9 Top-Rated Resorts in Cape Town

Without question one of the world's most beautiful cities, Cape Town is also easy to get around whether on foot, with Uber, or a rental car. The Mother City is home to a number of luxury hotels and resorts that can be quite affordable – especially when traveling in the off season.

Everyone from families to couples seeking out romance will find that four- and five-star hotels cost much less than they would in comparably classy world cities.

Most of the resorts listed here are found around the central Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront, which is filled with shops and restaurants and serves as the gateway to popular places to visit in Cape Town, like visiting Robben Island.

It is also central to the City Bowl neighborhood, home to lively Long Street and Greenmarket Square, as well as to the beach towns just outside the CBD like Camps Bay and Clifton, where more top resorts are located.

Find the best places to stay with our list of the top resorts in Cape Town.

1. One&Only Cape Town

Accommodation: One&Only Cape Town

Located adjacent to the vibrant V&A Waterfront, the One&Only occupies a seven-story hotel that covers a full block and fronts a marina and two man-made islands. This five-star property also features fabulous views of Table Mountain and offers easy access to all Cape Town's top attractions.

There are also plenty of dining options around the waterfront within a few minutes' walk of the hotel.

The property itself features rooms and suites, many with views of Table Mountain, that are plushly furnished and very comfy.

The resort is family-friendly and has an on-site kids' club. You'll also find an outdoor swimming pool, award-winning spa experience, and a few dining options. Breakfast is included in the rate.

2. The Westin Cape Town

Accommodation: The Westin Cape Town

The Westin Cape Town, at the edge of the V&A Waterfront area and equally accessible to Long Street and the City Bowl, also has the best located sauna in Cape Town and quite possibly all of South Africa. It is entirely glassed in on the 19th floor and appears to hang over the city.

The adjacent indoor swimming pool is almost as impressive, set along a wall of glass fronting the harbor.

The rooms and suites are sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows and either Table Mountain, sea, or city views. They also have heated bathroom floors and deep soaking tubs. For a real treat book the penthouse suite, which comes with butler service and your own Jacuzzi.

There are also a number of dining options on-site.

3. Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel

Accommodation: Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel

The historic Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel is hard to miss as it is a rambling pink building in the middle of the city. The hotel features English colonial decor inside and has been in operation since 1899. Public spaces boast lots of wallpaper, mirrors, upholstered furnishings, and even potted indoor palm trees.

The hotel has a few different styles when it comes to rooms, including old-fashioned rooms in the original buildings and a more modern style in the extension.

On-site amenities include a romantic fine-dining restaurant, and the Belmond is known for doing the top high tea in Cape Town, with a tea sommelier to assist in selecting from the collection of more than 40 different varieties.

There is also a spa, kids' club, tennis courts, and gym on-site at this resort-style property.

4. The Silo Hotel

Accommodation: The Silo Hotel

The swankiest new property in Cape Town, The Silo Hotel is located in the buzzy V&A Waterfront area. In an old grain elevator, it is a modern design hotel with the best placed soaking tubs in the city – they are directly in front of huge pillowed glass windows.

This is a great choice for romantics celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary.

Beyond the impeccably decorated rooms and suites, you'll discover a wonderful rooftop with fantastic panoramic views encompassing Table Mountain, as well as an outdoor swimming pool with glass sides. There is also a restaurant on the rooftop.

You'll also find a wonderful spa and gym on the grounds.

5. Cape Grace

Accommodation: Cape Grace

An old stalwart, the five-star Cape Grace is also in the vicinity of the V&A Waterfront, occupying its own dock.

It is done up in old-fashioned colonial style, reflecting its long history, and rooms and suites are filled with antiques and plush draperies and bedspreads. The best suites are truly posh, with amenities like personal hot tubs on your rooftop terrace and beautifully decorated living, dining, and sleeping spaces.

On-site amenities at this resort-style hotel include afternoon tea service, a high-end spa, a gym, and restaurant. Breakfast is included in the rate.

6. South Beach Camps Bay

Accommodation: South Beach Camps Bay

South Beach Camps Bay is the best hybrid sleep in the city, with resort-style amenities, like a beautiful infinity swimming pool. Located in absolutely gorgeous Camps Bay, one of the beaches about a 15-minute drive from the CBD, this luxe apartment-style lodging features bright, white-on-white studios with fabulous original artwork.

All the apartments feature sea views and terraces, as well as kitchens with fridges that come partially stocked with cheese, deli meats, milk, fruit, jam, and other condiments. In the morning, a fresh baguette is delivered to your door for breakfast.

There is also a gym on-site, and guests can use loaner bikes. The restaurants of downtown Camps Bay are just a five-minute walk away as is the main beach area.

7. The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

Accommodation: The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

To escape the city, head out past Camps Bay to the edge of Table Mountain National Park and pay a visit to The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa.

Located between the mountains and the sea – it is across the street from Oudekraal Beach – this luxury hotel features rooms decorated in old-fashioned style, with wallpaper and country chintz-style bedspreads and upholstered furnishings, as well as original art and reproduction antiques. It all comes out looking quite quaint and cozy.

For amenities, there are two swimming pools; an award-winning spa; a gym; and an excellent restaurant, Azure, which also does the city's best and most lavish breakfast buffet each morning – included for guests.

There is also a free shuttle to the V&A Waterfront.

8. The Table Bay

Accommodation: The Table Bay

Former South African president Nelson Mandela presided over the opening ceremonies of The Table Bay hotel in 1997 just a few years after his release from political prison on Robben Island, which is visible across the bay from the resort.

Today the 5-star property in the V&A Waterfront remains one of Cape Town's most iconic 5-star resorts, playing host to presidents and celebrities, from the Obamas to Robert De Niro and Naomi Campbell.

The hotel has more than 300 rooms and suites in various configurations. These feature a maritime theme and Victorian-era style. Large windows keep things light and airy, and many rooms have views of Table Mountain or the Atlantic Ocean. If you are traveling with the kids there are family room options here as well.

There is a full range of resort amenities including two restaurants. If you want to try a traditional British high tea service, they also offer this in the afternoons.

Other perks include a spa with a full range of treatments, as well as a sauna, hot tub, and heated outdoor swimming pool. Airport transport can be arranged.

9. Ellerman House

Accommodation: Ellerman House

A Cape Town luxury hotel staple for decades now, Ellerman House is a boutique property with resort-style amenities. Located in Bantry Bay with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lions Head, the Relais & Chateaux hotel has impeccable service.

There are just 13 rooms in the main house and then two separate luxury villas. Each of the rooms are individually decorated, and all evoke the grandeur of bygone times with nods to contemporary comfort and amenities. Some have direct ocean views from private terraces.

The villas are perfect for families or small groups traveling together. They are modern affairs decked out with original modern art and set on multiple levels. Each is privately staffed and also comes with a personal infinity pool and amazing views from floor-to-ceiling window walls that completely open onto ocean-facing decks.

Rates include a gourmet breakfast each morning, and the chef here is known for creating some of the best eggs benedict in Cape Town. Transfers to and from Cape Town International Airport are also included as are beverages and snacks at sunset.

Other amenities at Ellerman House include a heated swimming pool, a workout room, a spa, and a private art gallery for guests to view.

The hotel also has a restaurant, although advanced booking to eat here is essential. It serves innovative South-African-inspired fare that is full of flavor.

Best Time to Visit Resorts in Cape Town, South Africa - Historical Climate Averages