Cape Grace has been preeminent among the luxury titans of the Cape for more than 30+ years, and the landmark’s 2024 design refreshment has it already blooming with a surprisingly great mix of guests. Come through – if even for a night!

Honouring both heritage and the dynamism of the contemporary, ‘warm & botanical geometric glamour’ seems an apt enough resolution for the exciting and tasteful rebirth of this Victoria & Alfred Waterfront gem that has, for decades, been at the centre of celebration, excitement, and peace, for locals, Hollywood stars, and travellers the world over.

Helmed by architecture and interior firm 1508 London (their Dubai Studio), the elegant new look is rooted in themes of South Africa’s famed flora, fauna, and outdoors; The colour palette, significant Cape symbols, and tangible nature elements, make their way through every single hall, and room, and hospitality design element.

Each part of the Cape Grace Hotel has its own spirit though – atmospheric in each instance!

See, for example, how the hotel goes bold on pops of prints and handpicked 100% African artwork in public ground-floor spaces like:

• The harmonious, unimposing foyer and reception area
• The now whimsical restaurant entryway and
• The hotel’s natural-light-flooded Library Lounge.

The Library Lounge is one of the hotel spaces where the design pivot was never more clear and a space more bettered.

As much a serene escape as a place easily used as a networking nook, or light activities haven, the Cape Grace library has been redone to offer a sweeping majestic view of Lions Head and the luxury boat marina, and is stocked with traveller curios and intriguing reading material specific to Africa and the imaginations of the guests of Cape Grace.

Hotel guests also have another indoor area to hangout in here, aside from the ground floor seating corners next to the reception, and each floor’s landing area facing the elevators.

The library additionally allows restaurant visitors specifically, to comfortably and quietly wait for their on-time seating – able to order speciality drinks from the attentive library bar team, or sit back and read (or people-watch; that’s what I do!).

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’s management of the property tempers any would-be new-age design eclecticism. The colour palette, texturing, lighting, and even seating, are imbued with the kind of consistent warmth, sophistication, and quality which appeals to the highly favoured luxury hotel guests booking into Fairmont’s property portfolio.

Cape Grace’s new design direction also saturates its environmental and social ethos and reinforces the commitment real estate private equity platform Kasada (the hotel owner helped by RMB) has. Sustainability is more than a buzzword they greenwash with.

The hotel’s refreshed high-quality and low-impact in-room amenities and water-saving signage alone testify to the consideration made for the local environment and encourage travellers to be more mindful hospitality clients.

Beautiful but not untouchable. Bougie but not plain. Bustling but not bursting.

ROOMY AND CHILL

If you already know you are checking into an upscale and tranquil hotel, then what you have to look forward to after those must-haves sometimes, while luxuriating on your soft sheets, comes down to room type and position.

This is why Cape Grace has retouched their now 112 rooms (signature and junior suites) with everything from:

• Fresh white paint base paired with African botanical hues (watch for burnished oranges and greens)
• Textured textile wall accenting
• Classic modernist panelling
• Secreted-away storage and in-room essentials
• Plush furnishings in perfect condition
• Spaciousness
• Symmetrical architecture and decor alignment
• And one of my favourite additions: I call it ‘intuitive design’.

Forget grabbing for your phone’s torch when something falls under the bed.

Cape Grace has hotel side tables with motion-activated lighting which easily spotlights where something fell but does not disrupt sleep.

Additionally, light controls around their suites and rooms are not stark and awkwardly placed but so in tune with a rooms flow and guests needs. This is truly one of my favourite moves by the hotel.

Pick a waterfront view or a mountain view room, and you’ll be equally blessed with a fantastic view of Cape Town.

And if you’re like me: forgo breakfast downstairs for a delectable breakfast in-room that allows for peace, pleasure, and pleasant views.

My room, for example, proved that seeing the World Wonder that is Table Mountain, from across the city, is even better than being there…sometimes!

THE TOAST OF THE TOWN IS AN HEIRLOOM?

As much as Cape Grace is a historic keepsake of the city, so too is its dining, following years of serving up delicious morsels for breakfast, lunch, Afternoon Tea, and dinners.

With its swaggering new menu that sidesteps many of the trappings these town’s eateries fall into and leans fully into fine dining discipline and its Cape rooting, the hotel’s restaurant is poised to once again dance into the culinary Hot Lists of the world soon.

