Cape Town has welcomed a new luxury hotel to its waterfront, with The Cape Town EDITION officially opened on Tuesday, 27 October, marking the international hospitality brand’s first African property.
Situated at Quay 7 at the V&A Waterfront, the 142-room hotel overlooks the precinct’s new superyacht marina and combines contemporary architecture, African art and design, destination dining and hospitality experiences aimed at both local residents and international visitors.
The opening adds another high-end hospitality offering to the Mother City’s tourism landscape, with the hotel bringing together five distinctive dining and bar venues, a rooftop pool and viewing platform, and spaces for social gatherings and events.
A new addition to Cape Town’s waterfront
The Cape Town EDITION occupies a prominent position within the historic working harbour, placing guests close to the Waterfront’s established restaurants, galleries, museums and retail attractions.
Its arrival also coincides with the development of the Quay 7 Superyacht Marina, part of the Waterfront’s broader ambitions to strengthen Cape Town’s position in the international luxury travel and marine tourism markets.
The city’s superyacht ambitions have gained momentum alongside investment in dedicated marina infrastructure and luxury hospitality. The new hotel forms part of this wider vision to connect the waterfront’s maritime activity with accommodation, dining and other visitor experiences.
Designed by international architecture firm Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based professionals, the hotel draws on the industrial character of its harbour-side setting.
More than six million bricks were laid by hand in varying patterns across the building’s façade, creating a textured exterior that reflects the site’s maritime history.
At the centre of the property is The Drum, a cylindrical architectural feature that rises through the building and opens to the elements above. A spiralling staircase leads to an outdoor viewing platform offering views of the harbour, Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding Waterfront precinct.
The hotel’s 142 guestrooms and suites feature bespoke furnishings, natural finishes and locally crafted elements. Its accommodation offering includes a 112-square-metre Harbour Suite and a 240-square-metre Penthouse.
African creativity also features throughout the interiors, with artworks and decorative pieces sourced from makers across the continent. The collection includes photographic portraits by Zanele Muholi, an installation by Usha Seejarim and ceramics by Chuma Maweni.
Dining led by acclaimed chef Phil Carmichael
Picture: Jiri Lizler /Supplied
Food and drink are central to the hotel’s offering, with executive chef Phil Carmichael and award-winning South African bartender George Hunter leading its culinary and beverage programme.
The hotel’s signature restaurant, Shale, focuses on seasonal ingredients sourced from farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers. Its menu combines familiar dishes with contemporary interpretations, while the wine selection places particular emphasis on South African producers.
EAVE, an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar beside the heated rooftop pool, offers a setting for meals, drinks and social gatherings throughout the day and into the evening.
The Lobby Bar provides a more relaxed meeting place on the ground floor, while Punch Room offers a contemporary take on the traditional punch house. The Pool Terrace completes the collection with a casual setting for breakfast, light meals and sunset drinks.
Together, the venues are intended to create a dining and social destination that extends beyond the hotel’s accommodation offering.
Wellness, events and social spaces
The hotel also features a spa, a 24-hour gym and a programme of wellness activities, including yoga, breathwork, sound baths and movement sessions.
Its event facilities include a ballroom accommodating up to 200 people, a boardroom, two meeting studios and a private event terrace. Vantage, the rooftop event space, provides another setting for private functions and gatherings.
The combination of dining, wellness and event facilities positions the property as a venue for visitors seeking accommodation as well as Capetonians looking for new places to meet, dine and socialise.
With its doors now open, The Cape Town EDITION brings an internationally established hospitality brand to the city’s working harbour, adding another dimension to the V&A Waterfront’s evolving mix of tourism, dining and maritime experiences.
Take a closer look at The Cape Town EDITION below, from its striking architecture and harbour views to its elegant interiors and dining spaces.
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Picture: Jiri Lizler /Supplied
