Top 20 Cool and Unusual Hotels in Cape Town 2023

No holiday in Cape Town would be complete without at least one night at the famous Grand Daddy Hotel, with its famous Airstream Rooftop Trailer Park — that’s right, the penthouses in this Hotel are seven very cool Airstream trailers.

Although this is no ordinary trailer park, each of the seven trailers (and communal spaces) has been renovated by talented local artists, creating unique and playful living spaces. You’ll also find a rooftop concert or cinema outside on summer nights.

The Grand Daddy Hotel is equally unique and is a trendy, refurbished 1895 hotel on Long Street, the center of Cape Town’s dining and nightlife. Rooms have marble bathrooms, patios, or balconies. 

One for outdoor lovers, the upscale 4-star and exceptionally rated Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve offers unique Cape Town accommodation options in the pristine wilderness (in the Cederberg Mountains).

Here, you can sleep under the stars (but from the comfort of a luxury open-air bed) or in a naturally excellent Cave Suite. See 6,000-year-old cave paintings, take a nature drive, swim in one of the two swimming pools, or spend a day unwinding at the spa.

Situated within Camps Bay, the POD Camps Bay is ideally located for you to enjoy the renowned beaches, cuisine, and nightlife and meet the beautiful people of the area.

The location is perhaps the best in Cape Town, within driving distance of the vibrant and historical city center and the bustling V&A Waterfront.

Whether you’re staying within the Deluxe Suite or the Luxury, Classic, and Mountain Rooms, each living arrangement provides all the necessary amenities, including air conditioning, underfloor heating, and en-suite bathrooms, sure to match your needs.

If you’re an eco-conscious nature-lover or just a great big kid, you’ll love Teniqua Treetops. Here, you can sleep in a tented tree house perched high in the forest canopy of the Outeniqua foothills, a lush forest along the Garden Route between Knysna and Sedgefield.

Eight beautiful handcrafted eco-friendly treehouses are tucked away in the trees, offering one or two bedrooms, kitchens, living/dining areas, en-suite bathrooms with dry toilets, decks with BBQs, and gorgeous scenic views.

To up the glamping factor, some have sunken tubs, glass-enclosed showers, antique furniture, and sunrooms. Look closely at the region’s many exotic birds, or make romantic memories with your sweetheart!

This luxury hotel in the Foreshore district of Cape Town is in the center of it all yet offers a relaxed refuge from all the hustle and bustle. Interior public spaces have an upbeat, cheerful design in keeping with the city’s mood, with bright colors and custom lighting.

The rooms and suites are restful spaces with muted colors, courtyard or city views, and all the trappings of comfort with extra-length beds, luxury linens, and coffee stations. The onsite Rockefeller Plaza restaurant is a foodie favorite in Cape Town, with live DJs every evening, South African wines, craft beers, and a menu of international favorites.

It’s open all day for breakfast and dinner, and the 24-hour Localé Deli has home-baked bread and snacks.

Gorgeous George does live up to its name, with its two restored heritage buildings designed and furnished in a mix of styles that reflect the city’s rich history.

You’ll find oriental carpets, intricate tapestry fabrics, a marble staircase, dark wood and bamboo paneling, basketwork decor, and a profusion of green plants, all carefully and artfully intermingled.

The rooms are likewise full of character, with original artwork by David Brits and custom fittings, mixing Victorian and industrial design elements.

The rooftop Gigi restaurant is a favorite Cape Town hangout, with a swimming pool, glass roof, and a South African and international menu for all breakfast and dinner.

The central location in St. George’s Mall puts you close to everything, including the V&A Waterfront and the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Right at the foot of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, you’ll find this eco-retreat, with just 20 rooms surrounded by verdant tropical gardens and a stunning view of the peaks. It’s close to the historic sites and natural beauty of Hout Bay and just a short drive to the city center.

Airy tropical decor in the light-filled rooms and window walls open to private patios, making the beautiful grounds and landscape part of the living space. The Green Orchid restaurant serves a menu of international favorites with local ingredients.

