“Come quickly! I am tasting stars!” — Dom Perignon, after his first sip of champagne
My weekend
MannaBay is the guesthouse that ruins it for all other guesthouses. Once you’ve stayed in this luxurious guesthouse in the heart of Cape Town, it’s very hard for any other to impress you. After several years of reviewing B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels, backpackers, game lodges and more, my standards have gone from looking on the bright side to downright snobbish.
MannaBay, situated at the foot of the Table Mountain, certainly didn’t help that. Suddenly the idea of sleeping on anything else but crisp white linen on a mahogany open eight-poster extra length king bed in a room with underfloor heating or bathing in a large, opulent free standing bath seemed preposterous.
Watch the Rhino Africa video of MannaBay here:
I arrived one Saturday as high tea was being served. Good god! What a spread! Chocolate brownies dusted with icing sugar, carrot cake with a generous layer of icing and walnuts, quiches, pastries, big jars of colourful sweets (jelly beans, fizzers…) and more. My snacks and I unashamedly took over one of the couches in the lounge area, with its the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and views of the magnificent city. I laid my snacks out on the mirror table and put my feet up on the furry white stools.
God, isn’t life wonderful, Hobson?
I felt a tad like the female version of Russell Brand in Arthur (or Dudley Moore in the original version of the film), a boozy spoiled playboy with chauffeurs doing everything for him. Any second I would strip to hotpants and do drunken somersaults on the bed in my room – the Orchid Room. Which happened later, in fact. Sorry neighbours, but when in Rome… they say.
Some other tourists convened in the lounge as the sun slowly sank outside, creating a magnificent pinky-purple sunset. There was a couple from America as well as a single bloke from Switzerland. Or Holland. Or some other European country where they still believe that ravenous lions stalk the streets of Cape Town. My partner joined us and we all popped open a bottle o’ bubbly. Some discussed politics; some (me) got happily liquored. Our butler Shadrack saw to our every need. Well, almost every. He was delightful and definitely enhanced my stay.
Later an equally friendly chap named Simon took over as butler, and we all turned in for the night to unwind in the luxury of our rooms – state-of-the-art flat screen TVs with several satellite channels, extensive DVD collection, iPod docking station and spacious shower and bathroom.
Many say the Versailles Suite at MannaBay is the best – what with its private patio alongside a koi pond with views over the city and harbour beyond; the private sitting room; dressing room and white marble bathroom with vast shower and deep free standing tub. A big tub makes all the difference! Some prefer the Explorer Room, with its private balcony, capacious dressing room, fire place, extra length king size bed and white marble en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. There is also the Black & White Room and Pom Pom Room to choose from.
I guess I’ll have to return to give all the rooms a fair review…
Breakfast is a decadent affair here, much like what you’d expect from the grand Mount Nelson Hotel which is just down the road. Word is the chef here conjures up the best Eggs Benedict in town. I’d agree. But leave space for the buffet of fruits, cheeses, freshly squeezed juices, Africa’s finest single roast coffees, freshly baked breads and a selection of hot dishes.
We whiled away the morning on the balcony – sun on our faces and a cloudless blue sky over my favourite city, while we paged through the Sunday Times paper and glugged cappuccino after cappuccino… It’s the way every Sunday should be spent.
MannaBay is the perfect base from which to explore Cape Town. Head to one of the nearby beaches – such as Camps Bay, browse the weekend markets, do some damage to the credit card at the V&A Waterfront or go on one of many great tours, and then return for a dip in MannaBay’s swimming pool and sip G&T sundowners on the balcony. Some say hedonism is a bad thing… I tend to disagree. In Cape Town, it’s inevitable.
Specials
MannaBay is featured in our exclusive to Rhino Africa special that combines Cape Town, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve or Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge. Visit the specials page on our website for more information. Don’t miss out on this great deal!
MannaBay is also running its own special: Stay for 3 nights in the Versailles Suite at MannaBay and we’ll give you the 4th night absolutely free! This offer is valid for bookings until 31 December 2011 and is subject to availability.
To book your stay at MannaBay and to find out more about specials, other accommodation and tours in and around Cape Town, feel free to contact us today!