Waterfront Luxury at Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town

Situated on a private quay between Cape Town’s kid-friendly Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and the tranquil yacht marina with a breathtaking view of Table Mountain, Cape Grace Hotel could not be better located for a stay in town. The hotel feels like a walk-in storybook depicting South Africa and Cape Town’s heritage and cultural diversity: rare Cape Dutch antiques mixed with bespoke hand-painted fabrics, tapestries and ceramics by local artists, fashioning a delightfully unique hotel with contemporary style. The amazing staff and truly wonderful atmosphere, with carefully and thoroughly planned child-friendly details, made us immediately feel at home away from home.

Cape Grace Family-Friendly Review

Accommodations

All of the 120 rooms have either a view of Table Mountain with the yacht marina or the working harbor. Each room is uniquely designed and no two are the same. For children, foldaway beds, pullout sofas and cots are available. There is a tea and espresso machine as well as a complimentary mini-bar filled with the best international and local products for adults and children, allowing for a luxurious break on your private balcony.

Dining

A specially created children’s menu is offered in the fine-dining Signal Restaurant as well as in the library, which is a more relaxed dining space with an outdoor balcony. You may also prefer a cozy night in your room with DVDs and room service. Or you may want to explore the city for dinner … while the staff is taking care of your children.

Make sure you have enough time for the delicious breakfast buffet, which includes a mimosa bar and a special section just for kids. We enjoyed the outstanding quality and selection to the fullest, and almost missed our check-out time!

Activities

Cape Grace hosts African storytime and gingerbread decorating for children every day at 6p in the library. (Tip for parents: Book a Cape wine tasting experience to enjoy in the bar while your child is entertained in the library next door.) Port and sherry are served after dinner if you’d like to linger. All of these experiences are complimentary.

My husband also had the opportunity to visit the hotel’s wine cave and whiskey bar with the sommelier, an opportunity that he truly enjoyed.

Amenities

The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, a fitness studio and a spa that includes a sauna and a peaceful relaxation room with top-floor views. We had the pleasure of experiencing a massage treatment that felt absolutely heavenly and revitalizing after two 12-hour flights. The spa also has treatments for teens and tweens (12 to 18 years) and little ones (11 and under), with such delightful offerings as a Princess Facial and a Sparkle Manicure.

Just for Kids

You may ask yourself if a 5-star hotel can really be family-friendly. At Cape Grace, the answer is a clear and loud yes. They truly love their young guests and work hard to make the little ones feel like VIKs (Very Important Kids).

The pampering starts with a welcome gift plus coloring and activity books, and continues with DVDs, game consoles, books and board games. At the end of day, there’s a special children’s turndown service. You can also ask for baby and toddler equipment such as car seats, strollers, swimming aids and baby monitors.

A real game changer for our family was the 24-hour on-call doctor service the hotel provided. Having the peace of mind that a highly trained specialist is at hand to take care of your loved ones is priceless!

Getting There

The hotel is easily accessible by car, about 20 minutes’ drive from the Cape Town airport. They provide free parking and chauffeur transfers (advance booking is essential and subject to availability) within a 6-mile radius.

Relevant Links:

Browse all family-friendly destinations and accommodations in Africa on Ciao Bambino

72 hours in Cape Town with kids

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Tips for planning an age-appropriate African safari

Africa for kids: Best Kenya safari camps for families

Five great safari experiences with kids in Africa

Editor’s Note: Photos by Nicole Schick except where noted.