Cape Town, South Africa
Stay by area: our top hotel picks in CBD, Cape Town
The best hotels in Cape Town’s CBD
Cape Town’s Central Business District — or simply the CBD — is where the city’s energy lives. Think colonial-era buildings turned cool cafés, rooftop bars with mountain views and galleries tucked between heritage architecture. As our favourite base for exploring the Mother City’s history and design scene, the CBD puts you steps from flagship galleries, buzzy coffee shops and the leafy expanse of Company’s Garden. Whether you’re here on business or leisure, these hotels in Cape Town’s CBD offers character-rich stays that feel like home. Ready to unpack? Here’s where to check in for an unforgettable stay in the heart of the Mother City.
Top photography courtesy of Labotessa
Overview: Cape Town CBD’s best hotels
01
Labotessa
Labotessa sits on Church Square, one of Cape Town’s oldest corners – an elegantly restored 17th-century building with just seven luxurious suites. Founded by hotelier duo Johan du Plessis and Jan Fourie, the boutique keeps its soul – European grandeur meets contemporary ease, with direct elevator access, plush finishes and a Diptyque fragrance boutique. Expect French oak floors under high ceilings, Persian rugs in petrol blue or burnt orange hues and bathrooms clad in Calacatta marble and blue subway tiles. Their presidential suite spans two floors and could easily pass as a private residence in Paris – if Paris had Table Mountain views. Downstairs, the street-level café draws a local crowd for its all-day breakfasts and excellent coffee. It’s this mix of luxury and familiarity that makes Labotessa one of our favourite places to stay in the CBD.
Read the full article on Labotessa.
Labotessa
5 Church Square
37 Parliament St
Cape Town
South Africa
Affiliate link (what is it?)
Photography courtesy of Labotessa
02
Gorgeous George
Gorgeous George lives up to its name. It’s cool without trying too hard – a rare thing. Gorgeous George occupies two joined heritage buildings – a Cape Edwardian corner block from the early 1940s and an adjacent 1938 Art Deco gem by Walgate & Elsworth. The renovation by Urbane Citizen Architecture preserves grand architraves and original oak window surrounds while threading in raw concrete beams and sculptural steel elements. Inside, 32 industrial-chic suites nod to Cape Town’s past with brass detailing, Delft-style tiled kitchenettes and hand-painted murals by David Brits in every room. We love the rooftop bar – Gigi – where you can enjoy tapas-style plates and Instagram-worthy cocktails against a backdrop of Table Mountain.
Read the full article on Gorgeous George.
Gorgeous George
118 St Georges Mall
Cape Town
South Africa
Affiliate link (what is it?)
Photography courtesy of Gorgeous George
03
The Trade Boutique Hotel
Once Commerce House – a grand heritage structure on Shortmarket Street – this hotel has been reborn in seven graduated hues, shifting from deep burgundy through corals to warm biscuit tones on its façade. Led by Rawson Developers’ director Morné Möller, the interior design of The Trade Boutique Hotel lives up to its cinematic promise – velvet banquettes, brass accents and graphic wallpaper reference Wes Anderson’s palette with Parisian polish. Inside, three design themes – Ginger, Ruby and Fred – play out in individually curated suites that balance the building’s heritage mouldings with playful pops of art-deco furniture and local artworks. We love dining at The Wes, a ground-floor bistro and bar, before heading up to The Moon, a rooftop pool and bar where you can sunbathe on daybeds or toast the skyline as lights twinkle on the streets below.
The Trade Boutique Hotel
55 Shortmarket St
Cape Town
South Africa
Affiliate link (what is it?)
Photography courtesy of The Trade Boutique Hotel
04
Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa
Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa is actually five interlinked Victorian-era townhouses at the foot of Table Mountain in Gardens, a stone’s throw from the CBD’s edge. Each townhouse retains its Edwardian façades while opening up internally to reveal contemporary suites with luxe linens, bespoke art and high-end appliances. We’re especially fond of the Mountain Club Bistro, where 360-degree city and mountain views set the scene for small-plate dining and signature cocktails. Afterwards, slip into the spa for an African Gold Quartz body treatment or unwind by one of two plunge pools on the sun terrace. We also love that Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa offers a quiet library and rotating contemporary-art exhibitions, adding even more excitement to your stay without having to set foot outside.
Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa
12 Kloof Nek Rd
Gardens
Cape Town
South Africa
Affiliate link (what is it?)
Photography courtesy of Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa
05
Taj Cape Town
Housed in two iconic heritage buildings – the original South African Reserve Bank and Temple Chambers – Taj Cape Town weaves colonial-era architecture with luxurious five-star additions. The original bank hall still hosts events, while restored marble, fluted columns and high ceilings give the interior stately elegance. A modern tower rise adds 180° floor-to-ceiling views, while heritage rooms in the old wings feature colonial-style furniture and custom damask fabrics. With a rooftop pool overlooking the city, a holistic spa offering Ayurvedic therapies and Bombay Brasserie serving Indian fine-dining cuisine, Taj Cape Town feels like an urban palace that you’ll never want to leave.
Taj Cape Town
1 Wale Street
Cape Town
South Africa
Affiliate link (what is it?)
Photography courtesy of Taj
Share this
Book your stay
Stay in the know
Sign up for the latest hotspot news from Southern Africa.
Advertisement
African tastemakers