Cape Town has always been a dramatic setting for a holiday: Table Mountain brooding over the city like a protective, granite-tempered guardian, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront bustling and bobbing with tourists and yachts alike, all bathed in the kind light that can make even the most jaded photographer weep with joy. This is the remarkable setting for the Cape Grace, newly reimagined under the stewardship and management of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, striking a curious balance between the city’s tempestuous history, contemporary luxury and unabashed character.
For those unfamiliar with the Cape Grace of yesteryear, think of it as a colonial relic with dark corridors, overstuffed armchairs and an air of apartheid-era formality. Thankfully, all of that is behind us. The latest refurb has peeled back the layers of its pre-1990s solemnity to reveal a space that is entirely, refreshingly alive. Under the careful hands of interior designers attuned to the rhythm of modern South Africa, the hotel now hums with a confident Afro-contemporary energy – bold patterns, earthy textures and a celebration of local art and craft, all curated with a playful and future-looking touch.
After all, the interior designers behind the build, 1508 London – a studio known for other grand refurbs including The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita and the Sky Garden Floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia – is all about designing in context: taking inspiration from history, geography, cultural vernacular and the specific place of the project, based around storytelling and values of “vision, sense of place and transformational opportunity”.
The new interiors are a revelation. Each corner of the hotel tells a story: walls adorned with local art, photographs capturing South Africa’s vibrant life and a collection of books carefully chosen to match the cultivated mindset and warmth of the space. It isn’t the sort of display where everything feels overtly curated for Instagram likes; these are pieces that make the hotel come to life, as though they have been plucked from the pulse of contemporary South Africa itself.
The overall colour palette is rich but never overwhelming – warm ochres, deep indigos and vibrant, unexpected flashes of reds and greens that are African heritage hues. The Afro-contemporary design is complemented by modern lighting, sleek bespoke furniture and thoughtful touches throughout, many of which add a distinctly local flavour.
The refurbishment leaned heavily on the expertise of South African art and design consultant Lezanne van Heerden, whose curatorial vision is most pronounced in the hotel’s signature Cape Grace Suite. Her approach carefully weaves together South African creativity, incorporating works by contemporary artists such as Benjamin Stanwix, Cathy Abraham, Chantell Lungiswa Joe, Chuma Maweni, Galia Gluckman, and Louise Gelderblom. From evocative paintings to sculptural ceramics, these pieces are more than decorative accents – they narrate the country’s complex cultural heritage, celebrate its vibrant artistic voices, and provide guests with an immersive sense of place. Each work is chosen to resonate with the hotel’s architecture and interiors, reinforcing the dialogue between the Afro-contemporary design language and the rich, multifaceted history of South Africa.
The front-of-house and food and beverage team, largely run by joyful local women, deserves a particular mention. From the moment we stepped into the lobby, we were greeted as though arriving at a family member’s home. Always smiling, laughing and full of personality, they and other members of the team at Cape Grace are friendly without being intrusive, informal without being careless, and astonishingly capable without ever losing that human touch. Luxury, at Cape Grace, is as much about empathy and attention as it is about marble and mahogany. There’s a subtle genius in the way the people of the hotel make every guest feel genuinely seen, welcomed and quietly celebrated.
Our suite with a terrace overlooked Table Mountain and the Waterfront, providing a breathtaking vista that could easily have distracted us from all other pleasures our sumptuous accommodation had to offer. The Waterfront glimmered, Zeitz MOCAA rose proudly in the distance and in the evenings, the city lights danced across the water in perfect rhythm with our own sense of relaxation. The suite itself, like the rest of the hotel, marries modern design with comfort: plush bedding, a calming palette with bursts of colour and details that suggest curation at every turn, from vintage books on the shelves to hand-selected contemporary art pieces and furniture that feels simultaneously functional and elegant.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Culturalist | CPT | GMT +2 |
| While you’re Out There |
| For those keen on exploration, the hotel facilitates luxury day tours, allowing guests to experience Cape Town beyond the city limits with impeccable ease. Whether you wish to meander the Cape Winelands, discover hidden beaches, or take a cultural tour, Cape Grace’s connections ensure that every outing is as effortlessly curated as your stay. Touring is by limo, and airport transfers are available through the hotel’s partnership with Jarat. If you’re planning a trip through the Cape Winelands (and you should), there’s no more special way to experience it than with Wine Fairy Tours, a boutique operation that turns wine tasting into something immersive and experiential. The driving force behind it is Katie Barratt, whose infectious enthusiasm for life and wine – particularly Chardonnay – is impossible to resist. Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or a casual sipper, a tour with her feels like being invited into the private, sunlit world of someone who genuinely cherishes every sip. |
Breakfast at Cape Grace each morning was nothing short of spectacular. The centrepiece, a harvest table, groaned under the weight of fresh, local produce, artisanal breads and the kind of breakfast options that make one consider taking long, contemplative mornings before going out to explore, simply to sample every offering. With views of Table Mountain and the marina framing the experience, long breakfasts here feel less like a meal and more like an immersive ritual in the art of doing nothing particularly urgent.
