East Meets West
India, with its beguiling mix of cultures, enthralling architecture, and sensuous cuisine, is a fascinating nation. It has a heritage that spans centuries and reveals beautiful intricacies of different regions and religions. The story of India has richly permeated our very own nation, and brought with it historical stimuli that are revered and adored. These influences from both South Africa and India, that honour the strong link between the two nations, can be found in one of Cape Town’s most iconic inner-city hotels: Taj Cape Town.
With its long, rich past grounded in spice, the prestigious Taj Cape Town invites guests to experience history combined with luxurious, contemporary elegance, and tells a story that links the great nations of India and South Africa as far back as the 1400s. In 1497– a time when pepper was worth more than gold – Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama, pioneered the lucrative Spice Route between Europe and India via the South African coastline. This route spurred massive growth in the trade of spice and, as a result, the world’s superpowers began to battle for control of the route. Dangerous oceans and stormy seas drove a Dutch ship ashore in Bloubergstrand in 1644 which, on their return to Holland, prompted the fleet to convince the Dutch East India Company to set up a refreshment station in the Cape for ships en route to the East. Commander Jan van Riebeeck ordered the establishment of
a thriving vegetable garden – known today as the Company’s Garden in the heart of Cape Town.
Fast-forward almost 300 years to 1932 and South Africa, with its economy rapidly evolving due to the thriving spice route and newly discovered diamond and gold trade, opened the Reserve Bank on the plot opposite the Company’s Garden. Inspired and modelled on Florence’s Palazzo Pitti, local architect, James Morris, designed the building to be a symbol of strength.
Fast-forward again to 2010, when the renowned Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris group, quintessentially Indian in its fabric, bought the old Reserve Bank and Temple Chambers and invested in lovingly restoring the original façade and fittings to their former glory.
And glorious it is. Today, Taj Cape Town stands tall amongst its five-star counterparts. Entering the Greek-crossshaped lobby, one can still behold the original barrel-vaulted skylight supported by the original marble Portuguese Skyros columns. The controversial “Widow Twankey” – a poorly sculpted statue of a shepherdess – still stands proud, as does the lion heraldry on the door, the original chandeliers, and even the clock from 1932. The original deep vault – once used for valuables like gold and diamonds – is now a bar for exclusive events.
Taj Cape Town captures a unique essence. It’s the intoxicating energy and spirit of Cape Town, as well as the exoticism and opulence of the East, joined together with the hospitality philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava – the belief that guests are gods and should be revered as such. And revered they are at Taj Cape Town.
A choice of 176 elegant, opulent rooms make guests feel like royalty. Each – individually decorated, with modern finishes and lavish furnishings inspired by a bygone era – features state-of-the-art amenities and all the luxuries expected from a world-class establishment. Panoramic views of the bustling city and iconic Table Mountain add the cherry on top of what is the ultimate in refined luxury.
Dining is a serious affair at Taj Cape Town. Guests can enjoy a multitude of options from relaxed, all-day, multi-cuisine dining at Mint, and a decadent afternoon tea and scrumptious breakfast buffet in the lobby, to cocktails that celebrate the stories of spice at The Twankey Bar, and, of course, the very best of Indian fine dining at the Bombay Brasserie. Celebrating the diverse language of spice, Bombay Brasserie serves up refined Indian cuisine. Indulge in the tasting menu to get a good overview of the best dishes on offer. You will be transported right to the heart of India by dishes like the tandoori broccoli with mustard pickle and Alleppey fish, or prawn in coconut curry sauce.
No royal treatment would be complete without being pampered in a tranquil setting. Warm lights welcome guests to Jiva Grande Spa, where guests can indulge in treatments inspired by age-old Eastern philosophies inherently rooted in India’s ancient approach to wellness. With a range of signature treatments – including the Vishrama, a two-hour massage using gentle strokes, a steaming poultice, and a mixture of Indian herbs and oils to revitalise the mind and body – Taj Jiva Grande Spa gently immerses guests in the ancient rituals of traditional Indian practices.
Treat yourself and experience the delights of Taj Cape Town. Be transported by the wafting notes of cardamom and clove that tell bygone stories of the Spice Route, and be transported into a whole new world where East meets West.
For more information, please visit Tajhotels.com/tajcapetown.