Explore the rich art scene in Cape Town, winelands and nearby country towns, staying at luxury hotels with impressive art collections and / or in-house galleries. From opulent boutique establishments that are collectors and custodians of some of the country’s finest art, to funky contemporary hotels sporting interactive art experiences, Cape Town and surrounds have some superb options for people with art at heart.
STAY 1: Ellerman House, Bantry Bay, Cape Town. This is an exclusive and opulent boutique hotel on Cape Town’s sought-after Atlantic Seaboard. For art lovers there is so much to appreciate: items from the Ellerman House Art Collection are on display in the hotel’s on-site gallery. The collection includes more than two centuries of fine art, including early Thomas Bowler works depicting settler life in South Africa. Ellerman House offers the following exclusive art tours to its staying guests: Art in the City Tour; Art in the Winelands Tour; Arts & Culture Tour; Wine & Ceramics Tour; Contemporary Art & Design Tour. Mail us.
STAY 1 ALTERNATIVE: The Silo, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Set to open in March 2017, The Silo will be a wonderful hospitality haven for lovers of art. An historic grain silo is being transformed into a state-of-the-art hotel and the on-site Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the latter to be on a par with the Tate Modern in London and other of the world’s art gallery greats. Mail us.
STAY 1 ALTERNATIVE: Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel, Long Street, Cape Town. This is a less opulent experience that has been described as an interactive art exhibition. Each of its thirteen rooms has been uniquely decorated by an artist, poet, photographer, designer or musician, and in each case the designer was given free rein to create something entirely novel. The hotel is well positioned for travellers wanting to explore the city by day and by night. Mail us.
Cape Town has a phenomenal array of art museums and galleries, among them The South African National Gallery next to the historic Company’s Garden in the city, The New Church Museum in Tamboerskloof, WHATIFTHEWORLD, SMAC and the Stevenson Gallery in Woodstock, the Goodman Gallery on the Foreshore, the AVA Gallery in the city, and many more.
STAY 2: Krystal Beach Hotel, Gordon’s Bay. Drive to the pretty coastal town of Gordon’s Bay (55 km) and check in at Krystal Beach Hotel. The hotel provides stylish accommodation and dining, along with an innovative art experience created by Ndiza gallery, which allows guests to appreciate, engage with and purchase art at a magnificent in-house gallery. Mail us.
STAY 3: Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch. After your stay in Gordon’s Bay, proceed to the Stellenbosch winelands (36 km). The Delaire Graff Estate offers a supreme experience of the Cape’s wine country. Accommodation is exclusive, dining is exceptional, and guests have the pleasure of staying on a wine farm of repute, where spa and boutique shopping experiences are also available. The estate, the central living spaces and the individual guest lodges showcase an impressive collection of South African art and sculpture. Mail us.
Visit the numerous art galleries in the historic town of Stellenbosch. The town has one of the Western Cape’s largest exhibition spaces at The Stellenbosch Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery.
STAY 4: La Residence, Franschhoek. Drive to the charming town of Franschhoek, to check in at La Residence (26 km). This gracious boutique hotel is set amid vineyards and orchards in the fertile Franschhoek winelands. The suites are opulently and elaborately furnished, and decorated with exquisite chandeliers and a good deal of original art. Mail us.
Explore Franschhoek’s many art, antique and photography galleries, some in private homes and others in courtyards and premises around the main street in the town. These include the Holden Manz Collection, the Jo Scott Art Gallery, the Moor Gallery and Art in the Yard.
STAY 5: The Robertson Small Hotel, Robertson. Two hours out of Cape Town, this plush boutique hotel is a stylish hideaway in the pretty Western Cape country town of Robertson. Sublime interiors have been created by Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby in London. The hotel has a rotating ‘pop-up’ exhibition of art from Cape Town’s SMITH Studio. Luxuriate at a fabulously comfy hotel and visit the local Robertson Art Gallery, showcasing the work of 60-plus South African artists. Mail us.
STAY 6: Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat, Cederberg Mountains, Western Cape. An ‘art gallery’ far older than any of the aforementioned is the spectacular rock art sheltered at Bushmans Kloof in the Cederberg. Experience the wonder of the ancient rock paintings that were made by the San people in a breathtaking rocky wilderness of most impressive rock formations. Bushmans Kloof is a glorious five-star retreat, offering magnificent nature experiences that include guided walks to treasured rock art sites. Mail us.
Mail us to book your stay in South Africa, or call +27 21 797-7122 (international) or 0860 102 907 (local).
