16 Best Hotels in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

This surprisingly stylish and great-value guesthouse is within walking distance of all the culinary treasures and bohemian pleasures for which charming Kalk Bay is known—its harbor is nearby, too. Located in a grand old house overlooking the bay, its bright and handsomely decorated rooms feature a contemporary beach-chic style, and most have sea views. Comfortable and stylish public areas include a glassed-in sunroom, meeting room, lovely outdoor terrace, pool and garden, and a small bar. Those planning on a longer stay may want to inquire about the self-catering apartment across the street.

All the spacious rooms at this elegant beach-themed boutique hotel—decor is clean and minimalist in shades of white, sand, and pale blue—have balconies with superb sea views making the most of the fact that you are literally on the beach. The brightly refurbished public areas are marvelously comfortable and enjoy the same gorgeous sea views as the rooms, and the accommodating staff make a point of making this feel like your home away from home. When you're not basking on the sundeck (good for whale-watching during the season, and surfer-watching whenever there are waves), you can explore lovely Kommetjie Beach—over a mile of white sand and wild seas—just beyond your door. Some useful touches include beach baskets at the ready, complimentary minibars and snacks, and good recommendations and helpful advice about the locality and beyond from the manager who has been here for years.

The French-born owner of this gem just past Boulders Beach takes his vocation seriously, providing a level of engagement and service that creates a gorgeous retreat where edgy, rustic, and super-elegant design features and fantastic views of False Bay combine to great effect. With only five rooms—each styled differently, but all mixing polished concrete surfaces in neutral tones with a few carefully selected ornate pieces of furniture—it's all extremely intimate, and made for quiet relaxation. Enjoy a drink on the patio by the pool, hang out in the stylish lounge, or enjoy the aromas coming from the open kitchen as you await your generous breakfast; be sure to book dinner here as these are surely the best meals in town.

This magically situated, architecturally innovative, self-catering house with automatic frameless glass doors and integrated shutters is a sophisticated option for a family or two couples traveling together. There are ample indoor and outdoor lounging areas, greenery everywhere, and walkways between the trees, which convey a sense of being in a treehouse, albeit a very chic, very grown-up one with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, wood-burning fireplaces, alfresco shower, and a splash pool with loungers. The fully equipped kitchen is decked out with Smeg appliances, and there are a few useful if perhaps unnecessary distractions, such as a TV and Wi-Fi.

This stylish, modern guesthouse high on a hill in residential Hout Bay enjoys stunning bay and mountain views and makes the perfect pampered base from which to explore far and wide. With only five rooms—all ultracontemporary with complimentary espresso machines, Apple TV, and high-end bath products—and an equal number of sink-in, sit-back cushy lounging areas (including a plush daybed under a massive fig tree), you'll never want for a spot to kick back and imbibe the fantastic views and peaceful setting. The delightfully strange "cottage" (it's like a ship's cabin made from teak and bamboo, perfect for relaxing) looks over the saltwater, solar-heated pool and there's a shaded outdoor breakfast patio.

Tranquil and intimate with only four rooms (each with kitchenette facilities), this owner-managed guesthouse is tucked away in a lush neighborhood that has some of the best views in all of Hout Bay. Perfect if you're seeking peace and privacy, all rooms are individually decorated with antiques and artwork, and have great views (garden, mountain, or bay). An outdoor bath surrounded by native trees overlooks the small saltwater, solar-heated pool that's worth trying out. Tucked into the ground floor of the house, the garden apartment is very spacious and the only room that accommodates children; the other rooms are all upstairs.

A little gravel road leads to this converted farm, prettily transformed into a handsome five-bedroom guesthouse with wonderful views, stylish, low-key design, and a sense of escape. Much of the original Cape Dutch architectural elements remain, so you get a sense of history and place, but the Belgian owner has gone out of her way to carefully select the many personal touches, from the whitewashed interiors and wicker furniture in the guest rooms to the dreamy layout of the Provencal-style courtyard where you have breakfast––the food, too, is a cut above, and includes homemade jams and fresh-baked bread. Plus there's a scrumptiously large pool and some truly epic vistas.

Situated in family-friendly and often extremely busy Noordhoek Farm Village, this moderately comfortable hotel is at the very least a practical option if you're looking for no more than a place to stay along your way. Rooms are functional and unremarkable aside from the fact that four of them are wheelchair-friendly, a rarity across the peninsula. There's plenty to do right on its doorstep, though it frequently turns into a place where large groups congregate for morning drinks, sometimes after cycling events or in preparation for nearby weddings. It also hosts conferences, which can seriously impinge on privacy, peace, and quiet, never mind the dithering service. There's a small pool and a pleasant courtyard with lemon trees.

