The Hotel Stay That Became a Ritual: My Love Letter to Cape Town’s Table Bay Hotel
This is the hotel I have stayed at the most in my life and yet, at each check-in, I still feel all the first time thrills. So I figured it was more than time to make my review on what of the best hotels in Cape Town, in South Africa and in the World!
The Western Cape in South Africa is one of my favourite places in the planet. More recently, it became one of my husband’s as well. The Table Bay Hotel is an iconic landmark in Cape Town’s Waterfront and at the heart of my love for the Mother City.
One of the anchors that ties us to this part of the globe is also the place we always stay at, even if just for a few of the days over the whole stay. That is what happened during our last visit: we first stayed for a week at the Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek - also an exquisite place, almost an hour away from Cape Town - and then we spent a few days at the Table Bay before heading back home.
Jess
I first set foot in the city in 2007 after several years only going to Johannesburg where my father lived for decades. And I was amazed at that open secret I had never visited before. Nelson Mandela had just inaugurated the hotel 10 years prior, in 1997. This is the hotel my father always stayed at when in Cape Town and almost 20 years later, I can say the same as a regular customer.
When we last stayed
We last stayed at the Table Bay hotel in October 2024 for my birthday. But this review is also based on stays in 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2023, covering almost two decades as a loyal customer.
Jess
The location of your dreams
It’s just the best: this hotel is located at the Waterfront and has a direct link to the V&A Waterfront Shopping Area. It allows you to get going as soon as you leave the hotel and go to a restaurant, to the shops, on a cruise or a helicopter ride just like we did for the best aerial view of Cape Town and its surroundings, in all safety. This provides a very “hygienic” (as some would say) experience of Cape Town I am aware, but as I have also stayed in other places in the City such as Sea Point or Bloubergstand beach, I value it as well as I love walking whilst sightseeing and not just being stranded in a car ride, as much as I love road trips.
Jess
The amazing staff
You are welcomed with joy at the Table Bay hotel. From the porters when you arrive by car, from the warm greetings when you are walking by, to their contagious laughter when they are approaching you. If you like old school service, with grand top hats, a long penguin overcoat and a concierge ready to answer any request, this is the place for you. What an absolutely fabulous group of people, who provide the most authentic hospitality.
The reception area (and that incredible scent)
From that glassed walkway from the car to the lobby decorated with the most gorgeous Protea flowers, you enter the grandest reception area with impressive high ceilings and high windows, putting us before the grand Table Mountain in the horizon. As the hotel is now undergoing an almost year long renovation, I cannot wait to check in and confirm if they will keep that unique scent we feel as soon as we check-in. I just cannot describe it, you just have to enter to feel it. They say scents are big memory portals for human beings. That is absolutely true! When I think about my emotional link to this place, at the first breath I take there, it takes me back to the beauty of nature, the warmness of the staff, the promise of an incredible stay and a few more days ahead in one of my favourite places in the world.
The grand Table Bay Hotel Lobby and the majestic Tea Room where we listened piano and guitar play several times after a day sightseeing
The rooms
As I have stayed at this hotel several times, I have tried several of their rooms in different floors. In general, the rooms are wide and comfortable, with an amazing double sink vanity bathroom, with both shower and bath tub. The storage space is also very generous and the coffee station and bar area allow to grab a few things for the supermarket to grab and go before a day trip. And there are lots of day trips around Cape Town every day, so you will need the drinks and the snacks.
It is true the rooms were becoming a bit outdated with a heaviness coming from the heavy yellow and blue floral curtains and bed covers. I cannot wait to see how they come back, with a twist that honours tradition, after their refurbishment.
But honour where it is due, I have stayed in ocean view rooms and mountain views ones and nothing beats the latter. Waking up to an unobstructed view of the Table Mountain, the Victoria Basin and the Harbour is just one of the greatest privileges I have ever experienced in my life.
The incredible food
The hotel has several restaurants and spaces where you can enjoy their food. And the bounty is just out of this world. Food in South Africa is always very good and spans from different cultures and experiences blended in together. There is nothing like having your continental breakfast with a side of chakalaka.
Jess
Gorgeous full continental Breakfast and tea time nibbles at the Table Bay Hotel
They also provide an amazing room service which we have enjoyed several times. There is nothing like breakfast with a view or a club sandwich when in a fabulous hotel, am I right?
Bubbly breakfast with an ocean view
Furthermore, the hotel is a 15-minute walk away from the amazing Oranjezicht Farm Market open on Wednesday evenings and during the weekend. We just love going there whenever it is open and we absolutely recommend it.
The hotel which made me fall in love with turndown service
I know, I know, people rave about turndown service in Asian hospitality and will tell you their whole life that nothing supersedes it. But I love how it is done in Anglosaxonic hotels too and The Table Bay hotel made me so fond of it, I think I replicate a few of the rituals back at home, like rearranging the pillows before heading to bed, having comfy slippers before bed, using a fluffy robe when in the bathroom, having a piece of chocolate and a fresh bottle of water in your nightstand. If this isn't a life of luxury, what is?
Turndown service at the Table Bay Hotel: an open linen bed, rearranged pillows, comfy slippers, a piece of nougat and a fresh bottle of water
Celebrities love it too
Other than being inaugurated by Nelson Mandela and his wife at the time, Winnie Mandela, in 1997, the hotel is quite popular among celebrities and it makes sure you know it. In the lifts, they framed a few quotes from famous guest such as Queen Sonja of Norway's comment on her stay in 2005.
Queen Sonja of Norway's review framed in one of the lift - The inauguration plaque from Nelson Mandela in 1997 in the lobby
Barack Obama (first a senator and then as a president), Michael Jackson, Michael Schumacher, Sir Tom Jones, Morgan Freeman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert de Niro, Steve Tyler, Snoop Dog, Vanilla Ice and Robbie Williams are some of the few named celebrities who have also stayed at this icon landmark in the southern tip of the world.
Jess
Is the Table Bay Hotel Worth it in 2025?
Well, that will be difficult to say as aforementioned, the hotel is undergoing a massive refurbishment so it closed down temporarily at the beginning of the year. The Intercontinental Group - who took over from The Sun - is investing over 1 billion rands (around 55 million dollars).
It is scheduled to reopen in early 2026, as the Intercontinental Table Bay. Furthermore, it will become one of the IHG Rewards loyalty program units, with more than 130 million members worldwide, which will take the hotel to another level.
I truly hope to visit the new hotel next year, check what is new yet hoping to feel like I always do there: right at home.
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