes it work. Money was an object of concern, but if you?re a resourceful architect, you turn limited cash into creative solutions.

Henning: We had a very small budget, so we had to do things like not put carpets or tiles on the floors. Instead of wallpaper we painted the stripes on the wall. The rest of the walls we put on stickers. Initially it is expensive but you never have to repaint that wall again, so that saves you a lot of money.

Narrator: A gas hob makes for instant and economic design. The kitchen?s practical but far from sparse.

Henning: We used super wood and then we just painted it. The cement we just left like it was and then just put a layer of varnish on top of that.

Nico: It?s a very rough, earthy feel, I like it.

Narrator: Remember, that this was once a farm. Today it?s the garden that sustains the house. Henning?s pride is his greenhouse. But it?s not your average bean and tomato incubator. His veggies are exotic and his indigenous flowers, well travelled.

Henning: We also grow some things just because it?s beautiful or it?s edible. So, we?ve got some Chinese vegetables here which are really beautiful and really nice to eat.

Nico: What are these little guys?

Henning: These are called schinopsis multiflora, it?s a rare South African plant, indigenous to South Africa, but the funny thing is that we found it in Thailand of all places. So we asked my friend to send me a few but when we went to the airport to collect them he sent me two tons of bulbs. It doesn?t need too much sun so you can put? it in a shady spot in the garden. Don?t plant it too deep under the soil and it should be fine.

Nico: Now how is it that a plant that is indigenous to South Africa is very rare here?

Henning: I think what happened is that South African people didn?t appreciate indigenous plants for quite? few years and all of a sudden with the droughts that?s coming with global warming, people want to plant indigenous plants because it just makes more sense, its water wise.

Nico: Well, I?ve got to say, I love rare things , like my wife and Top Billing and I can?t wait to take this and plant it in my little garden at home.

Narrator: The plants that don?t live in the controlled environment have grown strong in outs of the struggle and that?s life in the Free State for you. As for the structure, it works on the land, because it too shares homegrown credentials.

Architect: The way that you use your materials, your design, the modulation of the building should be something that has to do with that specific landscape and the specific part of the world that you are working in. There?s no getting away from the extreme temperatures, but Henning has a plan for all season.

Nico: What is it that you like the most about your home?

Henning: Nico, what I really love the most is our coal stove during the cold winters we?ve got in the Free State. So we would open a bottle of wine and sit infront of the coal stove for hours, it?s really magical. And then of course, all the natural light that comes in through these windows. And looking at the stars during the night, seeing the moonrise, that?s the small things that make this home special.

Narrator: the quiet evenings, the signing of cicadas in summer, the creak of the roof as it cools after the heat of the day. The house offers the best of the rural life, a productive tract of land, a peaceful retreat and all the benefits of contemporary design".

Best Hotel

Protea Hotel by Marriott Bloemfontein Willow Lake (Willows) is the best hotel in Bloemfontein. A 4-star hotel 3km from the N1, offering a corporate hub near Free State Stadium. Guests appreciate its modern facilities, family-friendly setup, and proximity to key attractions. It’s a reliable choice for business or leisure with a focus on comfort (though slightly less personalised). Amenities: Outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, free parking, restaurant, air-conditioned rooms, conference facilities for up to 100 delegates. Breakfast: Buffet available (fee).

Protea Hotel Bloemfontein
202 Nelson Mandela Drive, Brandwag, Bloemfontein
Email: reservations@phbloemfontein.co.za
Website: www.protea.marriott.com
Tel: 051 444 4321
Fax: 051 444 5714.

Best Pet-Friendly Accommodation

A Cherry Lane Self-catering and B&B (Ferreira) is the best pet-friendly accommodation in Bloemfontein; offering a self-catering Guest House & B&B Situated on a smallholding 8 km south of Bloemfontein, this tranquil property offers pet-friendly units with enclosed gardens, perfect for pets to play safely. It’s close to Windmill Casino and hospitals, with a lush garden setting loved by pet owners. Guests appreciate the peaceful, farm-like atmosphere and attentive hosts. Pets are allowed by prior arrangement, no pet fee specified (confirm with property). Enclosed yards available in some units. Amenities include a fully equipped kitchen, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, outdoor pool, private braai patio, secure parking and breakfast is available (at a fee).

Notable mentions

Summary of reviews of Bloemfontein accommodation

Worst accommodation in Bloemfontein

Among the accommodations reviewed, a certain large hotel has the most severe and consistent negative feedback, citing critical issues like non-functional toilets, no hot water, and broken heaters (with Bloemfontein's icy cold winters, this can be a major issue).

Intercity buses to Bloemfontein

Intercape and Big Sky Intercity buses from:

To get back home see our Intercape buses from Bloemfontein page.

Intercity Bus Operators to Bloemfontein

Intercape leads for safety and luxury, followed by Big Sky for affordability and safety. Intercity Xpress and Greyhound offer strong luxury options, while Eagle Liner and Citiliner Plus cater to budget travelers with trade-offs. City to City, APM WC, Translux, and Delta Coaches lack robust data, making them less dependable for Bloemfontein connections.

Best & worst accommodation in South Africa

Hotel prices

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