Guests can swim in the heated pool, relax at the Disa Spa with luxurious treatments, or explore the nearby beaches with swimming, surfing, and yachting opportunities.

The centrally located and modestly priced Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge lets you effortlessly reach anywhere you want to be in downtown Cape Town. Still, if this 19th-century structure looks imposing, it started as a prison.

Although don’t worry about prison-style accommodation, this newly renovated Hotel offers chic and contemporary interiors. A fabulously unique and unusual Cape Town hotel!

In the heart of the South African veldt yet close to the city center, this tranquil retreat is located on a historic estate also home to one of the oldest vineyards in the Cape of Good Hope. The sprawling, low buildings have a choice of accommodations, with private rooms in the farm lodge, vineyard bungalow suites, and the owner’s villa, all with the low-key simplicity that speaks real luxury.

You can relax on your private patio and take in the views of the vineyards backed by distant mountains, partake in farm activities, including wine tastings, and chill out at the spa with treatments using local and natural products.

There are gym and yoga rooms, and you can borrow bikes to explore the trails around the farm. The two onsite restaurants offer gourmet, local, natural foods made according to family recipes.

Nearby attractions within easy driving distance are Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront, Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, and Somerset West.

Located in Sea Point, close to the beaches and most attractions, this nine-room boutique hotel is built around themes of friendship, warmth, and hospitality, symbolized by its namesake pineapple. You’ll find the fruit motifs everywhere – on the hotel logo, of course, and on spoon handles, table and wall ornaments, and even the pats of butter are shaped like miniature pineapples.

The room decor is similarly charming and quirky, with unique print fabrics, artwork, and indoor plants adding life and color. Touches like exposed brick walls and little seating nooks make it all cozy and homelike. You’ll love the rain shower, comfy beds, balcony, and some rooms open directly to the pool deck.

Breakfast is included in your stay, and the buffet consists of fruit, cereal, yogurt, croissants, eggs made as you like, and the best coffee. Outside, there’s the beautiful world of the mountains, vineyards, beaches, and safaris to explore, and the bracing sea air that’s better than any tonic.

Situated close to the best of Cape Town, in the trendy Platinum Mile on Moille’s Point, the O’Two Hotel is all about comfort and understated luxury. Nearby attractions include the V&A Waterfront, famous for its shopping and dining, the beaches and promenade, Green Point Park, and Cape Town Stadium.

Rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors with views of Lions Head, Table Mountain, Greenpoint Eco Park, and the Atlantic Ocean, and large balconies with comfortable seating.

A la carte breakfast is served daily, and you can relax with cocktails beside the heated rooftop swimming pool, with 360 views of the majestic landscape.

The Hotel also has a spa and gym, bike rentals, and free parking.

Originally the Harbour Master’s private residence in the 1800s, the Dock House Boutique Hotel and Spa speaks volumes through its unique designs and elaborate furnishings. Equipped with chandeliers, ornate ceiling cornices, and bold artwork, the Hotel offers a Victorian charm perfect for your historic getaway.

Located alongside the Time Ball Tower, Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa offers five elegant rooms, which complement the Victorian elegance, with the upstairs rooms overlooking the bustling harbor. In contrast, the ground floor room opens to a veranda overlooking the garden and the swimming pool area, perfect for those cool summer nights.

If you’re looking for absolute privacy, the entire trendy Cape Town hotel can be booked for exclusive use at an additional cost.

Drawing a comparison between Cape Town’s Atlantic coastline and the European Riviera, the Sea Five Boutique Hotel is home to some of the most pristine rooms available in all of South Africa.

Styled by top South African interior designer Francois Du Plessis, the rooms pay homage to a culmination of the style of Mediterranean villas and the crisp South African refinement, with white and cream being the predominant pallet of choice.

To further make your stay one to remember, the Hotel additionally provides services, including in-house spa treatments to Yoga on your private terrace, to make the duration of your stay even more spectacular.

