2 Best Hotels in City Centre, Cape Town

Independent travelers with a fondness for quirkiness love this place, which is a step up from sharing a dorm with other backpackers, especially if you don't mind late-night noise and want to be close to after-dark shenanigans (weekends can be seriously loud). Conceived as an ode to Cape Town's creative community, well-known local artists—including poet-author Finuala Dowling and architect André Vorster—were invited to decorate a room to their tastes and the results are fanciful. In the Photo Booth room, a huge portrait behind the bed is made up of 3,240 black-and-white photos of Capetonians, while a colorful room by the erstwhile fusion band Freshlyground has a bright red throw, portraits of the band members, and music. But it's not all about show—the amenities are all in place as well. The linen is crisp and clean, the staff is friendly, and the only real drawback, aside from the noise situation, is the dearth of parking.

If you're looking for an inner-city accommodation that's well priced and far away from the late-night noise of Long Street but close enough to enjoy the nightlife, the Adderley is for you. Each spacious suite has separate sleeping and lounge areas, as well as a fully equipped kitchen. The beds are outfitted in comfy white linens, and only part of the bathroom is fully enclosed, with basin and tub in the bedroom section, and the shower and toilet behind frosted glass. The downstairs restaurant Bowl serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but with so many good cafés and restaurants nearby, you should take advantage of their location and explore when not self-catering. During the day you're in the center of the action, but at night it's very quiet.