Glamorous doesn’t come close to describing The Winchester Hotel … the iconic hotel with the most desirable location on Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade.
Built a century ago as a residential property, The Winchester Hotel, managed by Newmark, really is the grande dame of the Sea Point Promenade … a three-storey gabled building which was converted into a hotel in the late 1950s.
And despite having a revamp recently, it still retains its classic attractions … it’s all elegant and well-bred and old money. So it oozes glamour … but quietly. There’ll be no crass showing off here, thank you.
The 1920s Cape Dutch-style hotel dominates its location, sitting right on the edge of the Atlantic Seaboard, overlooking the ocean and the pedestrian promenade which is the heart of the city’s social hub.
It’s all old-school charm, from the tiny parking lot hidden around the corner, past the pool which could be straight out of a golden age Hollywood movie, to the quiet lobby, from where you’re ushered off to your room. Just six dozen or so – with lofts and suites and a couple of family-friendly options, with no rooms identically decorated, but all with views over the sea or that mountain!
Sticking with the less-is-more policy, the hotel offers just the pool (with a spa on the cards), a top-notch bar and an amiable restaurant.
Harvey’s Bar, all midnight black and light wood, is well-frequented by locals (always a good sign), and serves up creative cocktails and fine liqueurs, as well as a small but well-thought-out menu for those who simply can’t tear themselves away from the view. A stone’s throw away is Shoreditch, the hotel’s restaurant which has the same restraint shown throughout the venue. It’s quiet, and refined, and quite lovely, with a menu that offers sharing dishes such as marinated olives and fresh oysters, linefish ceviche and wagyu sliders, unpretentious steak rolls and mushroom risotto and Caesar salad.
Breakfast, should the Cape weather be generous, is served out in the central courtyard … black and white tiles and a cascade of bougainvillea along with your muesli and yoghurt … marvellous.
As is, really, the whole Winchester affair. A gorgeous hotel, with everything you need for a quiet, luxurious stay … and with everything else you may want – nightlife and clubs and walks and swimming and shopping and people watching – literally on your doorstep. Details: 221 Beach Road, Western Cape. 021-434-2351. newmarkhotels.com
Text: KYM ARGO
