Girls Night In at Camps Bay Retreat

Is there anything more luxurious than a night of face masks, hair masks, wine and chocolate with a girlfriend? Well, the only thing I can think of that could possibly make this situation more luxe, is if it all went down at the beautiful Camps Bay Retreat.

I was invited to visit the hotel, which is located in the heart of Cape Town, literally minutes from Camps Bay Beach and Kloof Street. The great thing is though, that once you arrive, you’d never know you were so close to the hustle and bustle of town. The hotel is set within a nature reserve in a ravine, so you’re surrounded by tall trees and lush plant life, with views of the ocean and Table Mountain. No traffic noise to be heard.

I’m always looking for spots that are close to town but that feel like you’re miles away, and this is definitely one of the best. You could easily leave work on a Friday afternoon and be sipping a glass of wine in front of a fire in the hotel’s plush library before 6pm. Once you’re there, you can take in the views, snuggle up with a book in front of the fire or go for a walk through the beautiful natural surroundings.

It was chilly and a bit rainy when my friend Jenna and I were there, so we couldn’t make use of the hotel’s three pools, but I’d love to go back in summer. I’m particularly interested in the mountain pool. It’s also walking distance to one of Cape Town’s best beaches. The bar has views that stretch across the lawns to the sea, which would make for a great summer sundowner spot. However, the wintry weather was perfect for the day we had planned.

The hotel dates back to 1929 and the manor house has a distinctly Downton Abbey feel. Our room was set between the trees in The Villa, with a view of the reserve. We settled in just after lunch time to live our best robe lives and for the next 6 hours we lathered every inch of our bodies in creams and potions, ordered room service and drank some great wine before going to bed smelling like two angels directly from heaven above.

Waking up between the trees was a treat, followed by breakfast in the manor house. This was such a great way to spend 24 hours with a friend and I highly recommend it.

*My visit to Camps Bay Retreat was by invitation.