Cape View Cliffton

This new cliffside boutique hotel is a great choice for the young and fashionable who don’t mind stairs and don’t need a full-service hotel.

• The elegant touch of the owners who chose every décor element
• The spectacular views over Camps Bay from the pool area
• The pint-sized gym with a view and exactly what you need for a work-out
• The pantry, which is stocked with treats and drinks for self-serve

Literally just around the bend of the coastal road heading to Camps Bay from our favorite small hotel in Cape Town, Ellerman House, is a new chic retreat that is ideal for young fashionable folk who do not need quite the same polish or pampering as those who want the very best. Cape View Clifton is the passion project of a 28-year-old fashion stylist, Jessica Latimer, who lived and worked in London as a stylist for a few years and when she came back decided to transform a cliffside rental property of her family into a chic boutique hotel. Her idea was to share the beach-house living that her family enjoys on holiday with visitors.

The five-story house with view of Camps Bay and Clifton has been elegantly transformed from a series of rental units into a seven-suite inn with enormous style. Latimer has brought a lovely beachy aesthetic to the rooms. From the main entry, you are welcomed to a sitting area with spectacular views of Camps Bay and crashing waves below. Down another flight of stairs, there is a little library nook filled with African objects like cowrie shell boxes, tribal sculptures and antler horns and books on Africa. Tucked in another room is a small gym with two treadmills and a Stairmaster facing the sea. The main communal area encompasses a comfy living room, dining area with an open kitchen and a deck with an infinity pool that hangs over the cliff with views to Camps Bay. Those who want to swim at the beach could brave the walk 300 steps down from the road or hail a taxi (as most do). Many just decide to stay up on this perch and enjoy the privacy. Breakfast is served as a feast with hot and cold options, but there is no proper restaurant for lunch and dinner since there are so many great options to choose from in the area.

All of the guest rooms face the sea with balconies of varying sizes. The largest two suites are like mini-apartments, which could work for families; they feature a sitting area, large bedroom and the biggest balconies. The design in all rooms is contemporary beach house chic with neutral palettes, bleached wood accents and all-white bathrooms (only one has a tub). With a former Ellerman House employee running the property, Cape View is already attracting a loyal crowd of regulars who are making this their new Cape Town home.

Those who want a beachside retreat and don’t need a full-service hotel.

Anyone who has trouble with stairs will struggle here; there is a lot of up and down.