Pre-dinner, the Bascule Bar was a marvel – a dimly lit, atmospheric, speakeasy-style sanctuary that houses a whiskey collection sure to excite every single malt enthusiast. Hundreds of bottles from around the world line the shelves. But for us, it was the recommendation of lesser-known South African whiskies by a particularly enthusiastic member of the bar team that captured our imagination. Each dram told a story: of local grains, of patient craft, of landscapes and communities, punctuated by our server’s own personal notes and stories. There’s something deliciously indulgent about sipping and learning about local spirits. Whilst they might not always be ‘perfect’ by global standards, they are deeply rooted in a sense of place – a narrative poured into a glass, smoky, caramel-kissed and utterly memorable.
Dinner back at Heirloom was a far quieter affair than the exuberant Sunday brunch we’d witnessed earlier in the day, with the dining room hushed and the marina lights flickering beyond the glass. In a city so rightly celebrated as Africa’s culinary capital, with world-class restaurants at every turn, it’s perhaps inevitable that hotel dining competes with formidable neighbours.
Yet Heirloom more than holds its own. A tribute to South Africa’s culinary heritage, it reimagines local flavours and family traditions with contemporary finesse, the seasonal menu weaving nostalgia with polish. It was a delightful meal, amplified by yet another effortlessly cheerful waiter.
Another fab in-house experience was a soothing retreat to the Fairmont Spa, where expert hands and serene surroundings quickly erased the stubborn traces of travel weariness. By the time we emerged, our flight felt like a distant memory, leaving nothing but a soft, lingering glow and a renewed appetite for adventures ahead.
Yet, Cape Grace is not without its quirks. The pool area, in particular, feels like a missed opportunity. The pool itself is on the smaller side — more plunge than lap — and the limited sun loungers and poolside dining seats were especially noticeable as the hotel was at full occupancy or bustling with external guests during its famously lively brunch. A plain wall, decorated with a projected image of the Waterfront, came across as somewhat gimmicky, leaving the space lacking the intimacy and refinement found elsewhere in the hotel. Even the hotel’s brand partnerships felt a touch heavy-handed here; too many Moët & Chandon bar fixtures and Corona-branded umbrellas dotted the deck, slightly undermining the otherwise carefully curated décor and character of the property.
But it is difficult to overstate how much character this hotel possesses. Cape Town has great luxury properties, but the Cape Grace offered a special kind of charm and comfort, where the line between human warmth and thoughtful luxury is so gracefully blurred. The hotel feels alive, celebratory and quietly self-assured, a place where one is both seen and soothed, where the city itself becomes part of the experience and where even the simplest pleasures – morning coffee with a view, an evening dram of whiskey, a chat with a staff member – become moments to savour. It fully celebrates the departure of Cape Town’s dark colonial overtones, and in its place, a vibrant, modern South Africa comes alive in a way that feels so natural and unforced.
But in the end, Cape Grace is unapologetically human. Technology may allow us to book the hotel with a click, but it is people – joyful, attentive and deeply capable people – who transformed our stay into a memory. Table Mountain will always dominate the skyline, the Waterfront will always draw, but it’s the brilliant staff that ensured our time here was not just about where we slept, but about how we felt. Our stay at Cape Grace reaffirmed that true luxury is measured by connection.
Photography courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
