6 Best Hotels in Gardens, Tamboerskloof, and Oranjezicht, Cape Town

A gorgeous repurposing of side-by-side Georgian and Victorian houses has resulted in one of Cape Town's best-located and best-run boutique hotels. A real oasis in the city, the property dates back to the early 19th century, and boasts a style that successfully blends contemporary sophistication and polish with antique furnishings. The handsome public areas—a library, lounge with a wood-burning fireplace, and patio with a pool—are great places to relax, and the staff is incredibly obliging and able to arrange just about anything you need. Located just off hip-and-happening Kloof Street, the hotel is within walking distance of numerous cafés and restaurants and its sister establishment, More Quarters.

If you're looking for more independence from your accommodation, staying at this collection of well-appointed apartments (the sister establishment to the Cape Cadogan) is a bit like being part of a tucked-away village. Located in various historic homes (all given a contemporary make-over), the property has its own dedicated reception and lounge area, and daily servicing of your quarters. The spacious apartments (and 1 very snazzy 4-bedroom house with everything you could dream of including a chauffeur and butler) have Smeg appliances in full kitchens and private outdoor courtyards, and there's someone available 27/4 to assist you. 

You won't find over-the-top opulence at Kensington Place, but you will experience a sense of restrained style and tranquil sophistication that permeates every nook and cranny of this guesthouse oasis in Higgovale (among Cape Town's most sought-after residential neighborhoods). Built on a seemingly impossible wedge of real estate and surrounded by a beautiful garden, inside you'll find a gracious lounge, shelves lined with books, a collection of fine South African art, just-right lounge music, pockets of privacy, great comfort, and attentive concierge services from hands-on managers. Suites—refined, spacious, and thoughtfully designed—are all equipped with king-sized beds, a patio or terrace, underfloor heating, and extras like a bluetooth speaker, yoga mat, and beach-ready bag.

Originally a farmhouse, this immaculate property in a quiet residential neighborhood is within walking distance to all the excitement of Kloof Street. Its current owners have transformed the property into an absolute beauty, with a mix of clean lines, an ivory-white palette, and no-expenses-spared top-notch amenities in the rooms and public areas. Plus there are lots of spoiling touches, such as the tea that's served in the gorgeous little salon-style lounge, and experiences designed to help you get to grips with the soul of Cape Town (yoga, Pilates, a Christmas market, book club get-togethers, and tours to various parts of the city, the peninsula, and the Winelands). Rooms are a mixed bag, from a very compact "boutique" unit for solo travelers to the gracious and luxurious suite with a private balcony, but all of them are visual stunners and smartly put together.

Located on the edge of the city center, this large hotel is good for travelers keen to mix a bit of partying and socializing into their stay at a reasonable price. It's within walking distance of quite a few bars and nightclubs, but also has a bit of an "atmosphere" within its own walls, too—public areas are open and bright, including a large lounge area that turns into a bar (complete with DJs) as day turns to evening. Although rooms are small, you're getting plenty of pretty cool facilities at three-star rates (opt for a "Larger Room," preferably with a balcony and/or Table Mountain view, for considerably more space).

In Dutch, welgelegen means "well situated," and this charming boutique guesthouse in two beautifully restored Victorian mansions is just that: nestled under Table Mountain in a quiet street just minutes away from the bustle of Kloof Street and close to the city center. The spacious rooms are all individually and stylishly decorated with a mixture of African chic and romantic whimsy, and many have (at least partial) mountain views (and about half have a private balcony). The pretty courtyard (with a small solar-heated plunge pool) and the gorgeous old library are great places to relax after a busy day, and on-site spa treatments are available. It's one of the few boutique hotels in Cape Town that welcomes children of all ages.