Highlights
- Historic hotel the Malawi’s central business district.
- Modern and comfortable conference facilities.
- Upscale dining and cocktails.
- Relaxing outdoor swimming pool and garden.
Background
Protea Hotel Ryalls is an iconic name in Malawi. It is the only branch of the leading Protea Hotels Group in Malawi, which has won two awards for Best Hotel Group in Africa. The 4-star Protea Hotel Ryalls is a landmark hotel in Blantyre, Malawi and has been extensively renovated over the years to become one of the most modern hotels in the country.
Also interesting to note, the Protea group recently partnered with Marriott and will be soon sharing award points and offers.
Experience
To get to the hotel, I had a picturesque drive down from Liwonde National Park and to leave by plane the international airport is only a 15 minute trip. Protea Hotel Ryalls is very central in Blantyre, just a short walk to the heart of the business district.
When I arrived I was greeted by the friendly front desk and my check in was processed. I admired the old pictures of the historic hotel in the lobby.
The King Room I stayed in was clean and modern with neutral colored prints which contrasted well with the colorful garden view from my window. Inside the suite, I had a separate sitting area, work desk, air conditioning and satellite TV. Included in the room was a mini bar, electronic safe and access to wireless internet.
The bathroom was very functional with a separate shower, bath, sink and toilet.
The Protea Hotel Ryalls is home to Malawi’s famous 21 Grill. The restaurant was named for the year it opened and has become a landmark in the city. The interior preserves the feel of an colonial high-end dining room with a bookshelf and tables set up for fine dining. The restaurant continues to serve its specialty steaks which made it famous which I had to try.
They also offer an extensive sundowners wine list to pair with your dish at the adjacent Cocktail Bar which is a popular meeting place in Blantyre.
For something a little more casual try the hotel’s other restaurant, Ryalls Restaurant which is perfect for a leisurely lunch or a coffee date. The chefs prepare fusion style dishes for lunch and dinner with fresh seasonal ingredients which highlight the Malawian influence. The restaurant is also where guests of the hotel can enjoy their breakfast buffet every morning.
The Protea Hotel Ryalls also has great facilities such as the Fitness Center which is fully equipped and well maintained. The machines are split on two levels, the upper level for cardiovascular machines and the lower for weights and resistance training.
The Outdoor Pool offers a place to relax and get some sun in one of the loungers surround the pool.
One of the major draws for business travelers is the modern Conference Center which has six spaces available which can be set up for meetings, banquets, seminars and even galas with top of the line equipment like overhead projectors, PA systems, whiteboards and televisions. The hotel’s staff can also take care of business needs such as copies, faxing, and creating name tags and brochures. Guests of conference center events can even enjoy full use of the Protea Hotel Ryalls’ other amenities like the gym and pool.
Everyone at Protea Hotel Ryalls was welcoming and helpful especially the restaurant staff that served with a smile.
The history and the great facilities make the Protea Hotel Ryalls one of the best hotels in Blantyre and Malawi. Take time to read the history and glance through the pictures as you walk through the halls. I would highly recommend a stay for both business and leisure travelers to Blantyre.
Contact
Protea Hotel Ryalls
Address: 2 Hannover Avenue, Blantyre, Malawi
Telephone: +265 (0) 1 820 955/195
Website: http://www.proteahotels.com/hotels/Pages/protea-hotel-ryalls.aspx
Email: ryalls@proteamalawi.com