One & Only Cape Town

The One & Only has a decidedly mainstream corporate vibe, which hints at a sense of place, but the amenities, including a real Kid’s Club, are top-notch and the rooms some of the city’s largest.

• The Table Mountain views from the bar and lounge
• The Kid’s Clubs, for ages 4-11 and 12-17
• The blissful spa and expansive pool, situated on its own (man-made) island
• The newly renovated and sizable rooms, each with views over Table Mountain

Located in the V&A Waterfront district, the One & Only has a man-made lake and small island, interiors designed by Adam Tihany, restaurants spearheaded by Nobu and South African star chef Reuben Riffel, and some of the largest—and most expensive—suites in the city.

Considering One & Only’s forte in breezy island and beach destinations (Cabo, the Maldives, the Bahamas), it comes as no surprise that the company’s first city project creates a resort within the urban setting. It may not have the enviable location of the Cape Grace, but with seven stories, the main building of the One & Only has beautiful views of the waterfront and Table Mountain that looms in the distance.

The majority of the 131 rooms and suites are housed in the main building and were renovated in 2022 with a fresh, contemporary aesthetic. The room are all relatively spacious (the smallest measures 63 square meters) and are done in a subtle modern African design scheme with dark-wood furniture, colorful fabrics and large bathrooms with rain showers and deep soaking tubs. The most family-friendly accommodations are the forty suites located on the small, man-made island (channeling Dubai) behind the main building, where the spa, complete with twelve treatment rooms, is also housed. For larger groups, the One & Only also has two expansive four-bedroom penthouse suites, equipped with their own rooftop deck and plunge pools.

Throughout the hotel, mini bars are stocked with treats from iconic local gourmet store, Melissa’s, and the bath amenities were created by Cape Town beauty company Charlotte Rys, but beyond these details, there’s very little that is notably destination specific about the interiors. Regardless of whether you stay here, come for a cocktail in the soaring bar and lounge, and watch the setting sun light up Table Mountain.

For families who want a large, resort-like setting in the V&A Waterfront, there’s no better choice.