The PortsWood Hotel

With a valet to welcome you, service at the Portswood is highly polished. Its style blends a vintage, heritage-conscious feel with a good dollop of luxury - also helped by the gorgeous Casuarina spa. Elements of the hotel's history are front and centre in the Quarter Kitchen, which has rugged stone walls, beamed ceilings and an intimate setting to enjoy a variety of Cape Malay dishes. The bar has a lovely atmosphere and opens onto a terrace in the garden for warm evenings. In a secluded courtyard, there's a lovely pool and pinstriped loungers.

The Portswood offers a range of accommodation, from standard double or twin rooms to the Captain's Suite. The rooms are beautifully done in shades of deep blue, white and cream and nautical prints on the walls. The Studio is open-plan with a spacious sitting area and huge bathtub, while the Captain's Suite is the most high-end, boasting a dining area and lounge, and views across the Waterfront and bay. Each room is equipped with a tea/coffee facilities, minibar and mounted TV. There is also a room with wheelchair accessibility.

This is Cape Town and that means anything is possible. Spend the morning on one of the city's many superb beaches, then at lunch time, find your way to an award-winning restaurant, followed by a wine tasting in Constantia, and (depending on how much you enjoyed the tasting) hike to the top of Lion's Head for sunset. Whether you're a foodie, history buff, hiker or just looking to soak up as much sunshine as possible, the staff at the Portswood will happily point you in the right direction.