If your heart beats faster at the feel of a goose down duvet, the smell of lilies, Molton Brown hand cream and the taste of the perfectly poached egg, these boutique hotels in Cape Town are right up your alley.
What sets a boutique hotel apart? They are typically small, luxurious and located in a sought-after part of the city. Staying at these hotels, you’ll know you’re in Cape Town and you wouldn’t want it any other way.
With a postcard-perfect view of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the Bliss Boutique Hotel is an ideal location for a luxurious and memorable getaway. Surrounded by indigenous fynbos and with a private pathway to the beach, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in paradise. Free WIFI, exquisite rooms and an in-restaurant and bar area means you’ll be catered for in style. The city lights might look far off, but town is just 20-minutes away and the neighbouring area of Table View has plenty to offer in terms of watersports, restaurants and nature activities. Facilities include a solar-heated pool and two viewing decks.
Great For: Comfort and relaxation, Table Mountain views, nature lovers, excellent service
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Rooms, with 4 being able to convert to suites to suit family needs
Website: blissboutiquehotel.co.za
This cosy boutique hotel in Oranjezicht is close to the heart of Cape Town, with Greenmarket Square, Long Street, Bree Street and the Bo-Kaap all within walking distance. Built in 1903 and remodelled with great care, the building is an exceptional example of the Cape contemporary classic building style and houses a collection of South African art and an eclectic interior.
Great For: Historic heart of Cape Town, views, authenticity, art
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Rooms
Website: fourrosmead.com
If your idea of a boutique hotel includes light filled spaces, a palette of whites and creams and tranquil, leafy surrounds then Banksia Boutique Hotel & Spa fits the bill perfectly. Relax in the 12-metre swimming pool or indulge in a spa treatment at the end of a long day exploring the city or doing business in the Southern Suburbs.
Great For: Business, value, elegance, quiet
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Rooms
Website: banksiaboutique.co.za
A Relais & Châteaux member, Ellerman House on the slopes of Lion’s Head in Bantry Bay epitomizes luxury. The interior of Ellerman House is opulent while the private villas are modern in style. Located on grounds of one-and-a half acres, the property is not open to the public which makes it a firm favourite with celebrities holidaying in Cape Town. From their spa and bar to their library, your every need will be catered for.
Great For: Luxury, Atlantic Ocean view, art, service, privacy
Number of rooms/suites: 11 Rooms and 2 Suites, 2 Private Villas
Website: ellerman.co.za
Image courtesy of Ellerman House.
If glamour is what you had in mind for your stay on Cape Town’s own Riviera, check into The Marly. While the views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range are beautiful, paying a bit more for a room with a sea view is well worth it.
Great For: Beachfront, nightlife, elegance, sheer trendiness
Number of rooms/suites: 11 Suites
Website: themarly.co.za
It’s no small feat for a small hotel like Blackheath Lodge to be listed in the third spot for Cape Town Central hotels. Close to the ocean and ideal for walks along the promenade in Sea Point, it is the personal service, stylish interior and attention to detail that earns this hotel an almost perfect score every time.
Great For: Warm hospitality, close to ocean, style, breakfast
Number of rooms/suites: 12 Rooms and 1 Suite
Website: blackheathlodge.co.za
Camps Bay is one of the most iconic beaches in Cape Town and here you get to see why up close and personal. Design elements like steel, wood, glass and slate give this hotel its hip feel and modern. Pair that with the opportunity to watch heavenly bodies on the beach, all the while sipping cocktails and you’ll understand why design savvy visitors love the POD.
Great For: Modern architecture, sound of the sea, nightlife, celebrity spotting
Number of rooms/suites: 15 Rooms
Website: pod.co.za
Image courtesy of POD.
Enjoy your stay in a stylish, modern room with quirky design touches in the heart of the ‘Village’. Green Point is well known for being loved by the gay community neighbourhood and ‘Bitchy Bingo’ at Beefcakes Burger Bar should be on your bucket list. Take a walk through the Green Point Urban Park; pick up a bite to eat at Giovanni’s Deli and stroll along the promenade past Green Point Lighthouse.
