Pepper Club Hotel & Spa

This stylish place combines the best features of an international hotel with the warmth of a smaller boutique lodge. The lobby is glossy and super-chic, while the on-site COPA Restaurant nods to the city's Victorian heritage. (The menu though is modern – we smacked our lips over the prawn and chicken curry). Grab a coffee and croissant from Ruby's Bakery & Cafe. Chill at the in-house cinema (what a treat!), spa or rooftop pool (with views worth tweeting about).

Whatever their size (and all are spacious), every room here is furnished with upscale amenities. You can expect quality linens, top-of-the-range mattresses, a large bathroom with baths and showers, and views to dream over – balconies overlook Table Mountain, Signal Hill or Table Bay. Superior Rooms have a good deal more acreage, king-sized beds and a small lounge. From here it just gets more extravagant – from two to three-bedroom suites to the practically palatial Presidential and Penthouse Suites.

Cape Town is an extraordinary place. From the hotel, stroll along to Greenmarket Square to browse the market (beware of pickpockets), great coffee bars, and a museum or two. A free shuttle between the hotel and the heady V&A Waterfront leaves every two hours. There's Table Mountain to summit in the cable car, the Company Gardens to explore, and some world-class museums and art galleries. As in any city, it's best not to stroll the streets at night.