One&Only Cape Town

The first thing you notice at One&Only Cape Town is how much space it gives you. In a city where many luxury hotels occupy historic buildings or compact urban sites, this property spreads itself across a private island in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront marina. Palm trees, canals and moored yachts separate the accommodation from the bustle of the waterfront, while Table Mountain rises directly behind it.

Nobody books One&Only for centuries of history or heritage architecture. The appeal lies in comfort, scale and location. Rooms are among the largest in Cape Town, many with balconies facing either the marina or the mountain. If available, choose the mountain view. Watching the changing light sweep across Table Mountain from your room never really gets old.

One of the hotel's quiet strengths is how easy it makes Cape Town. The Waterfront's restaurants, shops and harbour activities are all a short walk away. You can spend several days here without constantly arranging transport, which in Cape Town is rarer than you might expect.

The atmosphere is lively rather than intimate. Families, honeymooners and international travellers gather around one of the city's largest hotel pools, while golf carts shuttle guests between the island accommodation and the main building. Those who enjoy smaller hotels where every guest quickly becomes familiar may find stronger local character elsewhere. One&Only succeeds for different reasons.

Food is another draw. Nobu remains one of Cape Town's most recognisable dining rooms, pairing Japanese precision with Peruvian influences, while breakfast overlooking the marina has a tendency to stretch well into the morning.

This is a hotel that wears its luxury confidently. It offers space, facilities, views and convenience on a scale few competitors can match. Travellers looking for a deeply rooted sense of South African history may prefer one of Cape Town's smaller properties. For those wanting an exceptionally comfortable base from which to explore the city, One&Only remains one of the strongest addresses in town.