Bite into, slurp, slather, and savour the likes of Burnt Leek Ash & Onion Butter on five types of fresh gourmet bread; or enjoy the decadent Vanilla Parfait with gold leaf. There is aromatic seafood masterfully handled and heady cuts of meat saturated in flavour and deftly paired.

Bridging what was, what is, and what is to come in hospitality and global food trends is the aptly named in-house HEIRLOOM restaurant, with award-winning Gregory Czarnecki at the helm.

You will recognize what’s on the plates, and it will still delight.

The large bay windows (now unhindered by a dividing wall) pouring light into the restaurant, helps too.

The striking centralized bar, and its metal finishes reminiscent of New York’s coolest gold-touched hangouts, glitters like a bespoke centrepiece come daylight or dinner sitting.

Beautiful and divine seasonal food that is filling, instagrammable, and more than just a culinary concept on a teaspoon, is what you can expect from the open servery.

Harmony and tastefulness pour out of the considered Tasting Menu, every glossy countertop, every bit of specially chosen glassware and crockery, and in every sommelier-guided pouring of local wine.

THOUGHT. CONSIDERATION. HARMONY. FULFILLMENT.
THIS IS HEIRLOOM

INSIDER SECRET: HERE’S ONE MORE THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO

The infamous Bascule Bar will make its return soon, and it’ll be better than ever!

Its whisky-warm-hued new look and feel will honour both its heritage and original soul, as well as the trendy aspirations of cosmopolitan visitors stepping into the cool watering hole with all the airs of a Speakesy-cum-membership club, much like the overwhelming appeal of SOHO House bars.

Its handpicked 100% African art will also speak to a cultural stalwart: Shebeen Queen’s will adorn the walls of the bar – tempering any formality with an upmarket sell of the local shebeen life, including an homage to the music.

By the way: Come sunshine, the facelifted Cape Grace pool area accessible to all guests, will be one of the hottest hangouts in the city.

Striped loungers and umbrellas, cabana awnings, bright towels, wicker and rattan chairs and sofas, and a roomy outdoor bar primed to serve you creative cocktails, is a setup inviting sunscreen, soft tunes, and poolside stays till sunset.

DON’T MISS OUT!

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LUXURY 101

If luxury comes down to the perks beyond your brick-and-mortar accommodation, then these are just some of the complimentary traveller essentials from Cape Grace which together make for a most tempting upscale stay:

• Luxury chauffeur transfers for x3 guests max
  • 07:00am – 23:00pm
  • within the inner city district (10km radius from the hotel)
• 24-hour use of the Fitness Studio
• Access to the poolside wellness & relaxation area
• In-room reading options bespoke to your perceived tastes
• Secure parking
• Use of hotel’s PlayStation (available on request)
• A Nespresso machine and plenty pods and coffee and tea fixings
• Access to hotel’s collection of DVDs
• Access to iPod docking stations
• Shoeshine service
• 24-hour computer hubs with internet
• Use of the Boardroom (based on availability)
• Discount on stays exceeding 4 nights (Terms & Conditions apply)
• Taking up the Family Vacation Offer even gets you: Junior bathtime accessories, themed toddler bed linen, kiddies dressing gowns, and even slippers for the children to enjoy

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VERDICT?

In all the functional ways that matter, Cape Grace Hotel remains equal to the qualities of global five-star hospitality and its own unique history. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’s management has brought the dignified grand dame of the waterfront into its cosmopolitan era though, in a way that sets it up as not just classy but also cool.

They have fully accessible rooms, as well as lifts to all floors, free WiFi, are child-friendly, and are ready to accommodate your reasonable hospitality needs at all hours!

The secret sauce of world-class hotels always comes down to its people though, isn’t it?!

And Cape Grace Hotel’s formally attired team has a connection and comradery that makes their family bond yield impeccable (and discreet) service for each and every guest and visitor that walks in, or even walks on by the hotel.

I put this Fairmont-managed hotel to the test when I arrived for a stay during their soft opening period, and I did not want to leave – non-complimentary bar be damned!

Of the things that have changed, they have only legitimized this singular marina institution as a Bucket List destination more than ever.

Cape Grace Hotel is not just a place you check in to, in order to sleep and store luggage.

By My Recommendation: CAPE GRACE HOTEL

West Quay Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Tel +27 (21) 410 7100 | capegrace.info@fairmont.com