The most stylish and sun-soaked hotels to lurk in when visiting the South African capital. Coming into Cape Town’s best time of the year these beautiful hotels are our must-try stays this summer.
Gorgeous George
Best for impromptu rooftop parties
The first Design Hotel in Cape Town, located in a Victorian-era heritage building overlooking Greenmarket Square, Gorgeous George. The bedrooms are designed raw concrete and steelwork, with wall mid-century modern custom-made furniture by some of the best contemporary South African designers, including Dokter and Misses, and David Krynauw.
Above the hotel Gigi Rooftop restaurant and bar has become a cool inner-city meeting place. Chef ,Guy Bennett keeps his menu short and sharp, always driven by seasonality and ethical sourcing.
While the grass-fed ribeye steak with chips, tempura onion rings and salad is a winner, plant-based mains dominate the menu – matching the Cape Town’s healthy lifestyle.
Cocktails are the height of artisanal cool, thanks to winning mixologist Jody Rahme’s homemade cordials, small-batch craft spirits and original flavourings. The wine list showcases small, independent producers.
Address: Gorgeous George, 18 St Georges Mall, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 87 898 6000
Website: gorgeousgeorge.co.za
The Silo Hotel
Best for eclectic design and wrap-around views.
Part of the Biden family’s deluxe collection, The Silo is Cape Town’s most talked-about hotel. Sitting above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) it’s compact footprint packs a punch and includes the best rooftop bar and pool in the city.
Architect Thomas Heatherwick’s jewel-like pillowed glass windows guarantee views from every single one of the 28 rooms. The style features boudoir-like bathrooms, contemporary African art, Ardmore fabrics, antiques from India, Egyptian chandeliers, Persian carpets and custom-made furniture in vivid colours to add glamour and comfort. Direct access to the Zeitz MOCAA is an added must-use bonus.
Address: Silo Hotel, Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 21 670 0500
Website: theroyalportfolio.com
The Marly
Best for a decadent beach holiday
Named after Sun King Louis XIV’s country folly, Château de Marly, this hotel has decadence as its prevailing theme. Want drinks and lunch on the beach? There’s a beach butler service for that. Want to binge-watch Netflix, but eat something different to your partner? The Marly has the largest room-service menu in the city.
Breakfast is a choice of patisserie-worthy pastries at La Belle or a buffet-style spread at Bilbao, where you can check out the waves before hitting the beach. And The Marly’s rooftop bar and pool, part of the hip Kove Collection and overlooking Camps Bay’s beach, is a local favourite hangout. Bedrooms are decorated in a beach-bling palette of silver, grey and white, whether facing the sea or the Twelve Apostles mountains behind.
Address: The Marly, 201 The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 21 437-1287
Website: themarly.co.za
Labotessa
Best for history and bespoke design
Everything about this tall, heritage-blue residence is enchanting, from its tucked-away location on Church Square (full of architectural treasures including Groote Kerk), to the carefully considered interiors and unobstructed views of Lion’s Head. The suites are generous, elegantly decorated salons with high ceilings, French oak floors and petrol-blue walls offset by crisp white bedlinen, Cape antiques with East-West influences and commissioned art works.
Above these rooms is a two-storey contemporary penthouse, the Governor Suite (named after the first governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel), with three bedrooms, private kitchen and plunge pool. Blue tiles, pale marble and Diptyque products enhance otherwise small bathrooms.
Next door to Labotessa is Fyn Restaurant for cutting-edge, pioneering Japanese-South African tasting menus in an ethereal loft space. Breakfast is served at street-level Starlings Café, an all-day, owner-managed organic restaurant that already enjoys a cult following in its original location in suburban Claremont.
Address: Labotessa, Church Square, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 21 010 6600
Website: labotessa.com
Best for big families
The One & Only Cape Town has some of the best views of Table Mountain in summer. The top rooms for families are the island suites, close to the palm tree-fringed, rim-flow pool and Isola, a casual restaurant for in-house guests. All twin-shares have two queen beds, and children under 17 stay for free.
Breakfast, which can be served on your balcony, is also included. The kids’ club offers art and crafts, baking, outdoor games and supervised visits to the next-door Two Oceans Aquarium. The gym has floor-to-ceiling views, personal trainers, boxing lessons and bootcamp. There’s even a destination spa on its own little island, with 12 treatment rooms and a yoga pavilion in the garden just in front of the hotel.
Located in the V&A Waterfront this hotel boasts the same proximity to activities and cape town’s hub as the Silo hotel.
Address: One & Only Cape Town, Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Telephone: +27 21 431 5888
Website: oneandonlyresorts.com
Original Article from CNTRAVELLER
