Best hotels in Cape Town

Thirty minutes from central Cape Town, in the beachside suburb of Hout Bay, lies a truly breathtaking mountain retreat that exemplifies the essence of African communal heritage. Maison Noir, "black house" in French, is a private family estate in which each member owns a small home. The architect drew his inspiration from the many cultures that have taken root in South Africa, and he's created a winner. The homestead incorporates indoor/outdoor design around an interior courtyard in a setting that'll appeal to lovers of fine design, and those keen to explore Table Mountain National Park – just steps away.

Set in an arboreal glen in the bustling seaside suburb of Camps Bay, Camps Bay Retreat offers a collection of different suites and rooms around the beautiful grounds. A historic manor house built in 1929 is at the heart of estate; externally, the architecture is grand and impressive, and internally, the classic décor will make you feel as if you’ve stumbled into an 18th-century explorers lounge. Accommodation-wise, choose from the classic rooms in the house itself, or one of the more modern suites in the Deck House. And then all that’s left to do is lounge in the garden, stroll to the beach or play a lazy game of tennis...

The Alphen is an elegant boutique hotel in Cape Town's historic Constantia Valley, one of the oldest and most renowned wine producing regions in the Cape. With a history dating back to its origins as a wine farm in the early seventeenth century, this beautiful hotel still has a timeless Cape Dutch feel, with a modern designer edge and exceptional facilities. Accommodation consists of 19 plush suites in glorious park-like grounds, and the three restaurant are simply fabulous, as are the eateries in the surrounding vineyards. In fact, you might not even have enough time to try them all!

Hotels at Cape Town’s world-famous V&A Waterfront tend to be of the large and sprawling variety. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes you just want some peace and quiet… Enter the Dock House, a rather splendid boutique hotel with just six uber-luxurious rooms. Restored by interiors guru Francois du Plessis, the pretty Victorian house is cool, creamy and very contemporary and the whole glamorous picture is completed by dazzling postcard-perfect views; the vibrant harbour to the front and Table Mountain and Lions Head behind. And the best bit? Some of the city’s best shopping, wining and dining is a mere stroll from the front door.

Located on Orange Street, right in the heart of Cape Town, 15 on Orange couldn't be any closer to the city's trendy shops, restaurants and bars. In fact, it's also pretty close to the city centre museums and markets, vibrant Long Street, and the beautiful Company's Gardens. A big tick, then, for a fantastic location, but what about the hotel itself? Well, we don't think you'll be disappointed - there's a fine-dining restaurant, swimming pool and spa, and 129 Afro-chic bedrooms, with views of the iconic Table Mountain straight from your bed.

Villa Zest is a small boutique hotel in the lively district of Green Point, one of Cape Town’s most fashionable suburbs. What sets this hotel apart is its strong retro feel throughout. Each of its seven rooms has a unique 70s-themed design teamed with modern state-of-the-art technology, and unexpected touches like the somewhat bizarre collection of vintage radios on display. Green Point is renowned for its Riviera-style palm-fringed coastline, upbeat urban vibe, café culture and non-stop nightlife, and Villa Zest is perfectly positioned to experience the very best that this part of Cape Town has to offer.

Set on the edge of Cape Town's beloved V&A Waterfront, where designer shops attract the chic set and everyone else comes to stroll, listen to music and enjoy pretty fine pizzas and other delights, is the uber-polished Queen Victoria Hotel. This small inn is indeed fit for royalty, with its intimate spaces and service that's both discreet and personalised. Visitors here generally want high-end accommodation and hospitality, and they get it in spades. There's a glut of shops on the doorstep, and sweeping beaches and mountains within easy reach by road. And the views from the hotel warrant a "Wow"!

There are hotels that swallow you whole — enormous lobbies, endless corridors, a breakfast buffet the size of a football pitch. And then there's this: four suites tucked into a quietly distinguished property at the V&A Waterfront, where the ratio of Table Mountain to fellow guests is refreshingly, almost ludicrously, in your favour. Adjacent to the Queen Victoria Hotel and sitting snugly within the secure Waterfront precinct, this is the kind of place that feels more like a borrowed townhouse than a hotel — old-world charm in the bones, properly modern comforts throughout. Cape Town's best restaurants, boutiques and harbour are moments away on foot, yet the double-glazed windows and intimate scale mean you'd never know it. For those who find conventional hotels a little... impersonal, consider this a very agreeable alternative.