Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg welcomes the return of jacaranda season with its annual Jacaranda Afternoon Tea, served from 1 October to 30 November 2026. Created by Executive Pastry Chef Nathan Jacobs, this year's menu draws inspiration from the distinctive palette of spring while reimagining one of Johannesburg’s most cherished traditions.
Throughout October and November, guests can also enjoy a new jacaranda-inspired cocktail menu at Flames, offering another way to experience the season from one of Johannesburg's most spectacular vantage points. Each spring, Johannesburg’s streets take on a soft purple haze almost overnight. Elevated on the Westcliff ridge, the hotel offers one of the city's most enviable vantage points from which to witness the transformation.
For many Johannesburg residents, the flowering trees signal the arrival of warmer days and the approach of summer, creating a moment that feels uniquely tied to the city.Served in the Lobby Lounge & Bar overlooking Johannesburg's urban forest, the Jacaranda Afternoon Tea invites guests to pause and take in the season while enjoying a menu inspired by its colours and character.Chef Jacobs has built the 2026 menu around the fruits that share the blossom’s palette. Blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant and cherry feature throughout the sweet selection, while savoury offerings include beetroot-cured salmon, warm butter chicken pies and classic afternoon tea favourites. “The jacaranda gives us a colour story before anything else,” says Chef Jacobs. “I followed that thread through the darker berries, then balanced it with brightness, spice and texture, so that each tier feels as layered as the view.”The result honours the rituals of an English afternoon while capturing a moment that belongs entirely to Johannesburg.
Jacaranda Cocktails at Flames
Throughout the season, Flames introduces a limited-edition cocktail menu celebrating Johannesburg's most colourful time of year. Drawing inspiration from the violet hues that settle across the city's urban forest each spring, the collection offers guests another way to experience the city's annual transformation. As afternoon gives way to evening, Flames provides a spectacular setting from which to watch the sun set over the purple canopy, with panoramic views stretching across Johannesburg's northern suburbs.
A Jacaranda Weekend Experience
On 24 and 25 October, the hotel invites guests to experience jacaranda season beyond the hotel grounds through a special weekend programme presented in collaboration with Joburg In Your Pocket.Each morning begins with tea, coffee and light refreshments in the Lobby Lounge & Bar before guests set out on a guided exploration of Westcliff's jacaranda-lined avenues. Led by local guides and specialists, the walks offer insight into the history, architecture and seasonal character of one of Johannesburg's most celebrated neighbourhoods.
Following the walk, guests are invited to return to the hotel to continue the experience. On Saturday, the Jacaranda Afternoon Tea provides a fitting continuation of the morning's exploration, while Sunday offers a choice between the Jacaranda Afternoon Tea and brunch at Flames, the hotel's award-winning open-fire restaurant.Designed around one of Johannesburg's most anticipated annual moments, the weekend pairs the beauty of the flowering canopy with the hospitality, views and culinary experiences of Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.
Reservations
- The Jacaranda Afternoon Tea is served daily from 1 October to 30 November 2026, with 12pm and 3pm seatings available.
- The Westcliff Jacaranda Afternoon Tea is priced at R650 per person, including a glass of South African Méthode Cap Classique.
- The Champagne Jacaranda Afternoon Tea is priced at R950 per person including a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne
- Tickets for the Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October walk and hotel experiences: [Quicket link TBC]
- For reservations, call +27 11 481 6450 or email [email protected].
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