A boutique hotel is a small, stylish hotel typically found in a fashionable part of a city.
Originally the term described small hotels in the centre of large cities, like London and Berlin, but today it characterises an intimate set-up, usually a small selection of rooms with a distinctive personality and style.
Although many bigger hotels now add ’boutique’ to their description in a bid to sound distinctive, the term used correctly describes an intimate, independent hotel of few rooms that feature themed décor.
We share 10 of the best Cape Town boutique hotels. We’ve selected those that have a certain designer flair, that stand out above the rest.
We love the first and last, and so will you…
1. ATLANTIC VIEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CAMPS BAY
Luxury rooms, incredible views and impeccable service, with a breakfast that has received all round rave reviews makes Atlantic View Boutique Hotel difficult to beat in the accommodation stakes. Personalised notes, a gift basket, complementary bottle of wine, and ocean view rooms (ask for them, or you could end up with the mountain views (shame!) instead).
Set high above Camps Bay’s busy promenade, just below Table Mountain, Conde Nast Traveller Magazine sited the hotel as ‘one of the best value small hotels in Cape Town‘.
2. VILLA ZEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL, GREENPOINT
Villa Zest, on Braemar Road in Green Point, describes its décor as ‘contemporary style meets urban cool’, a summary that also aptly portrays the bustle of the Green Point district.
Décor aside, the devil is in the detail when it comes to this hotel – the welcome letter describing the name of your room, the inner garden and pool, the first-rate food, and the easy access to the city centre by foot. The 7 individually decorated en-suite rooms vary in size but they come complete with all mod-cons, and the rooftop terrace gives incredible views over the city skyline.
3. 0 ON KLOOF BOUTIQUE HOTEL, BANTRY BAY
If people’s feedback is anything to go by then Olaf Dambrowski’s boutique hotel, with views over the bay on the Atlantic Seaboard, more than meets expectations – from a glass of prosecco on arrival to first-rate service from Vanda and her team.
The combination of just enough luxury, without being stifling, great food, an indoor pool, breakfast on the terrace and easy access to the city centre makes 0 on Kloof a good option for visitors to Cape Town.
4. ROUGE ON ROSE BOUTIQUE HOTEL, BO-KAAP
Rouge on Rose’s 9 beautifully decorated suites in the historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, famous for its colourful homes, vivid Malay community and cobblestone streets, are a perfect blend of gentle and relaxing antique-meets-contemporary with a good dollop of the East.
They get our vote! Indulgent light shades, thoughtfully placed décor items, and uncluttered, airy space with views over Lion’s Head is distinctly calming.
The boutique hotel is run by Ursula and Michel Boutry, a mother and son team from Cape Town, and is just 15 minutes’ walk to the city centre. Their food has been described as ‘exceptional’.
5. ATLANTIC AFFAIR BOUTIQUE HOTEL, SEA POINT
This Cape Town boutique hotel offers a really good price for its service and self-catering / B&B boutique hotel offering. Its décor is modern and slick, guest rate it first-rate, although the rooms are not all that spacious (understandable in Sea Point) and its address is perfect for a Cape Town stay.
The addition of a kitchenette gives you the freedom to produce your own meals, and the hotel’s position gives you access to the high street – chock-a-block with delis, pubs and restaurants.
6. LONG STREET BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CITY BOWL
Lively Long Street is regarded as the heart of Cape Town, with an all-night vibrancy that is hard to beat. This boutique hotel, too, ticks all the boxes.
The rooms, although small, are beautifully decorated, light and breezy with double-glazed windows (and complimentary earplugs against the rabble rousers) whilst the tourism desk you you one-on-one advice about activities and attractions. Long Street is full of alternatives for lunch and dinner.
8. HIPPO BOUTIQUE HOTEL, GARDENS
The double volume lofts with a bedroom/bathroom on the mezzanine is what caught our eye at this boutique hotel. That, and its location, not even 20 steps from trendy Kloof Street. All rooms are spacious, comfortable, beautifully decorated and the staff is, by all accounts, helpful in the extreme.
The access to little cafés, restaurants, Company’s Garden, the Labia Theatre, and the city centre is great. Ask for a quiet room, if you want your beauty sleep.
9. THE ANDROS BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CLAREMONT
If you’re looking for a stay within the quiet leafy suburbs of the city, then this gracious Cape Dutch homestead will more than fit the bill. Right in the heart of Claremont, with easy access to Kirstenbosch and the Constantia Winelands, Andros wins hands down on attention to detail and the little extras.
It might not be the city bowl, but one step removed means peace and quiet, and the testimony of return guests makes Andros worth every one of its five stars.
10. TINTSWALO ATLANTIC BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CHAPMAN’S PEAK DRIVE
The sheer decadence of this boutique hotel almost overshadows its sublime location, on the ocean at Chapman’s Peak Drive. You’re going to drool at the views over Hout Bay and the Sentinel– guests describe them as the closest you can come to being at sea without being in a boat.
Each suite is named for a well-known island around the world – from Sicily to Robben. For honeymooners choose Lamu with its own private balcony, or the Presidential suite (Elba and Corsica).
