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Chic City, Cape Town
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By: Madeleine Stratton, Issue 40, Spring 2009
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(Cape Town, South Africa)
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AS ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST POPULAR TOURISM DESTINATIONS, CAPE TOWN IS ABLE TO ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT TO ALL KINDS OF VISITORS.
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Whether your design preference is classic or contemporary, your budget is luxe or deluxe or your interests are sporting or cultural, there are chic places to stay, eat and see in the legislative capital of South Africa.
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LUXE CITY
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Stay
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For a luxury Cape Town holiday, stay at the area known as the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, at the Cape Grace hotel. Cape Grace is situated in the centre of the waterfront, on its own private quay, and the city’s most popular shopping and attractions are within reach. The hotel has a choice of 121 custom decorated guest rooms and suites, with luxury services including a spa and access to the hotel’s 56ft luxury yacht.
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Dine
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Luxe dining can be found at Jardine, owned and run by Scottish chef George Jardine. Number 79 on the S.Pellegrino World’s Best 100 Restaurants 2009 list, Jardine serves modern cuisine combining contemporary European techniques and fresh South African produce.
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See
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To get a taste of natural Cape Town, take a day tour of the majestic Table Mountain via a cable car that offers maximum views of the Cape Peninsula, and the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, covering 528ha of diverse cape flora.
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ULTRA LUXE CITY
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Stay
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For the ultimate deluxe Cape Town experience, stay at the award-winning The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa luxury boutique hotel. Nestled between Cape Town’s Twelve Apostles mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Table Mountain National Park, this hotel has spectacular views whether your room faces the mountains or the water. The pick of the rooms is the top-floor presidential suite with open plan living/dining room, master bedroom, second room furnished as an office or gym at your request, and wrap around balcony with endless views.
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Dine
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According to the S.Pellegrino World’s Best 100 Restaurants 2009 The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français is the finest cuisine South Africa currently offers. A little over an hour’s drive west from your hotel (if you’re staying at The 12 Apostles) in the cape winelands at Frankshoek, The Tasting Room serves locally sourced ingredients, including wildebeest, and is a gastronomic must.
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See
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A trip to Cape Town wouldn’t be complete without visiting Robben Island, home to the prison where Nelson Mandela was famously held along with other Indigenous African leaders during apartheid. The Robben Island Museum offers tours and (for an additional cost) can arrange private tours, VIP tours (for known personalities) and protocol tours (for heads of state) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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CLASSIC CITY
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Stay
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Since its opening in 1899, Mount Nelson Hotel has welcomed a host of famous people including Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey. The iconic hotel is set on its own garden estate, and is close to the water and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. With elegantly furnished rooms and suites, this is the best accommodation choice for those who prefer classic surroundings. Guests won’t want to miss Mount Nelson Hotel’s famous Afternoon Tea, voted “Best Tea in the World” by UK Sunday Times food critic Michael Winner.
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Dine
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Diners can choose either the five course degustation menu or from the a la carte menu at Cape Town’s Aubergine restaurant, which serves a combination of South African meats like ostrich, and classic options like rabbit and venison.
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See
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Explore Cape Town’s colonial history with a half-day Cape Heritage VIP tour, which includes visits to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, and the historical Bo-Kaap district.
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CONTEMPORARY CITY
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Stay
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One&Only Cape Town, a contemporary urban resort on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is the result of a collaboration between internationally acclaimed designer Adam D. Tihany and local architects Ruben Reddy and Dennis Fabian & Berman.
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Dine
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One&Only Cape Town is also home to Nobu, world-famous chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa’s first African restaurant. Here, diners can experience fresh South African seafood, along with classical Japanese cuisine with a contemporary twist.
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See
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Peruse contemporary art at Cape Town’s Bell-Roberts Art Gallery. Established in 2000, the gallery showcases contemporary talent from around the world. Also of interest is the João Ferriera Gallery, which regularly shows works by contemporary artists working in a variety of mediums.
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CULTURE CITY
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Stay
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Constantia is the birthplace of the South African wine farming industry and is approximately 15kms south of the city centre. Visit the historic suburb to see examples of traditional Cape Dutch style architecture, and explore the Constantia wine route through centuries-old estates including Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa, and Constantia Uitsig. Constantia Uitsig offers luxury boutique accommodation, with 16 garden rooms and a spa.
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SPORT CITY
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Stay
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Soccer fans world-wide will be converging on South Africa next year for the FIFA World Cup (11 June to 11 July, 2010). Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium (still in construction) will host several games and semi-finals, so sport lovers can include a match or two in their Cape Town holiday. Soccer fans would be well advised to stay at the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel and Residence, minutes away from the stadium. Best to book soon before rooms for the duration of the World Cup book out.
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Details:
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Cape Grace
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Jardine Restaurant
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African Sky
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The Twelve Apostles Hotel
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Le Quartier Francais
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Robben Island
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Mount Nelson Hotel
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