While summer Cape Town may feel like it’s pretty much reserved exclusively for international tourists, winter is the time of year when it really pays to stick around for the rainy weeks.
Winter in Cape Town is a local’s paradise, with special rates at some of the city’s top hotels and restaurants. While most of the best places in the city are either fully booked or priced out of our pockets from October to March, we really get to make the most of the incredible hotels and restaurants this city has to offer in winter. That’s not to say that visitors can’t make he most of winter in Cape Town – in fact, international visitors will be able to stretch their Pounds and Dollars even further during the off-peak season.
We were invited to spend a night at one of the top 100 hotels in the world, as voted by Conde Nast Traveller. The beautiful Twelve Apostles Hotel along the coast in Cape Town is one of my favourite spots for summer sun-downers, with expansive views across the Atlantic ocean. I’ve always wanted to spend a night enveloped in its opulence.
We checked in on the Saturday afternoon and were shown to a magnificent suite overlooking the sea. The hotel has a mega art collection, so it’s a scenic walk to any of the rooms. Each room is unique, and ours was really plush, decorated in aquamarine tones, with an ultra-luxurious bathroom.
Leopard Bar
Although it’s hard to find a table in summer, the winter sunset from the Leopard Bar shouldn’t be missed either. It’s one of those old-school, glamorous bars that serves a selection of olives and nuts with their cocktails. In the corner, a gorgeous siren entertains with a keyboard player as the sun sets purple and pink outside. The walls are papered in beautiful tropical print and the whole experience just feels so luxurious.
Azure Restaurant
South Africans don’t often dine out at hotel restaurants, which is a pity since some of the best chefs in the country are serving mouthwatering food at a few of the top hotels. Azure Restaurant at the Twelve Apostles is actually one of my favourite restaurants in Cape Town. Their food is exquisite and their wine list is about 100 pages thick.
Our waiter had an incredible knowledge of wine and could easily have been a sommalier. I really like it when my waiter is able to give me a few suggestions on wine, and he was able to recommend the perfect wine for each course. I ordered the ceviche (paired with Chenin, since I’m not huge on Sauvignon Blanc), line fish (paired with Chardonnay) and sorbet and it was all flipping incredible. Have a look at the full menu on their website.
The whole experience of staying at the Twelve Apostles is one of pure luxury. It’s the luxury of relaxing in your room on a Saturday afternoon. Of cocktails in the Leopard Bar. The luxury of a bath overlooking the Atlantic. It’s the exceptional service. The menu of pillows next to your bed – do you prefer goose down or a neck supporting pillow? Perhaps you prefer rooibos soap to ordinary soap?
We absolutely loved our stay and it really was exactly what we needed.
Winter Specials at The Twelve Apostles
Spa Packages
Detox & Delight
- A detoxifying 60-minute traditional Rasul experience
- A spa lunch including snacks from the Health Bar
- Accommodation in one of The Twelve Apostles’ sumptuous rooms
- Full English breakfast with freshly harvested oysters and sparkling wine
From R1630 per person sharing per night
Spa Winter Glow
- A hearty ‘soup of the day’ lunch in The Café Grill, including freshly baked bread and a glass of wine
- Choose one of three indulgent 60-minute treatments – either a manicure and pedicure; B| Harmonised body treatment; or an Elemis facial
- Accommodation in one of The Twelve Apostles’ sumptuous rooms or suites
- Full English breakfast with freshly harvested oysters and sparkling wine
From R1630 per person sharing per night
Dinner and a Movie
- Dinner at Azure Restaurant for the three-course Choice Select Menu
- Make your way to the hotel’s very own 16-seater cinema, snuggle up and catch an old classic or the latest Hollywood release. A cinema is simply better when it comes with plenty of treats, including popcorn, sweets, ice cream and a rich hot chocolate or milkshake of the day
R475 per person
OR make the most of the occasion and book Overnight Dinner & a Movie and check into one of The Twelve Apostles Hotel’s plush guest rooms, followed by a lavish breakfast with freshly harvested oysters and sparkling wine the next morning
From R1455 per person sharing per night, including dinner, movie and snacks
Hibernate to Rejuvenate package
- Accommodation in one of The Twelve Apostles’ sumptuous rooms
- Full English breakfast with freshly harvested oysters and sparkling wine
- A 40-minute Head and Shoulder Massage per person
- A one-hour session in The Spa’s hot and cold water plunge pools and salt water floatation pool that is said to equal the benefits of several hours of sleep.
- Three-course dinner from the hotel’s Choice Select Menu in Azure Restaurant, prepared by -The Twelve Apostles’ private cinema for daily movies with popcorn, sweets and hot chocolate
From R1505 per person sharing per night; minimum stay two nights
Twelve Apostles Celebration package
- Accommodation in one of The Twelve Apostles’ sumptuous rooms
- Full English breakfast with freshly harvested oysters and sparkling wine
- Three-course dinner from Azure Restaurant’s Choice Select Menu
- One hour session in the hot and cold water plunge pools and salt water floatation pool at The Spa at The Twelve Apostles
- A choice of two of the following treats – romantic rose petal turndown, bottle of sparkling wine, celebration cake, B| Africa spa gift, or a mini snack platter to enjoy while watching the sunset.
From R1615 per person sharing per night
