Arrival Experience: This hotel is smack-dab in the center of Bo Kaap with dining, shopping, nightlife, and offices all within walking distance and housed in rainbow-colored buildings. As is customary at smaller hotels, guests ring the doorbell to gain access to the quaint lobby where modern seating provides comfort as guests complete the swift check-in procedures. No sooner than you have arrived are you on your way to your room. Along the way, you pass one of the most clever pieces of artwork in the entire area showcasing more than a dozen soccer (football, here) cleet shoes hand-made with colorful beads by local township artists to represent flags of the various countries that participated in the recent World Cup games held in South Africa. The charming owner is quick to tell you that many of her guests have even asked to have similar versions commissioned for their personal homes.
Dining: The hotel has a gracious dining room offering complimentary breakfast to all guests. For other meals, guests need only pass along the Oriental rug of reception through the front door to find many charming cafes and bistros in the vicinity including one of Long Street's newest treasures: Roberto's a new age blend of Portuguese cooking with South African flair. Be sure to try their delicious feijoada prepared with delicate pork and beans; it's Chef Roberto's grandmother's recipe and is one of the most beloved in the house.
Accommodations: Guest rooms here are essentially immense suites ranging in size from large to grandiose. All boast contemporary stone surfaces with modern lighting and funky artwork. Windows peer out to the colorful streets below and open for fresh air (although air conditioning comes standard). Beds are wrapped in fine linens and duvets, and the bathrooms toiletries are in eco-friendly pump bottles with products smelling of Provencal fields. Rainfall showerheads provide drenching relaxation while flat-screen TVs and DVD players give an alternate form of entertainment. Larger suites are designed to be self-catering with small kitchenettes and living rooms with dining areas. All come with complimentary wireless high speed Internet, phones, full-length mirrors, safes, and coffeemakers.
Conclusion: The hotel sees a fair balance of vacationing tourists as well as corporate travelers who appreciate the familial atmosphere of the owner and her staff. This is more than a bed and breakfast. It is more of a lifestyle hotel combining clever artistic charm with central comfort for Cape Town visitors who eschew the big chain hotels in favor of something with more personal flair.
Comments