Cape Grace Hotel

The Cape Grace hotel is built on its own promontory (Quay West) at Cape Town's famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The hotel is surrounded by water on three sides, meaning that all the rooms open on to views of Table Mountain, the yacht marina or a working harbor. It is set slightly away from, yet is a real part of, the bustling Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.

Family owned and run, the Grace is famous for understated elegance and discretion; as Charles Brand (owner) puts it, "We aim to please rather than impress." The Grace is a small hotel by international standards, with only 92 rooms and 12 suites. But everything - from the professional service, the neatly organized tea trays in each room, to the portable gym equipment that can be delivered to the room - speaks of quiet, refined luxury.

Each of the rooms has a separate dressing room and bathroom, the latter with double vanities, a separate bath and shower, and a separate toilet. The rooms are decorated handsomely and comfortably, with fine polished cottons in muted florals and stripes. Each room has wide French doors which open to let in the Fresh sea breezes. In the library the shelves are crowded with books for every taste. Relax into a generous cushioned couch with a glass of sherry and a satisfying read. Morning coffee and afternoon tea are served in this comfortable room, accompanied by home-made pastries and cakes.

Only six years old, it has already won the "Best Small Luxury Hotel of the Year in the World" award, and is without doubt one of Cape Town's premier hotels.