Cape Town is one of those cities where your experience depends on where you stay. Get the location right and the city opens easily. Get it wrong and you spend most of your time sitting in traffic.
That’s one of the reasons why The Cole, part of the Kove Collection, makes a strong first impression. The hotel sits in Sea Point, right along the Atlantic coastline and within easy walking distance of the Sea Point Promenade. For anyone who enjoys being close to the water, it’s immediately appealing.
I arrived about 30 minutes before the check-in time, which meant my room wasn’t ready. That resulted in a short wait upstairs in the hotel’s restaurant while the staff prepared the room. It was mildly inconvenient but the staff handled it politely.
Read Full Article on Mail & Guardian
[paywall]
They offered me a drink and helped with my luggage, which made the wait easier to tolerate. The entrance is stylish and minimal without trying too hard. To the right of reception there’s a clothing boutique and to the left a lobby bar called Script.
The overall feeling is boutique rather than corporate. My room was on the fifth floor and faced the sea, which quickly became the highlight of the stay. The balcony wasn’t just a narrow strip of outdoor space but something closer to a small lounge area.
It had comfortable seating arranged like a miniature living room and enough space that you could easily host a few friends for drinks or even a casual board game session. I ended up spending time there every morning and evening. In the mornings the air was cool and fresh and in the evenings the ocean view at sundown made it an easy place to unwind after a long day.
The ocean breeze and distant sound of waves drifting up from the shore added to the atmosphere in a way that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else. Inside, the room was spacious and practical. The bed was comfortable and positioned directly opposite a large flatscreen smart TV, which is exactly where you want it after a long day.
There was also a couch, plenty of good lighting and enough open space that the room never felt cramped. The bathroom had a large shower and good amenities and the wi-fi connection worked reliably. There was a kettle and a fridge in the room, though no microwave.
The only small inconvenience was that there wasn’t an iron or ironing board in the room. I had to request one whenever I needed it but the staff always delivered it quickly so it never became a major problem. Because the hotel sits along a fairly busy coastal road, there was some traffic noise in the mornings.
Fortunately, once the balcony doors were closed the room became quiet enough. In the evenings the area felt noticeably calmer, with far less traffic and a generally peaceful atmosphere. The hotel’s main restaurant is Figo, located on the eighth floor.
It quickly became a central part of the experience. Like much of Sea Point, it benefits from an excellent ocean view. The atmosphere each time I visited was lively without feeling overwhelming.
Some tables were filled with groups of friends or families, while others were clearly couples on romantic dates. I went there alone and found it relaxed and comfortable enough for a solo dinner as well. The waiters were friendly and patient, taking the time to guide me through the food and drinks menu.
On my first night I started with blistered baby squid served with spicy salami, parsley and lemon pangrattato. The main course was a 300g steak served with black truffle jus, followed by a coconut pavlova with pineapple and coconut ice cream. The meal was excellent.
The cocktails were also worth mentioning. The Lime & Love cocktail, made with Inverroche gin, strawberry, lime, mint and prosecco, was particularly refreshing. On the other hand, the Coconut Negroni, made with coconut-washed Japanese gin, Campari and Martini Rosso was slightly more adventurous but worked surprisingly well.
[/paywall]
All Zim News – Bringing you the latest news and updates.