Close to the beach, enfolded by mountains, and surrounded by horse farms and lush green space, this collection of self-catering cottages tucked beneath ancient oaks offers a proper countryside atmosphere. The rooms are extravagantly large and the homey atmosphere is well-suited to the countrified setting. There's a good little spa on the premises, and the location is ideal if you want to escape the town's busier locations (like Noordhoek Farm Village and Cape Point Vineyards). You can opt for a rate that includes breakfast or choose self-catering (the latter's a good idea given how many nearby places there are that serve fabulous breakfasts).

Nature lovers will rejoice when they set eyes on these wooden cabins and cottages that provide the ultimate sense of indoor-outdoor living while affording gorgeous views over Scarborough and out to sea. As the name implies, you are steeped in nature, between tangled branches and tall trees towering overhead, and the spaces themselves are wonderfully in keeping with the spirit of the enfolding surrounds. The cabins have everything you need (kitchen, lounging areas, deck spaces from which to soak up the views, pretty bedrooms), but not so much that you're pulled out of the fantasy of being in a verdant wonderland surrounded by the very thing you ultimately came to the peninsula to experience: nature.

This clean and contemporary African-themed guesthouse in a residential area about 3 km (2 miles) outside Simon's Town offers spacious rooms with magnificent views over False Bay. All five spacious rooms have sitting areas with unobstructed views of the ocean and the surrounding mountains. The stunning views are courtesy of a residential location perched on a steep hill, however, you'll need a car to do any exploring or get meals beyond breakfast.

On Jubilee Square, part of the Simon's Town Waterfront, this centrally located hotel has wonderful views over the bay, the harbor, and the yacht club. Rooms are light and airy, combining lime-washed wood with white walls, touches of silver and gray, and a beachy-clean atmosphere (some rooms are carpeted), though the bathrooms are small; there are a few guest rooms that have mountain views instead of water views.

For a luxurious seaside stay, a room in this casually elegant guesthouse will likely transport you to a bygone era. It's full of historical charm, complete with heyday colonial architecture, original woodwork, genuine antiques, Persian carpets, and floral fabrics. The six guest rooms have a strong touch of old-world glamor, plus there's a sheltered pool and tanning deck, a sunroom, dining room, library, bar, and lounge with a fireplace.

This superb boutique guesthouse—a pair of conjoined seaside villas—puts you right in the heart of the penguin action, and you're just a short walk from Seaforth Beach and Boulders Beach. No ordinary beachside bed-and-breakfast, it comes with every imaginable luxury, including scrumptious beds in individually styled, comfortably laid out, and generously proportioned sleeping quarters. There’s an intimate rooftop terrace with a heated plunge pool and endless views. Downstairs, a variety of lounges, terraces, nooks, huge picture windows facing the sea, and quiet garden spaces provide opportunities for quiet reflection, and there's an in-house chef who whips up lunches and dinners on request and prepares a mean breakfast; at mealtimes, tables are set up in different parts of the villa, perhaps with a full-on sea view one morning, and in a quiet nook the next. You might see whales breaching and hundreds of dolphins swimming by at any moment. When you're done for the day (or maybe done listening to the braying sound of penguins), soundproof and light-blocking shutters come down completely to cut out the outside world so you get the most amazing night's sleep.

Situated in the heart of Hout Bay's shops and restaurants, this classic Cape Dutch edifice decorated in a playful funky African style has been a working hotel since 1871. The 16 rooms are airy and light, successfully melding elegant antiques, modern comforts, and African fabrics and beadwork. Wooden floors, dazzling chandeliers, and free-standing baths in some rooms complete the picture. The bright and creative design aesthetic extends to the hotel's public spaces, including a stylish bar (serving a tapas menu till the wee hours), and a lovely (if dark) lounge area with a cozy fireplace. A spa, pleasant courtyard under ancient oak trees sitting next to a small pool, and two restaurants are all on offer. Just a few minutes' walk from Hout Bay's buzziest restaurant and shopping area (and a popular weekly outdoor market), the hotel also sits next to walking trails up the mountain, and is just a few kilometers from the beginning of Chapman's Peak Drive.

This secluded and charming resort on the peninsula is great for families, as well as popular for small conferences and events. Thatched-roof log cottages sit in an indigenous milkwood forest overlooking a nature reserve and the white sands of Noordhoek Beach. Options include suites or self-catering cottages with either two or three bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. Most cottages also have large balconies, many with sea views. All accommodations share a rustic log-cabin aesthetic and are attractive and tidy with cottage-style furniture. Some have fireplaces and pretty Victorian bathrooms. An on-site restaurant serves three meals a day and is popular with locals for Sunday lunch. Children's programs for all ages can be arranged on request.