Great For: Style, value, location, Village vibe
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Suites
Website: dysart.de
A haven for the traditionalist, this charming French country-style hotel is located a short drive away from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and the Constantia Wine Valley. Catch your breath in the Champagne or Drawing Room or next to the pool with views of Table Mountain.
Great For: Elegance, value, wine country, gardens
Number of rooms/suites: 12 Rooms and Suites
Website: andros.co.za
The sole objective of the team at O on Kloof is for you to unwind. Relax. Tatler Magazine (UK) crowned it one of the Top 101 hotels in the world. Leaning on the glamorous bar it wouldn’t feel like much of a stretch to ask for your martini “Shaken, not stirred.”
Great For: Relaxation, attentive service, luxury, modernity
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Rooms
Website: oonkloof.co.za
This small property with priceless views feels almost secluded, but the location gives you the choice to dip in and out of the bustle of the V&A Waterfront as you please. With butler-style service in an exclusive environment, you’ll feel like you’ve truly arrived.
Great For: Location, first-time visitors, V&A Waterfront views, home away from home feel
Number of rooms/suites: 6 Rooms
Website: newmarkhotels.com
This 5-star hotel is the perfect base for food and wine lovers to explore the city from. Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Peter Tempelhoff delights diners in the award-winning Greenhouse restaurant. Rooms in the main building are modern while the historical Hohenort building is more traditional.
Great For: Cuisine, garden setting, tranquillity, golf
Number of rooms/suites: 48 Rooms and Suites
Website: collectionmcgrath.com
Image courtesy of Cellars Hohenort.
In a word, refreshing. Villa Zest’s otherness is what sets them apart. Undeniably luxurious, the hotel’s retro style and quirky traits – like a 70’s electronics collection – is combined with a great location and facilities like a rooftop garden with 360° views of Cape Town. Your first drink is on the house, they promise to let you sleep in and if breakfast is at noon as a result, they are cool with that too. So very cool.
Great For: Modern architecture, design, location, a sense of humour
Number of rooms/suites: 7 Rooms
Website: villazest.co.za
Tatler Magazine recognized Kensington Place as the ‘Best City Boutique Hotel’, calling it “the coolest bolthole in the Cape…the bar is sexy as hell. This is the perfect small city hotel”. We couldn’t have said it better.
Great For: Design, city views, coolness, leafy location, proximity to Kloof Street
Number of rooms/suites: 8 Suites
Website: kensingtonplace.co.za
A small hotel, the Cape Cadogan is located just off vibey Kloof Street in a building declared a National Monument. The hotel team pride themselves on their knowledge of Cape Town gems and local secrets. The size of rooms will delight visitors as the entry level rooms are an average of 30m2 / 300 ft.
Great For: Relaxed elegance, restaurants, nightlife, personal service
Number of rooms/suites: 15 Rooms and Suites
Website: capecadogan.co.za
Built in 1871, this historical building in the coastal suburb of Hout Bay has been refurbished with great care to reflect a more a contemporary style. Hot pinks, reds (it works, we promise), African prints and Delft patterns give the hotel a style of its own and promise for a once-in-a-lifetime kind of stay.
Great For: Romantic breaks, relaxation, food and wine pairing, modern African décor
Number of rooms/suites: 16 Rooms and 1 Suite
Website: houtbaymanor.com
Derwent House Boutique Hotel is perfectly situated in the heart one of Cape Town’s trendiest neighbourhoods. This converted Victorian house has been transformed into the epitome of modern African style and charm, thanks to a carefully curated collection of African artwork and décor. With air-conditioned rooms, fast Wi-fi, and proximity to some of the best restaurants, bars and coffee shops in the city, Derwent House offers everything a traveller to Cape Town could possibly need.
Great For: Location, 4-star luxury with guesthouse charm, relaxed but chic ambience
Number of rooms/suites: 10 rooms, 2 self-catering apartments
Website: derwenthouse.co.za
Article by Capetown.travel
