Fodor's Expert Review Table Bay Hotel

This glitzy hotel sits in a prime spot at the tip of the V&A Waterfront, enjoying fabulous views from all sides. A huge yellow-y building with a turquoise-blue roof, it's a landmark in the city and comports itself as such, too. The decor is unapologetically sunny, with huge picture windows looking onto the mountain, lots of chintz and marble, parquet floors, and the hotel's trademark floral arrangements. There are all the amenities you would expect, from a pool to a business center staffed with helpful administrators, and the hotel even has its own direct entrance to the V&A mall, which makes it super convenient and good for first-time visitors or those nervous of urban exploration.

YOU SHOULD KNOW If you're looking for cutting-edge style, this hotel probably isn't for you. It's much more of a traditional, stately kind of place.

room

Rooms, traditionally decorated with hints of dark wood, are very large and light, with large windows. The furniture is antique-style, with large beds, and the carpets are blue and gold.

Ocean-facing rooms are cheaper than mountain-facing rooms - not always the case and worth taking advantage of if you are a sea-worshipper.

bathroom

All rooms have a bath and a shower and are decked out in cream tile and white marble. The louvre doors and wicker baskets give them a nice local vibe.

lobby

The lobby is old-school, both in terms of its swanky entrance and its friendly, but never snooty, staff. A glass corridor entrance leads to a sweeping lobby with very high ceilings. There's a terrace out onto the waterfront too, which can be seen from the moment you enter the hotel.

pool

The large outdoor pool also boasts a bar and jacuzzi as part of the hotel's comprehensive wellness offer.

spa

The Camelot Spa continues the stylish, grown-up mahogany vibe, and offers the full roster of massages and treatments. It's in demand for hotel guests and non-guests, so try to book in advance if you can.

gym

The hotel gym has views out onto Robben Island, giving you some food for thought while you exercise.

dining

Camissa Restaurant serves surprisingly good high-concept South African fare with a twist. The hotel's buffet breakfast at The Atlantic is rich and satisfying, too. And the Table Bay High Tea, served in the lovely, fancy Lounge, with views of Table Mountain, is not to be missed.

drinking

The pool bar does what it says on the tin (and we commend them for it: who doesn't love a pool bar?), and Union Bar is an old-school bar with heritage maps behind the counter and tasty drinks.