55 Best Hotels in Cape Town, South Africa

The upper floors of a beautifully restored Victorian building on trendy Long Street house this incredibly good-value boutique hotel made up of a dozen rooms including one- and two-bedroom suites. Chic design—all elegant white-and-silver minimalism—retains warmth thanks to the historic setting. Several rooms have freestanding Victorian bathtubs, five enjoy private balconies, and double-glazed windows help to soundproof your sleep from the buzz of Long Street's sometimes overwhelming nightlife below. The hotel has good amenities (free Wi-Fi, Nespresso coffee machines, ceiling fans, and air-conditioning) for the price, and they're maintained to a rather luxurious standard. Service, too, is surprisingly attentive and knowledgeable.

Even if you like to be part of the crowd, you’ll soon agree that being up at the rooftop pool of this small, classy, hidden-from-the-limelight hotel across the road from the beach is so much better than mingling with the masses. There's a bar, sun loungers, and absolutely thrilling views that stretch endlessly in every direction and capture not only beach, ocean, and bays, but also the majesty of Lion’s Head and the back of Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, and hordes of millionaire mansions. That said, when you leave the pool, the rooms below are equally fabulous and offer an instantaneous sense of glitz and glam. Strikingly minimalist and done out in a muted palette of white and gray, it's all very sexy, very chic, and very grown-up—think white linens, Marshall speakers, and a Nespresso machine. Choose either a sea view from your room (with a sizeable balcony) or opt to face the mountains, and then dip into the lineup of restaurants that are on your doorstep (there's sea-facing Bilboa or la Belle, both of which are options for your inclusive breakfast, or beach-themed Surfshack, where there’s a pizza oven and lots of seafood, or step into Paranga, with its air-kissing crowd and extravagant prices). There's an excellent spa and a boutique selling everything you need for a classy beach holiday. 

Originally a farmhouse, this immaculate property in a quiet residential neighborhood is within walking distance to all the excitement of Kloof Street. Its current owners have transformed the property into an absolute beauty, with a mix of clean lines, an ivory-white palette, and no-expenses-spared top-notch amenities in the rooms and public areas. Plus there are lots of spoiling touches, such as the tea that's served in the gorgeous little salon-style lounge, and experiences designed to help you get to grips with the soul of Cape Town (yoga, Pilates, a Christmas market, book club get-togethers, and tours to various parts of the city, the peninsula, and the Winelands). Rooms are a mixed bag, from a very compact "boutique" unit for solo travelers to the gracious and luxurious suite with a private balcony, but all of them are visual stunners and smartly put together.

Located in a huge garden filled with indigenous succulents, ancient milkwood trees, and koi-filled water features, this good-value family-owned and -managed hotel enjoys gorgeous views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range, and is a hop, skip, and a jump from Bakoven's pair of gorgeous beaches. Rooms, suites, and apartments in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and styles are spread across the property along with various courtyards, pockets of garden, lounge areas, 2 pools, honesty bars, and a breakfast room. Accommodations all have a patio or balcony, and all are designed and decorated to look and feel bright, fresh, and contemporary—just right for a beach holiday. If you want to feel like you're in nature, the Garden Suite enjoys an entire piece of private garden by the small natural stream that runs through the property.

Tucked between the warehouses and industrial buildings on reclaimed land that was once in the sea, the building—remains of Cape Town’s earliest recorded foundry that dates back to 1876—has been cleverly converted into a slick, chic arrangement of 24 unique rooms with a boutique atmosphere. Despite the minimalist approach to amenities, there's access to a café, members’ lounge, and an in-house gym, and rooms that achieve a balance of functionality and good looks and are decked out with quirky artwork, vintage and antique pieces, and more contemporary elements. It’s also digitally enhanced, so you can handle much of your stay using the in-house app which doubles as a digital concierge and even allows you to order meals and pay for them using your phone.

