The Victoria & Alfred Hotel arguably has the best hotel location in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, making it a great choice for a holiday or weekend in the city, writes Lorraine Kearney.
Valet parking. That’s what greets you as you drive up to the Victoria & Alfred Hotel in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. It’s a very welcome touch: the parking garage is a bit of a walk but this way you don’t have to worry about a thing. The Victoria & Alfred Hotel has an enviable position, surrounded by all the V&A Waterfront attractions.
A seamless check-in process gets you up to your room in double-quick time. All the better to unpack and throw yourself into what’s on offer.
Victoria & Alfred Rooms
On offer are 94 very comfortable rooms – 34 are mountain-facing (and recommended!), 34 are piazza facing (inviting you right into the Waterfront action), and there are 26 loft rooms. These last are the hotel’s entry-level accommodations, but even so, they are comfortable, bright and airy, with all the amenities – mini bar, tea and coffee station, smart TV, hairdryer, full en-suite and full service. Their loft windows are good for a night sky experience.
All the rooms come with all the amenities, as well as safes for valuables, speedy Wi-Fi and USB plugs. And the staff are friendly, efficient and very accommodating.
The mountain-facing rooms look out onto the yacht harbour, and have enviable views of Table Mountain towering above the city.
The Victoria & Alfred Hotel was the first hotel in the early days of developing the Waterfront, taking a gamble on the future. (A gamble that has paid off immensely, we might add.)
It opened in 1990, as the vision for a revitalised mixed-use docklands area in central Cape Town was starting to become a reality. These days, with its trendy restaurants, shops, accommodations and entertainment, the V&A Waterfront is a world-renowned tourist attraction and the most visited site in South Africa. And the Victoria & Alfred Hotel is at its centre. Location, location, location.
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Dining at the Victoria & Alfred
Dining is done at the restaurant Ginja, which does a filling breakfast of harvest table, hot breakfast or the full English, lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner can be booked for diners not staying at the hotel, and there is a fabulous, old school Sunday brunch from noon til 4pm for just R395 pp.
Ginja has a terrace for warm days and nights facing on to the yacht mole and the mountain, and Native, the coffee kiosk, opens on to the bronze statues of South Africa’s four Nobel Peace laureates. The little courtyard has become a favourite haunt of street performers. Native also sells sandwiches and pastries – the Biscoff doughnuts are brilliant.
Off reception, the hotel opens into the swish Alfred Mall.
Pool, Gym and Spa
Victoria & Alfred Hotel guests also have free use of the swimming pool at Dock House Boutique Hotel, the gym and the Sanctuary Signature Spa across the road.
The hotel was originally the North Quay Warehouse, built in 1904, and the steel structures have been incorporated into the hotel’s designs. Extensive renovations and refurbishments were completed earlier this year, in a minimalist, modern style featuring neutral tones, letting the views do all the talking.
Rates: from R4 480 pr pn, room only.
Find out more here.
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