As another working week came to an end and Cape Town got ready to put on its dancing shoes, we paid a visit to the Cape Royale. A newly opened hotel near De Waterkant Village, one of the Mother City’s hippest and happening suburbs, this five-star hotel looks set to be the premier venue for the 2010 World Cup. Situated a short walk from the Green Point Stadium and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, it really could not be better positioned.
We arrived to a champagne welcome in the elegant foyer and reception, with the more thirsty colleagues among us getting their weekend off to an early start. Our hosts for the evening, Francois and Natasha, made us feel comfortable immediately in our new found ‘home away from home’.
We visited a number of the rooms, peeking a look at the standard one-bedroom suites, which are anything but standard with a king-size bed and spacious bathroom not to mention a lounge, kitchen and dining area – ideal for entertaining guests or even self-catering. Each room has at least one balcony, either facing out onto the sea or mountain, a great place to savour the sights and sounds of the city. And the three-bedroom, double-storey suite with two balconies and a complimentary bottle of champagne was almost too much for us to handle. Except for David, our MD, who stayed there for the night. He is the boss, after all. So much for workplace equality.
The 11th floor roof terrace provided panoramic views over the city, almost looking into the Green Point Stadium – which will host Cape Town’s matches during the 2010 World Cup. The azure Atlantic Ocean glistened in the distance as the sun started to meander below the horizon. Dreamy images of lazy days by the Cape Royale pool with a cocktail in hand floated through my mind. Then my colleagues woke me up, mentioning something about the site inspection not being over yet. How rude!
Supper was a gargantuan feast in 1800 Degrees, the in-house restaurant. The hotel only officially opens on 1 November although there have been occasional guests since April. But the restaurant had yet to celebrate its first dinner. Which is why they invited us of course – so we could inaugarate 1800 Degrees in style! Or at least that’s what we thought. What they thought of our antics is more debatable.
The food was sublime, a selection of superb starters, from grilled prawns to saucy mussels, house salads and beef carpaccio. Main course was a choice between ostrich fillet, beef fillet, chicken, vegetable curry and more. By the time dessert came along, a few too many cocktails and shooters had interfered with our tastebuds but let me just say the chocolate bomb and lime and lemon tart were both amazing.
After dinner, a few of our colleagues headed to their decadent suites while the remaining crash of Rhino Africans continued to assault the bar. Whiskies and Yagermeisters followed and it was just another Friday night in Cape Town. Except instead of being at the local pub, with a warm beer and cold burger, we were wining and dining in style at an elegant hotel.
So not really the same. Quite different actually. In a good way.
The more merry among us headed out onto the night streets, taking the opportunity to frequent some of De Waterkant’s more salubrious drinking establishments. After a festival of dancing and debauchery, we stumbled back to the hotel in the early hours of the morning. Breakfast was a less merry affair, but equally sumptuous and certainly much-needed.
Eventually it was time for us to leave a life of royalty behind and head out into the real world, with heavy hearts and even heavier heads. But it was worth it.
Contact us to book your spot at the Cape Royale and 2010 World Cup!