The Pink Rose Guesthouse and Spa is Cape Town’s very first gay-exclusive guesthouse. Located in the rolling hills of Somerset West, the bed-and-breakfast is aimed at travelling members of the gay community.

“Your hosts Lars and Detlef from Germany invite you to come and spend some time in sheer luxury for however long you wish. Four stylishly furnished apartments are at your hand in this exclusive home – choose your accommodation,” the official Pink Rose site reads.

The guesthouse first opened in November of 2009, and has been kept in cladestine silence for a decade. It specifically caters to gay men only.

“The guesthouse is situated, 20 minutes from the Cape Town International Airport, in a quiet residential area with striking views of the mountains and sea. A decadent breakfast is served daily in the Panorama Lounge, one of the many rooms in the house that is decorated with style,” the official site reads. “Enjoy your days hanging out at the Chill-Out Area, lounging by the pool, Sauna and Jacuzzi or indulge in an extravagant massage.”

The swimming pool is renowned within certain circles for its “clothing optional” rule, and allows for its guesthouse’s visitors to kick back and soak up the lovely winelands sunshine in peace and tranquility. The guesthouse also acts as a safe space for gay men to come together and enjoy themselves.

A safe space is a place where marganlised individuals can come together to discuss their life experiences with one another, feel safer together and be affectionate towards their partner without fearing for their safety. This is what the Pink Rose Guesthouse provides to its clientele.

Picture: The Pink Rose Guesthouse

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Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.