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The Lady Hamilton Hotel
Holiday in Gardens, Cape Town
It’s not immediately apparent that The Lady Hamilton is a hotel. Pink, yet oddly unassuming on Union Street, it could pass for one of the grander homes of the area.
So while you’ll be getting value-for-money here, you won’t be subjected to the paper-thin walls of its more modern contemporaries.
The hotel is named for the notorious Lady Hamilton, who was openly known to be the mistress of Lord Nelson, as well as the muse of portrait painter, George Romney. It was a scandal made more scurrilous because of her class; daughter of a blacksmith, she defied societal norm to become a Lady.
Sleep
There are 78 en-suite rooms, which vary in size from double to twin. Depending on which side of the Cape Town hotel you stay, your view will be either of Table Mountain (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World) or across the city.
The modern furnishings and bright colours are a playful juxtaposition to the building’s more mature bones. All the usual amenities are taken care of, such as; air conditioning, telephones, satellite TV and a safety deposit box. There’s also a laundry service on offer, and even a designated ironing room for those wanting to get their own creases out.
The swimming pool, at the hotel’s centre, is a splash of bright blue enclosed by tall pink walls; a colourful place to recline with a newspaper and cocktails.
Eat
On arrival a welcome drink in the bar will set you at ease, there’s also a coffee and tea station that runs hot and fully stocked 24 hours a day.
And if feeling reluctant to venture out to Kloof Street in search of a warm meal, hotel guests can take solace in the fact that the Lady Hamilton serves breakfast, lunch and a buffet dinner.
“Because we’re a relatively small hotel, we can tailor the menu to the needs and the wants of our guests,” says a staff member. “For example we made burgers for a boys’ cricket team which recently stayed here.”
In general, the menu steers towards South African home-cooking, grilled dishes with heart-warming veg for dinner, for example. The restaurant also has a private dining area; perfect for group breakfasts or a conference lunch.
Business
The hotel’s clientele is a mix of business and leisure. To cater to the former there are three conference centres (one of which can host up to 90 people) as well as a ‘business centre’, where you can boot up your laptop and sharpen your pencils.
In one conference room there’s a growing library; stocked by forgetful guests who’ve left their books behind. It’s a unique collection, as its contents come from all corners of the globe.
Location
Gardens is in the thick of things, yet removed enough to still be peaceful. Union Street is no exception; quiet, but literally around the corner from busy and bustling Kloof Street, which is just two minutes away; populated by top restaurants, antique shops, trendy clothing stores, art galleries, bars, and more.
Plus, the beach is just ten minutes away from the front door of the hotel.
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