Nicol Street Heritage Cottages

With no shared lobby or communal lounge, the whole experience feels refreshingly residential. Each of the six cottages and apartments has its own entrance, private patio or balcony, and a kitchenette for coffee and light meals. The interiors are rich with heritage-inspired wallpapers, antique touches and locally sourced artwork that give every space a real personality. A round-the-clock concierge takes care of everything from dinner reservations to day-trip planning, and daily housekeeping keeps things spotless. It's discreet, personal and polished, without a hint of overdone hospitality.

The spaces range from the compact Peacock Suite (with its romantic canopy bed and antique wall friezes) to the generous Fam&Friends Apartment, which sleeps up to five and has Table Mountain views from its large patio. The African Romance Cottage is a showstopper – the bathroom is incredible! – while the Heritage Cottage, a restored worker's dwelling from circa 1879, has two bedrooms and its own courtyard with a lion-flanked fountain. Throughout, expect extra-king beds dressed in crisp linens, ensuite bathrooms with baths and showers, smart TVs and climate control.

Step outside and you're instantly on Kloof Street, one of Cape Town's best spots for eating, drinking and people-watching. Award-winning Upper Union is a two-minute walk, Kloof Street House is a Cape Town institution, and there are dozens more options from Japanese to pizza to craft cocktails. The Table Mountain cableway is a ten-minute drive away, the beaches at Camps Bay and Clifton are fifteen, and the V&A Waterfront with its Robben Island ferries is twenty. Further afield, the Constantia Winelands and the dramatic coastal drive down to Cape Point are both easy day trips – and your concierge can arrange the lot.