In the spirit of founding investor Sol Kerzner's "go big or go home" philosophy, the One&Only Cape Town is nothing if not a tribute to excess with its four-story glass window views onto Table Mountain, whether it's from the aptly named Vista Bar or the rooms in the high-rise main block. Rooms are larger than you'd find in most other hotels and are beautifully furnished with chic contemporary African design flourishes and embellishments. The island lends a faux-tropical resort feel, aided by a spectacular outdoor infinity pool, award-winning spa, and outpost of the Nobu restaurant chain. There's a fantastic children's club, excellent personalized service, and endless array of activities that can be arranged at short notice.

A smart integration of original Edwardian elements and contemporary features, this guesthouse-style boutique hotel in an old mansion is close to Wynberg's fabulous Chelsea Village precinct. The house itself is gracious and very handsomely put together, with elegant, super-comfortable guestrooms in the main house as well as in the cottages around the edge of the garden. There are wonderful mountain views from some if not all the rooms. There's a handsome little lounge with a bar, a breakfast room, and seating outside in the courtyard which is sublime in spring and summer. And, despite being quite low-key, the intimate fine-dining restaurant is overseen by Gregory Henderson, a renowned chef who creates a mind-boggling tasting menu using foraged and hyper-local ingredients. The nearby town resembles the high street of a small English town, lined with cafés, galleries, boutiques, and antique stores in original Georgian houses. It's also home to Maynardville, a park where every summer there's a Shakespeare festival with outdoor performances. 

Across the street from Sea Point's popular pedestrian promenade, this friendly, resort-style hotel in an apartment-like 11-story building has awesome views and is great for families. Three-, two-, and one-bedroom suites come in a variety of layouts, but nearly all have awesome sea views, full kitchens, satellite TV, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The larger airy and light-filled "Super Luxury" suites are the most attractive, with picture windows, sliding doors, wide balconies, and white-tile floors. Even the entry "studio suites" have balconies, kitchenettes, and are decorated in a mix of muted gray and ocean blues, so you can't help but feel like you're on holiday.

This compact designer boutique hotel blends modern sleekness with accents of stone, rough wood, and slate to create a seriously sexy Zen-like ambiance with an almost impossibly great side view of the ocean. Clever design makes use of every available view, in fact, with unexpected windows placed to enjoy slivers of Lion's Head and Table Mountain, and a hallway atrium on the second floor. Rooms are chic, sultry, and minimalist, and the corner Deluxe suites have the sort of awe-inspiring ocean views and sense of restrained sophistication that'll make you wish you never have to set foot outside ever again. The public space—comprising the pool deck, a breakfast area, lounge, and open-plan bar—is the perfect place to curl up and relax into your holiday. Staff are attentive, warm, passionate, and professional, and go out of their way to make you feel at home and sufficiently pampered. Outside of peak season, there is often a "stay 3 nights, pay for 2" special available, so do check.

Housed in an old British prison, which explains the no-nonsense building layout, this back-to-basic business hotel is functional and comfortable, if without any mind-blowing design or spellbinding amenities. Its biggest advantage is the location, a short walk up from the V&A Waterfront, and almost as close to Green Point's restaurant hub. Whereas traffic within the Waterfront itself can be a little daunting, being here you're better able to get in and away without contending with millions of shoppers.

Located on the edge of the city center, this large hotel is good for travelers keen to mix a bit of partying and socializing into their stay at a reasonable price. It's within walking distance of quite a few bars and nightclubs, but also has a bit of an "atmosphere" within its own walls, too—public areas are open and bright, including a large lounge area that turns into a bar (complete with DJs) as day turns to evening. Although rooms are small, you're getting plenty of pretty cool facilities at three-star rates (opt for a "Larger Room," preferably with a balcony and/or Table Mountain view, for considerably more space).

