I’m not often left speechless, but I really did have to scrape my jaw off the floor at the Cape Grace. Identikit rooms be gone. Each room is uniquely decorated – a treasure trove of contemporary and antique pieces. You could easily spend your whole holiday exploring every room and marvelling at the decor. But the other guests might not be too thrilled.
Every head board in every bedroom is different – mine was an art deco number with decadent brown leather and button tufting. And remember to look up – the chandeliers are each adorned with quirky pieces from an antique china set in the lobby to Cupid’s arrow in the library. With such opulence, you might expect a degree of stuffiness, but it’s quite the opposite – relaxed and warm. Beaming Cape smiles form a part of the exceptional service that is unobtrusive but nevertheless there for your every whim.
This is a proudly South African hotel – everything is locally sourced, helping out local communities, businesses and artists wherever possible. And there can’t be many finer places in the world to showcase your wares. In the heart of the V&A waterfront, it’s all about ‘Location Location Location’. Most places in Cape Town boast about views of Table Mountain, but I have genuinely not seen one more spectacular than this. ‘It really is incredibly flat’ was the sole thought occupying my exceedingly relaxed mind as I supped a smoothie while gazing out of the glass wall in the mosaiced calm of the rather swanky spa. The noon day cannon brought me out of my trance in time for my lunch reservation in the multi award winning Signal Restaurant presided over by executive chef Malika van Reenen. It was here that I faced the toughest decision of the day – what to have? The seared scallops with white bean puree, chorizo, toasted almond and saffron butter or the smoked pork belly on lemon scented mash, broccoli florets and a cranberry and rooibos gastrique? Make sure you take advantage of the expert sommelier who will pair the perfect vintage with your sumptuous feast.
After lunch it was literally a hop, skip and a jump onto the Cape Grace’s own private yacht for a quick cruise around Table Bay. How very glamorous indeed!
To round off my perfect day I decided to reward myself with a cheeky whizzo in the Bascule Bar. A 35 year old Springbank will do nicely thank you – just one of over 400 whiskies on offer! And for those who like to do it in style, why not get your own whisky locker to protect the delicious amber nectar – you’ll even get your own engraved tumbler as well. Certainly something for me to aspire to! In fact everything about the Cape Grace is aspirational – it really is one of the finest hotels in the world. And the down side? Well there is none – aside from having to leave of course.
