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With Table Mountain as its backdrop and the Atlantic Ocean beyond, The Cape Town EDITION has opened at the V&A Waterfront, marking the luxury hospitality brand’s debut on the African continent. Set within Cape Town’s historic working harbour, the hotel combines contemporary architecture, African art, destination dining and considered wellness experiences in a setting shaped by the city’s maritime heritage and creative energy.

Part of EDITION’s global portfolio, which spans destinations including London, New York, Tokyo and Lake Como, the new property brings the brand’s distinctive approach to design-led luxury hospitality to one of South Africa’s most internationally recognised destinations.

“Cape Town has a distinctive energy shaped by extraordinary landscapes, diverse influences and an exceptional culinary scene,” said George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, EDITION. “As one of the world’s most compelling cultural capitals, it is a natural home for EDITION.”

An Architectural Expression of Place

Located at Quay 7, overlooking the V&A Waterfront’s new superyacht marina and facing Table Mountain, the hotel occupies a prominent position at the intersection of Cape Town’s maritime past and contemporary cultural life. Its setting places guests within easy reach of the Waterfront’s galleries, museums, restaurants and retail destinations.

Designed by Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects and professional firms, the building draws inspiration from the industrial character of the working harbour. Its elongated form, pitched rooflines and textured brick façade reference the warehouse structures that once occupied the site. More than six million bricks were laid by hand in shifting patterns, creating a distinctive exterior rooted in its surroundings.

At the heart of the hotel, The Drum is a soaring cylindrical space open to the elements above. A spiralling staircase leads to an outdoor viewing platform, revealing changing perspectives of the harbour, Table Mountain, the Atlantic and the Waterfront below. Conceived as both an arrival experience and a public-facing lookout, it offers a striking architectural connection between the hotel and the city.

The property features 142 guestrooms and suites, designed to balance understated refinement with residential comfort. Bespoke furniture, natural finishes and integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks create warm, layered interiors, while large windows frame views of the surrounding landscape. Locally made rugs by KwaZulu-Natal-based Shuttleworth Weaving introduce another expression of South African craftsmanship.

The accommodation is anchored by a 240-square-metre Penthouse and a 112-square-metre Harbour Suite, both offering generous living spaces and panoramic outlooks.

Art and design are integral to the experience. Design Network Africa sourced contemporary pieces from makers across the continent, including Zulu ukhamba vessels and mouth-blown recycled glass from Eswatini. Cape Town gallery Southern Guild curated an art collection bringing together established and emerging African artists.

Among the highlights are Zanele Muholi’s black-and-white photographic portraits in Punch Room; Usha Seejarim’s Fading Dish Cloth, assembled from hundreds of wooden clothes pegs, in the spa; and sculptural, smoke-fired ceramics by Chuma Maweni in the lobby and dining spaces.

Wining and Dining with a Distinctly Cape Identity

Food and drink form a central part of The Cape Town EDITION’s identity. Executive Chef Phil Carmichael, whose experience includes some of the Cape’s leading restaurants and Berners Tavern at The London EDITION, leads the culinary programme alongside South African beverage partner George Hunter.

Across five restaurants and bars, the offering moves from seasonal Cape cuisine and rooftop dining to considered cocktails and more intimate drinking experiences.

Shale, the hotel’s signature restaurant, celebrates the Cape’s seasonal produce through relationships with farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers. Meat is dry-aged in-house, while a predominantly South African wine list reinforces the regional focus. The menu balances familiar ingredients with unexpected combinations, including Saldanha Bay mussels served with curry velouté, seaweed salad and braised black rice.

On the rooftop, EAVE pairs expansive views with a relaxed but refined indoor-outdoor setting beside the heated pool. Designed to transition from leisurely afternoons to sundowners, dinner and music programming after dark, it serves cocktails, wines and small plates inspired by the Winelands and surrounding coastline.

The adjoining Pool Terrace follows the rhythm of the day, offering breakfast, light midday fare, sunset cocktails and relaxed evening dining.

On the ground floor, the signature Lobby Bar brings the atmosphere of a contemporary Cape Town living room to the hotel, with a striking bar and pool table providing a focal point. The space shifts naturally from morning coffee and informal meetings to light bites and evening drinks.

Punch Room offers a more intimate experience, reinterpreting the centuries-old punch-house tradition through a distinctly local lens. Wood panelling, velvet banquettes and low lighting establish an atmospheric setting for cocktails served in generous bowls designed for sharing. Among the signatures is Brandewijn, a contemporary punch combining brandy, Pinotage, rooibos, pineapple, lemon and winter spice.

Wellness and Contemporary Gatherings

Below sea level, the hotel’s spa provides a retreat from the energy of the Waterfront. Five treatment rooms and a couples’ suite are complemented by a sauna, steam room, infrared beds and Therabody recovery boots. Treatments combine skincare, massage, fascia work and aromatherapy with mineral-rich formulations from Omorovicza.

Wellness extends to a 24-hour gym and a daily programme of yoga, breathwork, sound baths and movement sessions, with the heated rooftop pool and sun deck providing additional space to unwind.

For meetings, private gatherings and celebrations, the hotel offers a collection of light-filled event spaces, including a ballroom accommodating up to 200 guests, a boardroom, two meeting studios and a private event terrace. The wider hospitality offering creates opportunities for everything from harbourside receptions and rooftop cocktails at EAVE to exclusive gatherings at Vantage, the hotel’s rooftop event space, and private dinners at Shale.

A Living Connection to Cape Town

Beyond its design and dining, The Cape Town EDITION plans to establish an evolving programme of collaborations with the city’s culinary and creative communities. Experiences will bring together chefs, winemakers and artists through food and drink partnerships, cultural programming and initiatives such as rooftop stargazing.

“We want The Cape Town EDITION to feel as relevant to a Capetonian as it does to someone visiting the city for the first time,” said Leonie Andereya, General Manager of The Cape Town EDITION. “Inspired by the warmth and authenticity of South African hospitality, we have created a place where locals and travellers come together through food, culture, creativity and conversation.”

With its combination of contemporary architecture, African art, Cape-inspired cuisine and social spaces, The Cape Town EDITION adds a new dimension to the V&A Waterfront’s evolving hospitality landscape, positioning itself as a destination for both international travellers and the city’s own dining and cultural community.