An African Villa

Set on a quiet residential street outside Cape Town, the hotel comprises three connected Victorian terrace homes. The two-story homes are beige stucco with gray shingle roofs and front balconies, which -- despite their original walls -- feel decidedly modern. The lobby includes three airy rooms decorated with a mix of local art, antiques, and modern furniture. Black wood floors and crisp white walls are the backdrop for wall-mounted woven items and spears, while a room with two desktop computers for guests' use is a bit trendier, with a hot-pink rug and white deer-head lamp. Stairways from each space lead up to the guest rooms. A meld of local and lounge music plays in the background. Guests can also use the small outdoor courtyard, which has a plunge pool and a few striped lounge chairs, and is surrounded by leafy tropical trees. 

The hotel is set in residential Tamboerskloof, about a 20-minute walk (which is generally considered safe) from the center of Cape Town; guards stand outside the property at night. The immediate area offers several good restaurants within walking distance, and hotel staff is happy to offer eating and sightseeing tips. Clifton Beach and Camps Bay, two Atlantic Ocean beaches, are within a 10- to 15-minute drive. Table Mountain, which typically closes for July and August, is about 15 minutes away by car. Cape Town International Airport is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. 

Like the lobby, guest rooms combine modern furnishings with bold touches, such as geometric prints, African masks, and black-and-white photography. Rooms are bright and airy, with tall ceilings and original thick walls. All have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and safes. Platinum rooms have furnished balconies overlooking the street or courtyard. Bathrooms are sophisticated, with black floors, white walls, long elegant sinks, and stall showers. Platinum Rooms have bath tubs. 

Breakfast is free, and guests have the choice of a full English breakfast or various cold items that change regularly. Guests can dine inside or in the small outdoor courtyard, where there's also a plunge pool. Warm, welcoming service is the hotel's defining characteristic; guests are encouraged to help themselves to cake, port, and sherry from the honor bar in the evenings. There's a small library in the lobby where guests can borrow travel guidebooks and novels. A gift shop is stocked with African curios. Two desktop computers are available for guests' use in the lobby. Wi-Fi and parking are free.