4 Best Hotels in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

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.

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.

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.