Grant and I recently had the pleasure of staying at Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa in Somerset West for a night, and the experience was exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the warm welcome and impeccable service provided by the staff.
[Read more…]Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town Romantic Getaway
One of the things Grant and I have really enjoyed doing over the past few years, is staying overnight in the Cape Town CBD. Cape Town has so much to offer as far as accommodation goes, ranging from fabulous Luxury Hotels, Cosy B&B’s to Self-catering Apartments. When booking accommodation, location is everything! If you get it wrong, your experience can be rather unpleasant. My advice is, select accommodation that is centrally located but not in the hub of the busy nightlife. That is if you would like to get any sleep at all! Our most recent romantic getaway was to the the Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town.
Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town
The Radisson Blu Hotel is situated on the picturesque waterfront of Cape Town, with the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop. It is also a heartbeat away from Cape Town’s pulsating business centre with The Cape Town International Convention Centre only five minutes away. The famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which has a vast selection of Shops and Restaurants , is an easy stroll (or complimentary shuttle), from the Hotel. A short trip also gets you to some of Africa’s most beautiful beaches. Location, location, location!
Accommodation
The Hotel offers 177 elegantly designed guest rooms, including 11 Two Bedroom suites and 71 Business Class rooms. These rooms all have private balconies and spectacular views. Additionally there are 9 Superior rooms and 86 Non-Sea Facing Standard Rooms. All guest rooms are equipped with free Wifi, direct dial telephones and 42-inch HD TV’s with HD DSTV channels in all rooms. There is also a mini bar, tea and premium coffee-making facilities.
We were fortunate enough to stay in a gorgeous Business Class Room with the most breathtaking view over the pool area and across the bay.
The room was wonderfully spacious, with a cosy lounge area. Grant and I are both fussy when it comes to hotel beds and pillows! The Radisson did not dissapoint – the bed was super comfortable, with the most silky soft linen. There is also a pillow menu available, if the ones provided are not to your liking.
After dropping our luggage in our room, we hopped on the courtesy shuttle, which leaves the hotel every hour, to visit the V&A Waterfront. First on the agenda was a bite of lunch, at Willoughby & Co, one of our favourite sushi spots! Mr had a hair cut booked, so I did what I do best – shopping! We decided on a walk back to the hotel – it was such a beautiful day for a stroll to take in the sights.
A quick change and we set off for the rim-flow swimming pool, which is heated year-round I might add! A definite win in my books. We spent a wonderful few hours doing nothing more than reading, sipping on G&Ts and simply relaxing.
Dining
The atmosphere on the terrace is very relaxed and you certainly do not need to dress up. After a quick shower we decided to enjoy a few cocktails, while soaking up the gorgeous view and watching the yachts sail past.
The Hotel’s Executive Chef brings many years of experience to the table, to provide an internationally inspired menu, catering for just about every taste. Expect a combination of fresh local dishes with exotic delicacies, all complemented by superb South African wines.
As well as the normal a la carte menu, the Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town has introduced a new seaside grill eating experience at Tobago’s. The seafood grill is available every Saturday from 6.30pm to 10pm, until the end of April 2016.
It is a buffet style seafood offering with line fish, calamari, paella, mussels, and seafood kebabs. For meat lovers there is also a curry, sirloin beef and shoulder of lamb, all available with salads and vegetables dishes. If you still have room, there is a selection of decadent deserts including pavlova, crème caramel, chocolate mousse, profiteroles and fruit salad. The cost is R295 per person.
The Amani Spa
Before checking out the next morning we had a couples massage booked at hotel spa. Both Grant and I were really looking forward to our massage, as the last few months have been rather stressful!
From the exterior the spa is rather unassuming but what waits behind the glass doors is anything but! The Amani Spa at the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront offers guests the ultimate in relaxation and pampering. The state-of-the-art unisex spa, boasts ten luxurious treatment rooms, plus a couples spa suite. Wellness facilities include a heated vitality pool, duo vichy showers, kneipp, caldarium, sensation shower and sauna as well as a high-tech gym overlooking the harbour.
Amani Spa’s philosophy of 360° health, beauty and wellness is all encompassing, embracing all aspects of holistic health and beauty. Indulge yourself with one of our signature spa rituals, the Amani Journey – an aura cleanse, body balance and sensory feast for one or two people.
After changing into our robes, we were shown to the couples spa suite – or as I would like to think of it, a small slice of heaven. I have had many massages in my time, ranging from some which have been fantastic, to some which have been downright torture. So you must realise when I say it was good it was GOOD! I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders or as my therapist suggested all the stress of 2015 – so anyone who can deal with all that tension is a miracle worker!
The Spa offers customised spa packages for each and every occasion, from day spa packages to stay over packages, for an individual or for a group as well as unique Corporate Wellness packages. The Amani Spa and Fitness Facility is open to hotel guests as well as to day visitors seven days a week, 365 days a year, including public holidays. Please note that the spa vitality pool is not available for kids under the age of 16 years.
The Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town has definitely been added to my list of top hotels in Cape Town. The location is perfect as a tourist or as a local! I love the fact that you can act like a tourist in your own city. Tobago’s restaurant is a great a spot, whether you are a hotel guest or not!The facilities at the hotel are great and the staff were friendly and very helpful.
Location & Contact Details:
Location: Beach Road, Granger Bay, Cape Town 8002, South Africa. Contact: For bookings please contact the hotel via Tel: +27 21 441 3000, Fax: +27 21 441 3560 or Email: [email protected] or visit the Radisson Blu Hotel Cape Town Website.
Vineyard Hotel Wine-paired Dinner
The Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town, has always had a bit if a soft spot in my heart! As a young married couple we often stopped in for a drink after work or a romantic dinner. It was also where we experienced one of our most memorable couple’s spa experiences! [Read more…]
The Westin Cape Town
As much as I love getting away to the coast or the country, there is something equally as magical about a City Escape! I love the idea of being able to step out of the hotel doors, into the hive of activity, which is city living!
We have stayed at quite a few hotels and boutique hotels in the city, which we have loved! The convenience of being able to walk to the nearest pub or restaurant and having the V&A Waterfront on your doorstep, is a definite plus!
Our most recent City Escape was to the Westin Cape Town, which is adjacent to the Cape Town International Convention Center {CTICC}.
After quite a busy few weeks, a night away from it all was rather welcome! We decided on a scenic drive over Chapmans Peak, to get through to the CBD, which was as beautiful as always.
The Westin Cape Town
We arrived at the Westin Cape Town, late on Saturday afternoon and after a seamless checkin we were whisked off to our room.
The Westin Cape Town has 483 guest rooms and suites. The rooms are elegantly appointed and boast all the modern conveniences one can expect from a luxury city hotel. The views of Cape Town will amaze you, and the signature Heavenly Bed is comfort at its very best!
Admittedly I knew that the views would be great but they are truly spectacular, we literally just stood and stared out the window for what seemed like forever!
Not wanting to waste any time, we decided to head up to the Executive Club, to enjoy a few drinks and delicious canapes, while soaking up the views across the city and harbour. It was great to simply sit and just chat with no interruptions or anyone demanding your attention!
Before heading back to our room we decided to explore a bit more of the hotel. We took a walk around the award winning Heavenly Spa, which is situated on the 19th Floor. The Spa offers guests an indoor heated infinity pool, with views of the harbour and ocean, a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, as well as a fully equipped gym. Had we known about the heated pool and jacuzzi, we would definitely have packed our costumes!
Then it was time to head back to our room to shower and change for dinner. The Westin Cape Town has a great selection of restaurants and bars. Our dinner venue for the evening was at ON19, which is located on the 19th Floor of the hotel. ON19 offers modern comfort dining, focused on simplicity, bold flavours and healthy lifestyle trends.
Dinner was as divine as we expected. I am not entirely too sure how but we both managed to eat three courses! I must make special mention of the Prawn Dumpling starter which I had! The prawns were wonderfully crispy and it was served with a delicious wasabi and curry mango sorbet – a sublime combination! Another highlight was the Happy Hog which Grant had – Verjuice and and honey glazed pork belly, served with bitterballen, apple chermoula, sweet potato puree and pork popcorn.
We opted to have the desert tasting plate, which consisted of a decadent combination of the deserts from the winter menu: Eskimo pie – blueberry cheese cake, macaroon, warm Romanoff sauce, Chocolate pudding, salted caramel ice cream, honey comb crumble, Dacquoise – hazelnut, almond, espresso, Milk tart brulee, Apple tarte fin, bacon praline, crème fraiche.
As well as On 19, the Westin Cape Town, offers guests the option of dining at Thirty7. Thirty7 is a French brasserie style restaurant, with a wonderful lively atmosphere. One of the special features of the restaurant is its show kitchen!
If you would like to kick back and relax then Louis B’s, the hotel’s cosy jazz bar, is a must! Perfect for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap before heading off to bed. There is also Raleigh’s Cigar Bar and smoking lounge, which offers a wide selection of cognacs, whiskies and the finest cigars.
After dinner we turned in for the night, both in need of a good nights rest!
The next morning we enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at On 19. As well as a savoury buffet bursting at the seams, there was freshly squeezed juice, smoothies, fresh fruit and cereal on offer, as well as a hot breakfast of your choice.
Then it was time to check out and head back home!
As I mentioned we have stayed at a few city hotels but this experience at the Westin Cape Town, was definitely the best City Escape yet! The service was excellent and the food and attention to detail were all top draw!
Location:Convention Square, Lower Long Street · Cape Town, 8000 · South Africa
Contact: For more information or to make a booking visit the Westin Cape Town Website or phone them on +27 21 412 9999.
Image Credit: All images within this post are either property of the hotel featured or Inspired Living, please do not re-post or use the images, without the permission of the website owner. Thank you.
Disclosure Ranking:4