The Currency team are connoisseurs of fine hotels. We’ve spent decades judging the softness of pillows, the friendliness of staff and the fillings in room service club sandwiches. With that in mind, we’re highlighting some of the best options for you to book yourself into, across South Africa and the globe.
The vibe:
Inner-city hotels come with their own magic. To be able to hit the pavements and do as locals do is always a good idea. Plus, we adore looking out of windows onto the hubbub of a place. The early morning risers, the straggling schoolchildren and late-night lights offer energy, enjoyment and insight.
Labotessa is that kind of joint. With its provenance (the building dates to 1677), Wedgwood-blue exterior and position on Cape Town’s Church Square, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d inadvertently found yourself at a little escape in Amsterdam or Hamburg. It boasts old-world-meets-trendy-new-hotel charm: a niche, very nice breathing space in the buzz of a busy metropolis.
The hotel’s founders, Johan du Plessis and Jan Fourie, spent seven years restoring the heritage building, turning it into a contemporary space with wonderful bones. The result is a thoughtful, warm and elegant establishment.
Your stay:
There are only seven suites in the hotel and the top two floors are taken up by the presidential suite, which includes three bedrooms, a large kitchen, pool and impressive views over the Mother City. Du Plessis calls this “sensible abundance”, saying: “People appreciate the simplicity here; it’s luxurious without being ostentatious.”
That said, there is nothing shabby about the other six suites. They’re all securely and directly accessed by an elevator which opens into impressive bedroom-cum-lounges with huge windows that look onto the square below.
Book one of these havens and you’re in for a treat. Beyond being a perfect home away from home, downstairs there’s the café (run by the most charming team) for an early morning eggs benedict and lunch. Once the kitchen closes at 4pm, there’s the Dutch-inspired “Borreltijd” menu of snacks and cocktails for evening enjoyment.
We really like:
The extreme attention to detail. Think in-room board games, a good iron (never to be underrated when travelling), and a minibar stocked with homemade hummus, local cheese and biscuits – a welcome snack that sets the tone.
Then there are the Diptyque bathroom goodies. Anyone who has slathered themselves in these fine French products at an airport duty free and clocked the prices knows why this excites us. If they’re in your budget (lucky thing), there’s a Diptyque boutique downstairs so you can buy the full-size products too.
Beyond the hotel:
Take a wander up the road to the beautiful, much-loved Company’s Garden. It’s one of our favourite Cape Town green patches and we recommend sitting in the Company’s Garden Restaurant, under the trees, for a cup of tea and some squirrel watching. The Iziko South African National Gallery is on the other side of the park, and that’s always worth a visit. Oh, and Fyn – the South African restaurant rated 60th on the World’s 100 Best Restaurants list – is Labotessa’s next-door neighbour. Handy, no?