The Top Hotels to Book in City Bowl, Cape Town
For the best of Cape Town right on your doorstep, stay in the City Bowl district, home to cultural attractions, nightlife and world-class accommodation. Here are the best City Bowl hotels – all bookable on Culture Trip.
From the sun-drenched beaches of Clifton and the culture-packed V&A Waterfront to the colourful historic buildings and postcard-gracing Table Mountain, Cape Town blends good looks with top-notch sightseeing. And to make the most of its must-visit spots – not to mention the trendy restaurant and shopping scene – it pays to stay central. Here are the best hotels in the Cape Town City Bowl; whether you’re after modern glamour, throwback grandeur or a cool stay on a budget, you’ll find something here to suit.
1. Pepperclub Hotel, for fun-filled facilities by Loop Street
Hotel
Few Cape Town city centre hotels can compete with the sense of fun at the upscale Pepperclub Hotel, exemplified by the cinema and bakery-style cafe. A stay here offers much more than central accommodation, whether that means a house cocktail in the Paparazzi Bar or a treatment with Table Mountain views at the Cayenne Spa. The Loop Street location is superb – within walking distance of cafes, bars and restaurants – while the rooms and one- to three-bedroom suites are chic, ecofriendly retreats.
2. Southern Sun The Cullinan, for a central spot in a grand setting
Hotel, Luxury
This classically styled hotel, with columns ringing the pool and rising from the marble lobby floor, is equally as impressive for its location between the city centre and the V&A Waterfront. The markets, museums and malls of the latter are on your doorstep, while the towers of downtown stretch towards Table Mountain, and major roads lead from the grand hotel entrance to the beaches and vineyards immediately beyond Cape Town centre. Like the public areas, the rooms and suites are fit for an emperor, with views of the city or Table Bay.
4. The Mount Nelson Hotel, for traditional luxury
Hotel, Cottages
For old-world luxury there’s simply no beating the Mount Nelson, fringed by rambling mature gardens with palms and fragrant roses. You can spend days at this Belmond hotel stretched out by the pool; taking gourmet afternoon tea in a sunshine-flooded conservatory; or getting jet-lagged muscles massaged in the Librisa Spa, which has a Finnish sauna and steam bath. Rooms are a picture of elegance, with the quaint detached cottage suites – complete with private verandas – a real highlight.
5. The Taj Cape Town, for Table Mountain views
Suite Hotel, Spa Hotel, Hotel
With million-dollar views straight out to Table Mountain, the Taj serves up the best of Cape Town. The location drops you in the thick of city life – you’re within walking distance of some of the hottest restaurants in the city, Heritage Square and the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum, showcasing 19th-century local Muslim culture. Stay put and – once you tear your eyes from the windows – classic luxury awaits with marbled bathrooms, an Indian-inspired spa with fragrant body rubs and a series of chandeliered restaurants and lounges.
6. Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel, for cooling pool swims
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
7. Grand Daddy Hotel, for bags of charm near Bree Street
Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Hotel
Now here’s a stay with real personality. The Grand Daddy, set in the restaurant hub of Cape Town, just a couple of blocks from popular Bree Street, is all heritage from the outside, with tall windows and grand columns. But step inside and you’re in the 21st century, with button-back leather headboards and metallic pendant lights. Want a really memorable stay? Book one of the seven rooftop Airstream trailers, each individually designed to evoke a South African road-trip vibe.
8. Park Inn by Radisson, for modern style
Hotel
9. ONOMO Inn on the Square, for 19th-century opulence
Hotel
10. Cape Heritage Hotel, for a historic stay
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
Built in the 1780s, the shell of the Cape Heritage is properly old school – it’s even fringed by a historic grapevine that’s been soaking up the rays for 240 years. Step inside to echoes of the past via centuries-old floors and beams, in addition to a whole lot of modern-day funk, with quirky contemporary artworks, statement chandeliers and pops of colour. Seeking faithful old-world vibes? Stick to the suites, which have a more traditional feel.
If you’re happy to stay outside the City Bowl district, we’ve got plenty more top places to stay in Cape Town. You could bag a seaside break by checking out our guide to the best hotels on the Atlantic Coast. Or, if style is more your thing, read our rundown of the best boutique hotels in town. Finally, go green and book a stay in one of our top sustainable hotels in Cape Town.
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