Faces Lounge & Bar at NH Hotel: An Idyllic Urban Escape

Stowed away in an inconspicuous corner of the NH Hotel in Sandton, Faces Lounge & Bar is an idyllic pocket in the city. Situated on the ground floor at the far end of the hotel, Faces Lounge & Bar is where you go when you want to unwind, relax, and take a break from your everyday life.

Atmosphere: Sunset Sundowners on the Sandton Terrace

Casual and an absolute breath of fresh air, Faces Lounge & Bar offers a choice of either indoor or outdoor seating. Opting for the latter, I made my way to the terrace and was met with serenity as soon as I stepped outside. Cloaked in the warm hues of the sunset and surrounded by greenery, it’s an intimate space that allows you to unwind in a private setting.

Exploring the Eclectic New A la Carte Menu

Sandwiches, desserts, tapas and a salad

Recently having launched their new menu, Faces Lounge & Bar specialises in light meals and cocktails. Inspired by different cuisines from around the world, the A la Carte menu is eclectic and quite indulgent. The menu consists of:  

• A salad
• Sandwiches
• Tapas
• Desserts

The one salad that Faces Lounge & Bar has on the menu is a Cobb salad. The American garden salad was fresh, and flavours well-balanced, with the blue cheese being just the right amount.

Sandwiches on offer are:

• Philly Cheesesteak
• Grilled Chicken & Avocado Burger
• Club Sandwich

The Philly Cheesesteak came with cheese sauce poured over it and a side of fries. The thinly sliced beef fillet steak was soft, and the onions added just the right amount of sweetness. The bread was far too dry. It would have helped to have the cheese sauce as a dip rather than on the sandwich. Thoroughly enjoyed the fries.

Tapas on the menu are:

• American Beef BBQ Rib
• Shrimp Tempura
• Italian Arancini  
• Loaded Nachos  
• Beef Kebabs  
• Grilled Halloumi Skewers
• South African Braai Platter  

Tapas and Light Meals: From Tempura Shrimp to Beef Kebabs

A lover of tapas, as it allows one to have a little bit of everything without the group of friends that may be required to do so, I love that Faces Lounge & Bar has a healthy offering on hand. From the ones I had, by far my favourite was the Tempura shrimp and beef kebabs.

The shrimp tempura was served with a lemon wedge and a pickled slaw? The slaw pairing didn’t work at all for me. A sauce of some kind, either creamy, tangy or savoury, would have worked better. The shrimp itself was phenomenal. The crunch was out of this world with a succulent crustacean at the centre of it all.

The beef kebabs were soft and juicy. It was served with a soft, flatbread, smooth hummus, and tzatziki sauce (which was mintier than what I would have liked, but refreshing nonetheless). Everything went really well together.

I’m hoping to try the rest on my next visit. If I’m raving about just the two I just had, I’m expecting the rest to be just as good, if not better.

You can also order sharing options at Faces Lounge & Bar, which only consist of Buffalo wings and pork belly bao buns.  

The Best Buffalo Wings in Sandton?

The wings were made right in front of us by the chef, who was also kind enough to serve them to us. They were incredible. The sweet, spicy and tangy flavours were in harmony, with the brightness of the ranch sauce further tying everything together.

If you are ever asked again, what is the one dish you could eat for the rest of your life? The answer has to be the buffalo wings at NH Hotel’s Faces Lounge & Bar.  

They also have a biltong bar. I asked if they could fry it up for me with my selected flavours and the chef said yes. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, Faces Lounge & Bar showed me that it could.

Something soft and sweet

A meal isn’t complete without something soft and sweet. The decadently indulgent brownie sundae passed me by, which is a shame. Another menu item for me to try on my next visit, because what do you mean I didn’t get to experience a gooey brownie that’s topped with vanilla ice-cream, fudge sauce, whipped cream, with a cherry on top? It’s a personal mission at this point.

I did, however, finish the tasting with their New York baked cheesecake. Served with some strawberry chunks, a drizzle of strawberry sauce and topped with a white chocolate filigree, it was okay. The texture wasn’t as smooth as it should have been. It was tasty, though, and not too sweet.  

The bar has no shortage of beverages. Whatever your poison, they most probably have it.

Signature Cocktails and Refreshing Mocktails

I had the fruit punch and a virgin strawberry mojito. Both were refreshing for the scorcher of the day that Sandton was. The fruit punch was a bit tart, but I honestly didn’t mind it that much because it was slightly complemented by the sweetness of the mocktail. The virgin strawberry mojito was crisp, light and also a good addition to the day.

Visit Faces Lounge & Bar: Location and Hours

House music had us jamming while we caught up with friends, and even made new ones. Faces Lounge & Bar is the place to go to either finish the day or start the weekend. The noise of the city falls back, and you wouldn’t be at fault for forgetting where you are.

A must destination for sundowners, Faces Lounge & Bar, located in NH Hotel, is open daily from 7:00 am to 1:00 am.