Today we took a look at the new Pepper Club Luxury Hotel and Spa, situated in the vibrant Long Street district of downtown Cape Town. The hotel features all the frills and fancies one would come to expect from a 5-star hotel such as a spa, swimming pool, a fine dining restaurant, conference facilities as well as 24 hour concierge and security. It also features a fun and luxurious 29-seater cinema which could offer a number of interesting opportunities for corporate launches and fun kids programs.

With steep competition in the 5-star hotel arena, the Pepper Club has had to think outside the box to distinguish itself from other Cape Town hotels. Consequently guests can make use of Pepper Club’s chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Phantom for airport pick-ups, luxurious sight-seeing or a glamorous night on the town. Guests also have full access to the Pepper Club on the Beach, in Camps Bay. Here one can enjoy cocktails, or indulge in Michelin-star lunches or sunset dinners on Cape Town’s most picturesque beach.

With all this being said – the WOW factor of this hotel must be its incredible Penthouse Suite which takes up 2 floors and over 740 sq. m, inside and out. The views over the city and harbour are exquisite…along with the large private pool and outdoor deck areas. This 3-bedroom suite also features its own private sauna as well as wine cellar. It really is quite something but at a cool R50,000.00 per night…one shouldn’t expect anything less.

A lot of money has been spent on this development but only time will tell whether the Pepper Club will live up to its reputation of sophistication and unparalleled luxury living in this beautiful city.

Standing tall amidst the brightly painted artisan houses and winding streets of Cape Town’s vibrant Bo-Kaap District, the recently opened Coral International Hotel breathes an air of culture into the city’s luxury 5-Star hotel market.

The warm colours of Northern Africa and the soft touch of rich furnishings inspired by the East, combine to present guests with an experience as vivid as it is lavish. The hotel’s 137 spacious rooms and suites are tastefully decorated, intricately designed and equipped with the finest amenities – including silky smooth Egyptian Cotton Sheets, flat-screen plasma televisions, and wireless Internet access.

Officially certified as a Halal hotel, the property has the pleasure of offering guests the choice of either an Indian influenced fine dining dinner option, or a more relaxed Continental style restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For a special treat, guests can enjoy a traditional shishah while lazily lounging by the hotel’s heated pool – or for the more indulgent visitors, the spa or on-site hair salon lie in wait just around the corner.

Driven by lofty Middle Eastern standards of service and style, if the property doesn’t stand to impress, there’s always the Patchi Chocolate shop featuring Lebanese imported goodies to leave guests with a smooth, sweet aftertaste.

We had to find something to spice it up – the standard day of Cape Peninsula Touring was becoming nearly as tired as chicken for the fourth time this week. At Grosvenor, we pride ourselves on the finer details, which is why we decided to devote a day to finding some fine dining to infuse the tour with our signature flavour and flare.

The first lunch option we considered was Rodwell House. The 5-Star boutique hotel has only recently opened their dining doors to the public, and now guests have the chance to enjoy lunch al fresco above manicured gardens and a stunning view of the St. James tidal pools. The menu offers a 3-course combination option of locally sourced creations that change depending on what’s available and what’s fresh. Not to mention, we found that dining amongst the impressive collection of contemporary South African art was just another element of good taste. Chris, a former sommelier at the Cape Grace Hotel, will surely recommend the perfect wine to cleanly cap your day of touring; and suddenly what could have been a fish and chips experience has transformed completely.

We continued our research a bit further down the road at the Boulder’s Beach Restaurant – just adjacent to the likes of our little feathered penguin friends. Though much more casual than Rodwell House – we found the food no less refined. A pleasant mix of locals and tourists lazed on the veranda and watched the sunshine bounce off the Atlantic just ahead. The menu caters to nearly every impulse – offering options from oysters three ways to a worked up beef burger and back around to salt and pepper chilli calamari. The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable, but the presentation and culinary skill was immaculate. Another great option to make a more delectable touring experience.

