by Paul Heney
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Fri December 7, 2018
Cape Town is one of the world's great cities, and as such, there are myriad options for lodging here. From hostels to luxury properties, the traveler can find whatever they wish here, at most any price point. During our stay in the city this month, we were pleasantly surprised by the Peninsula All-Suite Hotel, located not far from the iconic Cape Town Stadium, the soccer venue built for the 2010 World Cup.
The Peninsula (not to be confused with the Hong Kong-based chain) sits prominently in the Sea Point area, just around the coastline from the V&A Waterfront and the busiest tourist areas.
The area is still bustling, but in some ways feels a world away from the central city. To me, it evoked memories of South Beach in Miami and Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, with 5-15 story whitewashed buildings fronting an impressive strand of beachfront, a busy boulevard connecting it all.
According to General Manager Chris Goednir, the property is very much a mixed-use one, with a lot of guests coming from the location's RCI connections.
"We are actually a timeshare resort, which means that they're all fully fledged apartment-style properties with a kitchen and a lounge and a dining room if you're that size. We vary in different sizes. We have 16 different look and feels [to the suites], but we break them down into one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments."
We stayed in a lovely two-bedroom apartment on the 11th floor, which afforded incredible beach views, as well as a great vantage point of Lion's Head, one of the city's peaks that is located just to the right of famed Table Mountain.
There is a sleeper couch located in each room. Godenir says that from a timeshare agreement, a two-bedroom apartment will sleep four adults, but because of the couch, it could technically sleep six people.
"The kitchens are fully equipped, which people really like these days, because your F&B spend is getting more and more in hotels," he said. "We have the two restaurants, and room service operating just like in a full hotel."
The Peninsula also has a free shuttle bus which operates totally in and around the area. It will pick up and drop off guests in the central business district, or at many of the tourist areas. Godenir explained that it doesn't run a predetermined route, so guests simply need to book it ahead of time. Traffic and parking can be an issue in much of the city, so this service is ideal-having a car can be a real hinderance in the city depending on the time of day.
The property's Sunset Restaurant includes a selection of artisanal local gins, infused with Africa's unique myriad of botanicals that abounds the surrounding Cape's oceans, mountains and forests. Expect flavors such as Fynbos, Rooibos, and Cape Malay Spice-as well as traditional cucumber and citrus.
The handsome restaurant underwent a $50,000+ refurbishment last year, and its interiors pay homage to the ocean-side location, with a color palette of teal, gold and chartreuse that represents the ocean, kelp and seaweed-while a light shade of grey is used on the ceiling, and washed wood look-alike tiles were used on the floor to compliment washed oak table tops. The result is every bit as satisfying as Head Chef Hajiera Hamit's imaginative cuisine.
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