Revamped and very ritzy
CAPE TOWN’S RITZ HOTEL: REOPENS TO CLAIM ITS PLACE ON THE CITY’S A-LIST
New rotating restaurant with a 360º panoramic view perches on top of the 22-storey building.
Having reopened in December last year, Cape Town’s iconic Ritz Hotel is back in business and looking the part. The Ritz was the official accommodation sponsor for the African Fashion International Cape Town fashion week and last month its corridors reverberated with the sound of stilettos and camera flashes as models quickly changed outfits.
The Ritz, a 22-floor building in Sea Point, one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods, has all-round scenic views of Table Mountain, Lions Head and the iconic V&A Waterfront, depending on which side of the hotel your room is.
The bohemian-inspired reception area is infused with a relaxing,holiday spirit and the cheerful staff enhance the feeling with their efficiency, dedication and positivity, allowing guests to settle in and relax in no time.
The pearly-white glossy tiles and golden rose lighting finishes make for a luminous welcoming area with suede couches that scream “sit on me” from afar and, when I do, they are are luxurious-
ly comfortable.
The bedrooms are of different sizes with unique furnishings. Monochromatic black creates a classy, sophisticated ambiance and the wall-to-wall window overlooking the ocean provides a breathtaking view.
The bathroom has an ivory-coloured vanity top over rusty, charcoal tiles under a white LED light that makes every detail visible.
Each room has a double bed so soft that getting up in the morning is a real tribulation.
I was in the city to attend the African Fashion International Cape Town fashion week and the hardest part of my day was waking up in time for breakfast after a long night of watching models on the catwalk.
There are four restaurants located inside the hotel, with the main dining area on the first floor.
This is the landing strip before one is magnetically drawn to the outside pool and bungalow terrace.
With the sun shining and the weather warm throughout the week, it was summertime living every day.
On Sundays, this area becomes the local brunch spot where vistors and guests enjoy soothing sounds from the resident DJ.
Being a lover of fashion, style, opulence and luxury, it was rather satifying to stay in a hotel that embodied all that and more.
My stay in the Ritz Hotel restored my readiness for the hustle and bustle again, but also left me feeling a bit of resentment about my own king-size mattress which, unlike the one in room 1607, does not mould itself to the shape of my body.