Nestled between Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean in Bantry Bay, The President Hotel has revealed its beautiful poolside transformation. Simply called Poolside, it’s sun-drenched, sophisticated and sensational.
Award-winning landscape designer Josephine Noyce has worked her magic, replacing rigid lines and harsh angles with something more inviting. Gone are the predictable straight edges and concentric circles. In their place: flowing curves, sinuous pathways and rounded walls that double as intimate seating nooks.
The space now flows seamlessly from sunken lounges to raised platforms, from poolside to bar, creating zones that blend rather than divide. It’s generous without feeling crowded, intimate without feeling cramped.
Underfoot, a custom Palladiana-style mosaic of acid-washed marble and limestone – hand-sealed for slip-resistance and designed to age beautifully under Cape Town’s sun. Crane-lifted boulders from Paarl anchor the garden’s softer elements, while organic grout lines manage expansion invisibly.
Evergreen grasses flow through the space alongside plants, carefully choreographed into layers that sway and shift, creating visual continuity and abundance. Planting pockets are woven directly into seating areas, so guests feel nestled within nature rather than merely observing it.
Perhaps the most dramatic shift happens after sunset. Working with lighting specialists, Noyce created an evening-first lighting scheme that transforms the pool deck into something almost ethereal.
The new poolside delivers on every promise. It accommodates ample sun loungers without that sardine-style layout typical of hotel pools. There’s circulation for staff, wheelchair access, intimate conversation nooks and clear pathways that encourage wandering. It’s a space that works as hard as it is beautiful.
From sunrise to sunset, from poolside lounging to evening cocktails, The President’s reimagined Poolside is the Cape Town summer you’ve been dreaming about.
For more information and bookings, please visit the President Hotel’s website or contact [email protected] or call 021 434 8111.
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Picture: Supplied