If you’re in the mood to relax, you can savor a moment of utter bliss as you watch one of South Africa’s most scenic sunsets at the poolside, equipped with its bar.

The classic 1902 building is full of modern energy, right in the vibrant heart of Cape Town. It was a bank initially, and you can see details of Victorian architecture mixed with modern industrial design. Located in the historic St George’s Square, it’s right amid it all, with African market stalls, historic eighteenth-century buildings, and the trendiest bars and restaurants.

The spacious rooms have wood floors and restful decor with luxurious accents like padded headroads, plush fabrics, seating, and fresh flowers. You can start your day with breakfast à la carte or a Full English/Irish at the 1902 Bistro, which serves simple classic meals all day.

The B&F Bar serves carefully charted wines, gin, cocktails, and whiskey in an elegant, nostalgic setting.

The Aquila Private Game Reserve offers luxury and standard chalets and the opportunity for Big Five game safaris. Glimpse elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos, and return to your rustic yet comfortable accommodations for a dip in a natural rock pool.

The safaris are educational, so you’ll learn plenty about the wildlife and ecosystem of the region.

The Glen Boutique Hotel and Spa offers an array of services ranging from tours to spa treatments apart from the usual hotel service.

From a Dylan Lewis Sculpture Gardens tour to a Safari Tour and even on to the Cape Point Tour, each time is specially customized by the hip Cape Town hotel to provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Boasting the finest masseurs in South Africa, the Glen Boutique Hotel and Spa also offers various relaxation treatments, including the African Touch and Aromatherapy Massage.

Regarding the living arrangements, if you don’t fancy their luxury-styled rooms equipped with all the necessary amenities, you can opt for their luxury apartments in the heart of Sea Point if you prefer a more private experience.

Creative types will love this fun and funky excellent Hotel in Cape Town, where every room has its unique art-inspired decor.

The comfortable, affordable, and spacious rooms seek to marry the privacy of a hotel suite with the personality of a backpacker hostel.

Founded in the early 1930s, the Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel boasts of its history within Cape Town, with its original structure dating back to the beginning of the 19th Century. Complete with bay windows, stained glasses in doorways and windows, and patterns in the brickwork made from colored bricks, the Cape Cadogan is a true example of a historic Victorian structure.

The Hotel offers you a unique experience, with no two rooms being alike, thus prompting returns repeatedly in a quest to experience them all.

Each room is air-conditioned, with satellite television, a minibar, direct-dial telephone, a hairdryer, and a range of luxury amenities, including WiFi, available throughout the Hotel.

Located in Claremont, one of Cape Town’s beautiful Southern Suburbs, the Andros Boutique Hotel features against the backdrop of Table Mountain, making for a spectacular that you wouldn’t want to miss.

Its location is convenient as it is a five-minute drive from the Kirstenbosch Gardens and Newlands Rugby and Cricket Stadiums, allowing you to travel quickly to your desired destination.

With the plethora of amenities on offer, including its health and beauty facility, gymnasium, and beauty salon, along with complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the property, the fabulous Cape ToWiFitel makes a mark on the hotel scene of Cape Town.

Also, let’s not forget they offer complimentary sherry, port, and fine South African brandy selection in the drawing room to help you unwind after your long day of exploration.

Located on the slopes of Table Mountain, the Four Rosmead is a historical addition to the hotel scene of Cape Town; built in 1903, the Hotel has been stylishly built to provide you with a contemporary yet classic building with a rich history attached to it.

All the artwork within the Four Rosmead are original South African works, which you can buy upon departure as a unique memorabilia of your stay.

The provision of modern top-class rooms with all necessary amenities, including extra length king/twin beds, air-con, HD satellite TV, and Wi-Fi internet connectivity, which further adds to theWiFial of the Hotel, with features such as fireplaces, private gardens, balconies, and courtyard access, providing you with a perfect urban sanctuary.

It is ideal to celebrate a special occasion; it is perfect for seeking out a unique experience within Cape Town.