Gorgeous George Boutique Hotel

Best described as “Edwardian-elegance-meets-industrial-styling” (well, we did say that DesignHotels™ loves a good mash-up!), the hotel’s design is cool and sexy. Created as a showcase for South African design, the dark color palette provides a stylish backdrop for pieces from the likes of Dokter and Misses, and for the colourful floral carpets lining the hallways, whilst touches of blue and white work to soften the industrial elements. Another highlight is the reception area’s showcase of 1,800 painstakingly hand-painted ceramic tiles that together form a map of Cape Town.

The 20 rooms and 12 suites aren’t huge but then again, they are only meant for sleeping - the action happens elsewhere here! And the delicious vintage design and topnotch amenities can’t be faulted. Raw concrete walls and exposed pipework are juxtaposed with hand-made furniture and an eclectic collection of curios and trinkets (think old-school dialing phones and vintage radios), while the bathrooms make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time to the 1930s – until you step into the heavenly rain shower that is. The amenities, created exclusively for Gorgeous George, smell good enough to steal.

Start your day with a mouthwatering breakfast on the rooftop terrace before heading off to explore the Mother City - the hotel is close to the V&A Waterfront and only a 10-minute drive from the famous Clifton and Camps Bay beaches. It’s worth coming back for drinks and dinner however - renowned mixologist Jody Rahme serves a mean cocktail, and dinner is not only delicious but also excellent value-for-money. Weekends come with live DJ sets and a cool vibe - best accompanied by another round of cocktails!