43 Best Hotels in Cape Town, South Africa

When it comes to great locations, this hotel is one of Cape Town's front-runners, perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, at one end of the popular pedestrian seafront promenade, and less than 10 minutes' walk to the popular V&A Waterfront. Updated rooms are spacious and pleasantly decorated in stylish neutral tones, and those with a sea view indulge fantasies that you're on a yacht out at sea. Be sure to enjoy the infinity pool spilling into the ocean view, and the very good spa with its own indoor heated pool. A drink or meal at Tobago's Restaurant and Terrace, a popular after-work sundowner spot, is also a great way to enjoy this fabulous location. Ask the friendly staff for a sea-facing room: this is why you're here.

In upper Green Point, this converted apartment block incorporates adjoining houses to provide luxury sea-facing suites, all with generous balconies and fully-fitted kitchens. Decorated in an African-colonial style, what this property lacks in gardens and outdoor space it makes up for in generously apportioned spaces and partial sea views. Breakfast is included in the rates, but with self-catering facilities in suites, you might prefer to fix your own and enjoy it while watching the sea from your balcony. Or head down to Somerset Road on foot for a host of deli-dining options. The adjoining spa is well known for good, reasonably priced treatments.

Brilliantly melding industrial grit and sumptuous glamour, Cape Town’s hottest luxury hotel rises out of the old grain silo in the working harbor section of the Waterfront. Known in particular for its “pillowed” windows—56 panels of tempered glass in geometric iron frames—the hotel's grand rooms pop with gorgeous jewel-toned fabrics, edgy artwork, and dazzling chandeliers, pleasingly offset by the industrial feel lent by elements like exposed steel beams. From floors 8 to 10, those extraordinary windows frame gorgeous views of Table Mountain and the harbor, and a super-hip rooftop bar and pool area offers a breathtaking 360-degree vantage on one of the world’s most beautiful cities. With style in spades, The Silo seems a fitting neighbor for the newly opened Zeitz Museum—the largest contemporary art museum on the continent.

Located on the Cape's oldest—and still working—wine estate, this intimate and beautiful luxury hotel built mostly within renovated heritage structures is surrounded by manicured gardens, vineyards, a modern tasting room, two great restaurants, and a championship 18-hole golf course. Renovated to a luxurious, contemporary standard, the original barn and manor house now are home to spacious, elegant guest rooms in tones of silver and aqua furnished with antiques that contrast perfectly with the gorgeous modern touches. Premier rooms built in 2006 are more modern in look and feel, but also have lovely private patios. Three Heritage Suites, each with its own design style and decor, offer exceptional accommodations in two stories, all with fully equipped kitchens and private pools and lovely views. The estate's Catharina's restaurant is famous for its Sunday brunches spilling out under the giant oak trees in good weather, and the more casual Bistro Sixteen82 is an ideal spot to while away an afternoon sampling the estate's fabulous vintages and feasting on an excellent array of tapas. Don't leave without trying the estate's famous Sauvignon Blanc.

Smack in the middle of the Waterfront and surrounded by shops, bars, and restaurants, 94 luxurious rooms occupy the three floors that once served as a warehouse for cargo from the ships visiting what was once a purely working harbor. Most rooms are huge and luxurious, with bold plush fabrics, crisp linens, and all the amenities. Views from the costlier mountain-facing rooms are spectacular, encompassing not only Table Mountain but the city and docks as well. The large terrace is a great place to relax and enjoy the harbor views. The small loft rooms on the third floor are a more economical way to enjoy this location.

Located on more than 7 acres of rolling gardens overlooking the Liesbeek River, Cape Town's oldest hotel—built in and around the 18th-century home of Lady Anne Barnard—boasts comfortable rooms and numerous excellent facilities. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and stylishly decorated in tones of fresh pale green or silver and gray, enjoying either the spectacular views of Table Mountain’s backside or the beautifully landscaped courtyard. With four dining options, friendly service, endless places to sit and enjoy the views, as well as plenty of comfy nooks to tap away on a laptop, this hotel succeeds in keeping both leisure and business travelers happy. Although 15 minutes by car from the city, the hotel is walking distance from plenty of shops and only a five-minute drive from Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

In Dutch, welgelegen means "well situated," and this charming boutique hotel in two beautifully restored Victorian mansions is just that: nestled under Table Mountain in a quiet street just minutes away from city attractions. The spacious rooms are all individually and stylishly decorated with a mixture of African chic and romantic whimsy, and many have (at least partial) mountain views. The pretty courtyard (with a small solar-heated plunge pool) and the gorgeous old library are great places to relax after a busy day, and on-site spa treatments are available. With many staff members having been here for well over 10 years, this four-star guesthouse prides itself on giving guests five-star service.

