Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore

A rebel with a cause

The three-martini lunch may be dead and the notion of a 16-ounce sirloin as the meaty precursor to fruitful business deals may have withered along with it, but the Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore feels like a swanky reincarnation of hotels made for men and women in suits.

With even foundations in the corporate world – it was once an old office building– the newest addition to the city centre’s long list of accommodation options is the kind of place where mergers are cemented and higher-ups have their egos stroked.

It’s slick, sophisticated and, most importantly, it’s snug in the bosom of Cape Town’s central business district on Heerengracht Street; both the Cape Town International Convention Centre and a collection of heavy-hitting business headquarters are a mere stone’s throw away.

“We’re the funky hotel in the Rezidor family,” admits the hotel’s sales and marketing coordinator Liza Nieuwoudt as we walk past the outrageous red chairs and asymmetric light installations that feature in the hotel’s easy-dining restaurant, the Red Bar & Grill (RBG), “while the Radisson Blu is the luxury brand.”

Though, while there are certainly a handful of tasteful alternative touches, the Park Inn isn’t as much the tattoo-clad cousin as it's the handsome younger brother.

“As you can see and smell, everything’s brand new; our grand opening is only scheduled for the end of June 2012.”

But even with a mere six months to reconcile any unforeseen snags and to perfect service standards - from the warm, smiling staff to the shine of the elegant shower fittings – it appears to be smooth sailing.

No real surprise here though; as a member of an esteemed, international hotel group with over 1400 enterprises worldwide, management is old hand at making both business and leisure travellers feel at home, away from home.

That said, the Park Inn at the Foreshore is hardly just another faceless fish in the sea.

Aside from the “yes I can” attitude – a point driven home by sloganed buttons worn by the staff - it’s the little features that make the big difference here.

There’s a shoeshine machine, blackout curtains in all the rooms, and a post-midnight menu for haggard business travellers arriving on a red-eye before a jam-packed day of important meetings. And for those working hard only to enjoy the playground that is Cape Town, there are additions like a chef’s table with opportunities for wine pairings, and a stunning sunroof terrace with impressive city views, a splash pool and a daily beer and cocktail happy hour special (Monday to Thursday between 5pm and 6pm).

Sleep

Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore boasts 120 spacious hotel rooms, including one-bedroom suites, business-friendly rooms, standard rooms and wheelchair-access rooms. The high-quality furnishings – think plush charcoal carpets, handsome wood fittings and flat-screen TVs – are accompanied by all the amenities vital to making a stay in Cape Town comfortable and memorable. Safe deposit boxes, a hairdryer, wireless high-speed Internet access and a minibar (stocked upon request) feature in every room, and extras like laundry and babysitting can be arranged.

Eat

The RBG - the hotel’s contemporary, urban restaurant - dishes up breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Outsiders are as welcome as hotel guests; and with lunchtime specials, happy hour buy-one-get-one-free options and juicy beef burgers to rival the likes of Cape Town institutions like Royale and Hudsons, whether you’re overnighting or not, the eatery is worth a visit. The continental cuisine has some added South African flair – there are chicken livers and a rooibos crème brule - and if the weather’s right, you can have your food delivered to the sunroof terrace for a dinner in the sky.

• Breakfast - 06:30 - 10:30 (Daily)

• Lunch - Noon - 15:00 (Daily)

• Dinner - 18:00 - 22:30 (Daily)

• Room service - 6:00 - 22:00 (Daily)

Conferencing

As a logical extension to its business-friendly ethos, the Park Inn also offers conferencing facilities. Ideal for small- to mid-sized meetings, the 125 sq. m conference room can be divided into two, and includes state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. A breakaway room is also available, and the hotel can even transform the lounge area of its one-bedroom suites into convenient meeting rooms. A variety of conferencing packages are available.

Location

The Park Inn is not only steps away from the city’s main public transportation channels – the CPT train station and a MyCiti bus stop – it’s also conveniently located within walking distance of the CTICC, the V&A Waterfront (15 minutes on foot) and the Artscape Theatre. Not to mention, The Mother City’s main nightlife artery, Long Street, is a hop, skip and a jump away, and tourist hotspots, like Table Mountain, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches and Lion’s Head, are within ten minute’s drive.

Guests can also take advantage of a free courtesy vehicle for trips within a 5-km radius of the hotel.

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Read more about the Park Inn Hotel's cutting edge in-house dining venue, the Red Bar & Grill.

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Have a gander at our Accommodation in Cape Town section for more information about the city's cutting edge hotels.

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