Cape View Clifton Review, Cape Town

The space: Cape View Clifton, a boutique guesthouse set high on a hill in the swanky Clifton area of Cape Town.

The vibe: Relaxed, home-from-home style luxury and truly spectacular views. The cosy communal lounging areas, the pool and all rooms look out over a stunning turquoise bay, with the jagged peaks of the Twelve Apostles mountain range towering dramatically behind.

The damage: Double rooms start from £195 a night, with breakfast included.

The brag: Gym views don’t get much more motivating than the sweeping panorama on show through the glass fronted workout room here.

The Instagram shot:

The hits: Decked out like a chic beach house with plenty of wicker, crisp white and stripes, the place makes you feel fresh and happy to be alive. The pool gives the illusion that it’s almost floating, high up over the sea, and the stylish white sands of Clifton beach are just a few hundred metres away.

There’s a ‘help yourself’ honesty bar policy for hot drinks, snacks and booze, with a different afternoon tea put out every morning. The continental breakfast buffet features tropical fruits, fluffy croissants and home-made granola pots, while there’s a different hot special served up daily.

The ultra-friendly staff will leave you to your own devices (in a good way) but are nevertheless always happy to help with cabs, bookings and day trip suggestions.

Families, or groups after extra privacy, can book two or three bedroom suites with their own kitchens – and Jacuzzis.

The misses: The place is hard to fault, but when we visited it was impossible to connect to the Wifi unless we were in the communal areas. There are also few shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, so be prepared to drive or to take taxis – and the attractions of Camps Bay or the V&A Waterfront are not far away.

VENTURING OUT:
5m Away: CLIFTON BEACHES.
The four interlinking white coves making up Clifton Beaches are great spots to people watch the young, beautiful and trendy residents of Cape Town. There aren’t many bars or cafes but as night falls in summer the sand is always packed with groups armed with picnic baskets, drinks coolers and candles to sit and watch the sun go down.

20m Away: THE OLD BISCUIT MILL.
Located in the cool and artsy Woodstock area of the city, The Old Biscuit Mill is the place to come and vibe with local designers, artists and photographers as you make your way around day and night markets, food stalls and restaurants. On Saturdays the venue plays host to the famous Neighbourhood Goods market, featuring over 100 different artisan foodie traders. (www.theoldbiscuitmill.co.za)

60m Away: BOULDERS BEACH.
Hire a car and drive along the gorgeous coast road Chapman’s Peak Drive on your way to this famous beach, where you can walk along a boardwalk and watch African penguins toddling about in the sand and frolicking in the surf. Humans can swim in sheltered coves next door, divided by huge boulders of granite.

The deets: Make an enquiry at www.capeviewclifton.co.za.