Cape Town's V&A Waterfront has plenty of places to stay, but not many wear the sea on their sleeve like this one. Sitting on Portswood Road, the hotel leans happily into its seafaring name, and the views do the rest: Table Mountain, the working harbour and Robben Island all put in an appearance. It's a big, easy-going base rather than a boutique bolthole, and none the worse for it. Spend the morning exploring the Waterfront, the afternoon horizontal beside the outdoor pool (loungers and towels are laid on) and the evening back out among the harbour lights. Cape Town does the hard work, you just have to turn up.
/18.4172379970551,-33.906236627175,6/600x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidGltYnVrdHV0cmF2ZWwiLCJhIjoiY2poMGw1eHpkMmRkbDJ6bW8xYWZ5OGpjYyJ9.PYvAO7lUJ40SOpGvwmQLqw&attribution=false&logo=false)
Step into the restaurant and the maritime theme goes full sail: model ships, nautical paintings and warm wooden furniture gathered around a fireplace that earns its keep on a blustery Cape evening. The menu roams the globe rather than sticking to home waters. Elsewhere, the bar spills out onto an open-air terrace, and a residents' lounge gives you somewhere to flop with a book between outings. A gym takes care of the conscientious. Everyone else can order another drink.
The 234 rooms and suites start at a compact 25 square metres, with twin or queen beds and mountain views. A step up brings a bathroom with both a tub and a separate shower, and Executive rooms add a private balcony looking towards Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Robben Island or the Waterfront. Family rooms sleep three. The suites are the real treat: a king bed, a separate lounge, twin basins and a walk-in shower with a view of its own.
The courtyard. Step out of the restaurant and you'll find a koi pond ringed by greenery, a pocket of calm that feels a long way from the bustle of the Waterfront. Bring a glass of something cold and settle in.
The restaurant keeps fairly tight lunch and dinner hours, but lighter plates carry on in between. Come back from sightseeing peckish at three and the bar terrace is where you want to be.
With three conference rooms, the largest holding 150 delegates, this is as much a business hotel as a holiday one. Expect a few suits and lanyards at breakfast alongside the sightseers.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
9 nights from $4.8K per person
13 nights from $5.6K per person
11 nights from $7.1K per person
10 nights from $5.8K per person
12 nights from $6.8K per person
10 nights from $3.4K per person
Commodore Hotel can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made South Africa trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended South Africa trips featuring Commodore Hotel or get advice and suggestions from one of our South Africa specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Commodore Hotel start from around $90, or US$90, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
Beach, culture, mountains, wine and bright lights, this stylish city has everything, and a bit more.