Conveniently linked to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, this sophisticated business hotel still caters to vacationers with features like an excellent spa with killer views, indoor and outdoor pools, and a stop for the water taxi that plies the canals to the V&A Waterfront. The decor is modern minimalist with touches of African creativity, perhaps in pillowcases or a quirky wall color. Workstations are cleverly partitioned away from the sleeping area, so even if you have to burn the midnight oil, you can do it in comfort and style. Everything glides and whirls at the touch of a button, and service is seamless. Take special note of the artwork in the lobby and foyer area. This hotel group collects and supports local art. Check the best available rate online, as it's likely to be much better value than the rack rate.

Built in the 1920s, this old-school hotel enjoys a wonderful position overlooking the beautiful Sea Point promenade, with an elegant sea-facing terrace that is deservedly popular for tea and afternoon drinks. Value-oriented travelers will appreciate the comfortable and unfussy rooms, all of which are decorated in light, neutral colors. Furnishings in the older rooms could use an upgrade, but the modern classic rooms are just that, with a somewhat anodyne but contemporary masculine feel. Sunday jazz brunches are legendary (and should be booked in advance). Meanwhile, the Mediterranean-style courtyard draped in ivy and bougainvillea makes for an elegant summer refuge, offering tea and meals around a beautiful wrought-iron fountain.

If you're looking for an inner-city accommodation that's well priced and far away from the late-night noise of Long Street but close enough to enjoy the nightlife, the Adderley is for you. Each spacious suite has separate sleeping and lounge areas, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. The beds are outfitted in comfy white linens, and only part of the bathroom is fully enclosed, with basin and tub in the bedroom section, and the shower and toilet behind frosted glass. The downstairs restaurant Bowl serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but with so many good cafés and restaurants nearby, you should take advantage of their location and explore when not self-catering. During the day you're in the center of the action, but at night it's very quiet.

Located in a restored 1870 Cape Victorian mansion in lovely, quiet Tamboerskloof, this B&B is within walking distance of trendy Kloof Street and a five-minute drive from Table Mountain. All six rooms have en-suite bathrooms, and some have wood-burning fireplaces. Public spaces are warm and comfortable, with a communal TV in the lounge. Views from the wooden sash windows either look out to the pretty garden, where there's a table under the bougainvillea, or over the pepper and orange trees. Rooms are basic but clean, and apart from Room 5, spacious.

Occupying an entire city block in the heart of Cape Town, this mixed-use complex consists of apartments, offices, retail space, and a Three Cities hotel comprised of several buildings. The Tower is the most contemporary and spacious with two-bedroom apartments, while the Fairbairn has an art-deco bent, and the Kendall benefits from wood flooring and inlaid stone work. An excellent location from which to explore by day, the area can feel eerily quiet at night. Doppio Zero on the ground floor is the complex's Italian family-dining franchise. For views of Table Mountain and the Harbor, book as high in the Tower as possible. Rooms in the Winery tend to be noisier, as the reception area is directly beneath.

On a quiet street in leafy Oranjezicht, this midsize boutique hotel has spacious, contemporary rooms laid out on two floors around a lovely courtyard in a beautifully restored old building. Amenities include high-quality linens and robes, great bath products (a designer biodegradable line), free off-street parking, and a local mobile phone for your use. Public spaces are somewhat limited, with the breakfast room–cum-bar on the small side, but there is a nice if small pool and outdoor area with an exercise bike and elliptical machine tucked in a corner. The best public feature is probably the roof deck area with stunning views of Table Mountain and the city, though in summer the wind may keep you downstairs.