When you think about Cape Town, Table Mountain is no doubt one of the first landmarks that comes to mind. Perhaps the city’s stunning and vast sandy beaches, too, or the world famous vineyards and iconic penguins roaming Boulders Beach.
What may not be on the top of your radar, or at least wasn’t initially on mine, is the V&A Waterfront. But while it may not be an universally renowned member of the city’s top hotspots list (let’s be honest, it’s got some stiff competition), the V&A Waterfront is actually one of Africa’s most visited destinations with almost 24 million people ascending on the mixed-use suburb annually.
A modest 300 acres and bursting with over 450 retail shops and 80 restaurants, as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium, the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere and upmarket residential apartments – including homes that apparently belonging to Elton John, Madonna and David Beckham, but who are we to gossip? – it’s giving hectic. Right?
Wrong. Well, if you’re staying at One&Only, then wrong. Because, despite being situated in one of the busiest tourist destinations the country has to offer, just one hour spent inside the hotel with its floor to ceiling windows and fringed by palm trees is enough to convince you that you are, in fact, on your own paradise island. If it weren’t for the Table Mountain views around every corner, of course.
An enormous seven-storey building comprising 131 rooms and suites (including a four-bedroom penthouse) and an impossibly vast entrance lobby spilling into the Vista Bar & Lounge, there’s nothing shy and retiring about this hotel. Luckily, sitting in the imposing shadow of said flat-topped mountain, it would be impossible for anything to feel oversized.
Inside the bedrooms, warm lighting and earthy colour schemes are complemented by thoughtful textures and organic materials, while the en suite’s egg-shaped free-standing bath was particularly welcome after a day spent stomping up Table Mountain. Although, I have to admit, the view from the room’s balcony – directly of the mountain itself – is just as exquisite as that at the summit, so there’d be no shame in deciding to save your legs and pouring yourself a drink.