In upper Green Point, this collection of luxury holiday apartments includes sea-facing suites with a choice of one, two, or three bedrooms, balconies, and fully fitted kitchens. What it lacks in gardens and expansive outdoor areas is made up for with generously apportioned interior spaces and a lovely lounge deck around the large pool. Though the self-catering facilities might tempt you to eat in your own suite or on the balcony, breakfast is available (bed-and-breakfast rates are also possible) and so are light lunches. A plethora of lovely dining options and good delis and bakeries are nearby that you'd do well to use to stock your apartment's kitchen.

This owner-managed boutique hotel in the colorful and very central Bo-Kaap neighborhood offers spacious and comfortable suites with a surprising number of amenities and a very high level of comfort and personalization—think espresso makers, slippers and robes, and superfast Wi-Fi—that seems almost impossible for the price. The decor, which is a mash-up of Asian faux antiques, African beadwork, and wrought-iron candelabras, warms up the polished concrete interiors and gives the place a lot of character. The overall comfort and space, hands-on service from the friendly owners (they dish out fabulous recommendations), plus its proximity to numerous key attractions are why you are here. Six of the nine suites conveniently come with small kitchenettes, although with all the great dining options nearby, you’re unlikely to need them.

Brilliantly melding working-harbor 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 enfolding harbor, and there's a hip rooftop bar and pool area affording a breathtaking 360-degree vantage on one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

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.

With an amazing location in the heart of historic Cape Town, the Taj sits in the grand former headquarters of the South African Reserve Bank and provides the professional and luxurious hospitality that one would expect from this Indian brand. From the eighth floor and higher, you'll enjoy fabulous views of Table Mountain and the city. The general style is a subtle mix of Indian accents and classic European aesthetics, though there's not much to evoke when you currently are apart from the heritage of the building itself.  Rooms are divided into colonial (heritage section) or modern ("the tower") decor, so be sure to state your preference if you have one.

Smack in the middle of the Waterfront and surrounded by shops, bars, restaurants, and full-on views of the docks at breakfast (and from at least half the rooms), this was the first hotel to open in this harbor precinct, developed from a disused cargo warehouse by a hospitality entrepreneur, whom everyone scoffed at, thinking he was mad to invest in this once down-and-out area. Across the three floors, most rooms are large and luxurious, with 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's activity; if you dine outside, though, keep an eye out for scavenging and quite crafty seagulls. The small loft rooms on the third floor are a slightly 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 guesthouse in two beautifully restored Victorian mansions is just that: nestled under Table Mountain in a quiet street just minutes away from the bustle of Kloof Street and close to the city center. 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 (and about half have a private balcony). 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. It's one of the few boutique hotels in Cape Town that welcomes children of all ages.

Conveniently linked to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, this huge-yet-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 a number of features that zoom in on the Westin's signature "6 pillars of well-being" including the legendary Heavenly mattresses, but the best feature is perhaps the views you get, especially from the higher floors. 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. It's a great idea to fork out a bit extra for a room on the dedicated executive floor, which gives you access to a 19th-floor lounge where there's respite, free beverages and snacks, a separate breakfast service, and the most incredible city, mountain, and harbor views (there are few other hotels where you will catch grown-up men making videos of their breakfast room). 

Built in the 1920s, this old-school hotel enjoys a wonderful position overlooking the Sea Point promenade and continues to be one of the city's favorite go-to spots for celebratory sunset drinks on the sea-facing terrace, indulgent dinners, or festive breakfasts and brunches in the pretty Mediterranean-style inner courtyard. An extensive renovation transformed some of the more old-fashioned rooms into really glam spaces, without eliminating the classic elegance with which this hotel has always been associated. It still showcases artworks bought by the hands-on, albeit long-retired family matriarch and many of the suites also incorporate elegant vintage pieces for that personal touch. Entry-level rooms (booked months in advance ahead of summer peak season) are comfortable and unfussy, somewhat contemporary, and good for the purpose of situating you in one of the most sought-after and convenient parts of the city.

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.