Best hotels in Cape Town

Stay at the Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel and home is a classically beautiful Victorianised farmhouse that was declared a National Monument in 1984 – and for good reason. With a sweeping whitewashed façade, pretty tiled floor and grand Romeo-and-Juliet-style balconies, you can’t fail to be impressed as you meander up the pathway from the main street. Neighbourhood-wise, this is Cape Town at its trendiest best; kooky Kloof Street is around the corner while the bars and cafes of Tamboerskloof are just up the hill. If any hotel deserves the title of ‘best kept secret’ it’s the Cape Cadogan…

Tucked down a leafy cul-de-sac, just off Cape Town's famously buzzy Kloof Street, this collection of six beautifully-restored cottages and apartments is the kind of place you want to keep to yourself. With buildings dating back to the late 1870s, the décor is all about custom wallpapers, chandeliers and Cape Colonial colour palettes, with a good dollop of added South African warmth. There's no reception desk, no communal lobby and no fuss; just a dedicated concierge, impeccable finishing touches and a front door that opens onto one of the Mother City's best-fed neighbourhoods. Table Mountain looms above, Camps Bay's beaches are a quick drive away, and breakfast is a one-minute stroll to the end of the street.

Tintswalo Atlantic is tucked away by the ocean at the foot of a winding private driveway below the famous Chapman’s Peak. Sheltered in a pebbled cove in Table Mountain National Park, Tintswalo looks out across Hout Bay, just a few minutes’ drive from this lively harbour town, yet feels remote and secluded. This boutique hotel is an opulent tribute to its stunning natural surroundings, skilfully crafted from timber and glass to make the most of its spectacular coastal setting. Ten suites, plus a vast hillside double suite, offer lavish accommodation in a beautiful spot within easy reach of Cape Town and its endless attractions.

The Silo is a unique ultra-modern structure which has been transformed from a former grain silo into a magnificent luxurious hotel with a dramatic futuristic feel. This industrial-style marvel of architecture and design is positioned above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), home to an ever-changing series of exhibitions, featuring some of Africa’s most talented artists. It's a brand new addition to Cape Town’s iconic skyline in a prime position on the lively V&A Waterfront, with astounding all-round views of the harbour, the City Bowl, and Table Mountain.

It may take pride of place in Cape Town's Church Square, surrounded by the views that make the city famous, but it's the attention to detail that will make you fall in love with Labotessa. Beyond the hotel's 17th century facade, it has history woven into its design and you'll find a space infused with elegance, comfort and a feeling of homeliness quite unexpected in a hotel with such an aristocratic flair. Feature walls and intriguing artworks join forces with plush furniture and a tour-de-force of hospitality to create a hotel that leaves the word 'immaculate' hanging in the air - along with the scent of their fabulous all-day breakfast.

The Mount Nelson is an iconic landmark in the fashionable Gardens district, and is one of Cape Town’s favourite luxury hotels. The splendid entrance driveway lined with magnificent palm trees sets the scene for the colonial grandeur of the hotel itself, which oozes old-fashioned maritime style and traditional high society flair. With almost 200 rooms to choose from, this resort is a vintage gem with something for everyone, capturing the romance of days gone but sympathetically updated to include all the mod cons. A peaceful retreat just a short stroll from buzzing Kloof Street and the downtown city scene.

Of all the beachfront hotels in Cape Town, the Last Word Long Beach is possibly the only one that opens directly onto powdery white sand. The sand in question is Long Beach, an eight-kilometre stretch of shimmering shingle in the sleepy village of Kommetjie, framed by the jagged turrets of Chapman’s Peak in the distance. The hotel is a white-washed sanctuary and a lovely place to relax, soak up the sun, and watch the bleach-haired surfer dudes take on the waves. Need some action? It’s an hour's drive to the city, 20 minutes to the penguins of Boulders Beach, and a short distance to nearby Noordhoek's restaurants.

21 Nettleton is undoubtedly one of the city’s most luxurious abodes. Set high on the slopes of Clifton, a glitzy, residential beach suburb, it's an intimate private mansion with just five opulent suites and a stunning Presidential Penthouse. The setting is absolutely breath-taking: the beautiful gardens have a towering backdrop of the Twelve Apostles, and the views at the front look out over palm-fringed beaches and the vast Atlantic Ocean. The owner also lives here, so personal attention is guaranteed, yet it offers absolute privacy and seclusion - and all the attractions of Cape Town are on your doorstep.

Skydance is a delightfully modern family home in Bishopscourt, an exclusive neighbourhood near one of Cape Town’s oldest wine-growing regions. With sweeping panoramas of Table Mountain’s slopes and the vineyards that climb them, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens nearby, and the ocean in the distance – and only a 20-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre – the location is exceptionally well-placed. The home is stylish but unpretentious, with superior fixtures, large open-plan interiors, and perfect outdoor entertainment areas. Book a stay for a family retreat or a celebratory getaway, Skydance will spoil everyone, with oodles of space and views for days.