The Taj Hotel Cape Town adds a Royal Touch

Located in the heart of the city, the Taj brings luxury and sophistication to the Mother City

The Taj Hotel Cape Town opened its doors to the media recently, showing off its finery in anticipation of its Grand Opening next month. And what an impressive addition it makes to our luxury hotel options in the city. Debuting just in time for the World Cup, the Taj will welcome guests from around the world in style. We took a peek.

Occupying the old Reserve Bank on the corner of St George’s Mall and Wale Street, the Taj Cape Town is the image of measured opulence. It’s refined, but not over-the-top. We felt comfortable walking around in it (in blue jeans, mind you) because the staff treated everyone with respect. Dubbing itself a “6 Star” hotel, the Taj is a grand building that has been lovingly refurbished with elegant decor and fittings throughout. It’s sumptuous and inviting.

Anything you desire

The Taj delivers everything you’d expect from a world class hotel. The 174 rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed. Big windows open the rooms onto the city and the mountain, comfortable bathrooms provide all the amenities for a good cleaning, and high thread-count cotton sheets promise a relaxing time. If you go for the Heritage Rooms or the Presidential Suite, then you’ll be in a whole new class of luxury. They’re special.

The Taj boasts a variety of conference and banquet facilities for any type of function. Equipped with state of the art electronics, they also retain many of the original fittings from years gone by. (Check the vintage photographs on the walls of turn of the century Cape Town – just brilliant.)

For relaxation, the Jiva Grande Spa offers a unique range of scrubs and massages, holistic therapies, and ayurvedic treatments. All attendants have been trained in the signature Jiva techniques and are overseen by an ayurvedic doctor from India. (Though, we must say, the wooden ayurvedic table also looked like a medieval torture device. Let the Wellness Inquisition begin!) Close by is the Fitness Centre which includes the latest exercise equipment as well as a lovely indoor pool and sauna.

Eat in – you won’t want to leave

The Taj offers premium dining options as well. For breakfast, lunch and beyond, the refreshing Mint Restaurant opens up onto St. George’s Mall, but you can also watch the chefs prepare your meal in the open kitchen. For an afternoon snack, take high tea in the lounge. You can sip on one of 35 teas freshly brewed at your table while nibbling rich delicacies. For dinner, book early for the intimate and luxurious Bombay Brasserie which brings the best of Indian cuisine to the CBD. And in the late evening, chill with oysters and champagne at the Twankey Bar next door. The Taj also boasts an elegant cigar room for those evening Cohibas and brandies. And if you must get a one-of-a-kind work of art, pop into Orra for exquisite Tanzanite jewellery and surprising sculptures made of sea shells and polished metal. They’re truly amazing.

Downtown is now the destination

The Taj Hotel Cape Town complements the Mandela Rhodes development just opposite on St. George’s Mall. These, along with the stellar efforts of the City Improvement District (CID) initiative, have made the inner city the place to be. It’s fun, safe and vibey. And what’s great is that, while the Taj attends to its own guests with personalised service, its restaurants and spas are open to locals as well. We think it will be a great meeting place for Capetonians and international cosmopolitans who appreciate the finer things in life.

The Taj Hotel Cape Town
Corner Wale Street & St. George’s Mall
Downtown Cape Town

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