For more information about our tours contact us at info@grosvenortours.co.za

www.rodwellhouse.co.za
www.bouldersbeachlodge.com

In the midst of so many newly constructed properties looking to cloud the Cape Town skyline, even those that have been around for quite some time are realizing they must put their best foot forward. We recently visited the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel, conveniently located just around the corner from the V&A Waterfront, to see the status of their recent refurbishment. With plans to have completed the first step of a refurb that negotiated the all out gutting of 80 Sea-Facing Business Class suites to be finished come October, the property was proud to showcase their new look. Gone were the orange and blue shag tones of old, the darkened rooms – the enclosed spaces. In their place are beautiful and spacious suites that feature an ocean view that feels more like a floating deck than a simple vista. The rooms are airy and light and accentuated by hard wood floors and casual blues and creams. Though the ocean itself is the supreme focal point, we found the minimal and modern decor a nice touch. For all our Brazilian clients we were suprised to learn that each one-bedroom suite can sleep two adults and two children under twelve/one over twelve. The two bedrooms suites can sleep 4 adults and 4 children under twelve/2 children over twelve. What a fantastic option for large families or two close friends with children travelling together. For more information don’t hesitate to contact us!

Spring has sprung…or so we’re told. Though the tempermental winter weather patterns of the mother city haven’t disappeared completely, there’s still one group of locals looking up – the WILD FLOWERS. The legendary South African wild flowers have reared their delicate heads and are blossoming in colorful carpets all along the West Coast and up through Namaqualand. If you’ve never had the opportunity to see yellow mountains or purple river banks there’s no sense wasting any longer. These lovely ladies will only last for a few more weeks, and they’re a stunning sight to see! For more detailed information about the flower route, where to stay, and what to see contact Grosvenor.

This past Friday afternoon a few us escaped the confines of the office and headed over the mountain and around the seabends to the nearby suburb of Hout Bay. We’d heard the 117-year old Chapman’s Peak Hotel had just had a facelift, and we absolutely needed to see how she was healing.
The hotel looks beautiful. Though formally open for business for the last two months, completion of the 22 luxurious standard rooms and the two penthouse suites is scheduled for November. Set at the foot of Chapman’s Peak drive and situated just across from the family
oriented Hout Bay beach, the property is a fantastic option for those looking to enjoy Cape Town from a healthy distance. The rooms themselves are spacious, exceptionally airy yet ultimately inviting. Cool creams accentuated by beachy blues compliment the stunning bay vista below.
If the hotel is a bit out of the way (though only a 20-minute drive from Cape Town’s city center), then we can definitely recommend a calamari quickie. The restaurant is a local institution featuring some of the best calamari on this side of the equator. Grilled or Fried, you can’t go wrong.
All in all it was the perfect Friday distraction!

Hoy visitamos el hotel Icon, situado convenientemente en el centro de la ciudad y con fácil acceso al Waterfront.  Tienen habitaciones Studio y apartamentos de 1, 2 o 3 habitaciones. La decoración es moderna y minimalista y todas las unidades son espaciosas y muy cómodas.  Las camas en todas las habitaciones son dobles, no tienen camas twin.

A unos pasos de distancia esta el hotel Circa on the Square, que pertenece al mismo grupo que el Hotel Icon (Urban Hip Hotels).  En este caso hay habitaciones Executive y Penthouse, la diferencia principal siendo el tamaño.  Todas las habitaciones tienen camas dobles y un sofá cama para un niño si desean.

Estos hoteles tienen un concepto diferente con respecto al desayuno.  Los pasajeros reciben un cupón de cierto valor que puede ser cambiado por comidas y bebidas de 5 locales diferentes en las cercanías del hotel, lo que ofrece una variedad increíble. No ofrecen servicio de habitación y el hotel Icon no tiene teléfonos en las habitaciones.

After many months of thumb holding and finger crossing, Grosvenor Tours is proud to introduce our refurbished, refashioned and altogether rejuvenated brand new web site.  We’ve effectively knocked down the walls and rewired the breakers to bring you an experience that’s informative, user-friendly and easy on the eyes.

Take a moment to acquaint yourself with our pre-packaged tours and our incentive capabilities, or rather opt for a bit of window-shopping and explore the likes of our favorite new gadget – the brilliant and bemusing interactive map!

Though, at the end of the day this is your journey.  Grosvenor specializes in customized individual travel, so please don’t hesitate to contact us with queries, quotes and even the odd concern.

We hope you enjoy the site as much as we have, and we look forward to hearing from you!

- The Team at Grosvenor Tours