I admit it. As soon as the annual travel magazines’ “Best Of” editions hit my mailbox, I immediately dive into them and flip to the pages to find “the best” hotels in a certain city or country where I am traveling to, have traveled to, or would like to someday travel to. When the time came to plan my long-awaited, “trip of a lifetime,” photographic safari to South Africa, I immediately grabbed my folder brimming with archived “best of” articles and looked up hotels in South Africa. If this was a talent competition, the Cape Grace Hotel would have won so many awards and the other hotels would have gone home green with envy. Year after year, for the past 10 years, The Cape Grace Hotel consistently placed in numerous listings, both in U.S. and European publications, for Best Hotels in The World, World’s Best City Hotels, Best Independent Hotel, World’s Most Luxurious Hotel, World’s Most Stylish Hotel, and numerous other business and family traveler awards.
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While I thought being on safari would be the highlight of our trip, I had no idea that staying at the Cape Grace in Cape Town, South Africa would run a very close second. With the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront facing the hotel, and beautiful views of Table Mountain casting its shadow behind it, I cannot imagine a more ideal location to stay during a visit to Cape Town. As my good friend told me, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is “the” place to stay in Cape Town. The Waterfront is a vibrant area that offers shopping, sweeping sea views, local flavor, entertainment, and more than 80 restaurants to chose from.
The Cape Grace is a beautiful, independent, boutique hotel offering a luxurious escape from a busy day of sightseeing or an ideal place to spend time before heading on safari. With 120 custom designed guest rooms, each one is tastefully appointed with handmade artwork and locally sourced antiques. An indulgent garden tub in a warm, marble bathroom soaks away any the day’s fatigue, as you relax with a glass of wine and gaze out your French windows with a view of either the harbor or the private yacht marina. The Cape Grace does an exemplary job of combining Cape Town’s old world charm with today’s modern traveler. Each guest room has Wi-Fi capabilities, flat screen TVs, as well as iPod docking stations.
If time allows, I would try to spend a day just lounging around and enjoying all that the Cape Grace has to offer. There is a 15-meter outdoor heated swimming pool, a world-class gym, a plush, private guest library where high tea is served daily and a chauffeur transfer service available to all guests within a 12-mile radius. The Spa at Cape Grace is located on the top floor of the hotel with breathtaking views of the famous landmark, Table Mountain. In addition to traditional treatments, the spa offers a relaxing sun deck and takes pride in infusing African heritage in its décor. To top off a perfect Cape Grace day, its restaurant, Bascule, is a magnificent place to watch the sun set over Table Mountain and enjoy a sampling of some of their 400 whiskies and local South African wines. For a true indulgence, the hotel offers “The Spirit of The Cape,” which is its privately owned yacht available exclusively for Cape Grace guests. The yacht is a 56ft luxury motor yacht that holds up to 12 guests.
Going to South Africa truly was a “trip of a lifetime,” and I believe that the Cape Grace hotel helped set the tone for a wonderful South African trip that will always hold a special place in my heart.
West Quay Road
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town, South Africa
+27 21 410 7100