Cape Town concierge picks
Visit Table Mountain
No trip to Cape Town is complete without an excursion to experience Table Mountain up-close. Tickets can be purchased and issued from the front desk once the weather and cableway operating status has been established for the day, normally by around 8am. This is a great way to skip the queue at the ticket office. Our concierge recommends prioritising this for the early stages of your stay to avoid any disappointment due to inclement weather.
Try shark cage diving
This incredible experience is guaranteed to leave you with a lifetime of memories. We make use of a company that is based in Gansbaai, a two and a half hour drive from the hotel. This company is the only company with permission to get very close to 'Shark Alley' (the breeding area for the sharks) as they study these fascinating animals as well. The rate for this is R3,030 per person inclusive of a return transfer from Cape Town to Gansbaai or R2,550 per person excluding the transfers. Refreshments are provided before and during the trip.
Visit Robben Island
Robben Island is well known as the prison that held Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in detention, and as a place of exile for nearly 400 years. Tickets can be purchased from the front desk and are priced at R600 per adult. Please note that this is an extremely popular destination, and it is not uncommon for these tickets to be sold out a few months in advance.
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Visiting the Mother City
Is Cape Town safe to visit?
Like any major city, Cape Town is home to a certain amount of urban crime. However, most of this is concentrated in the outer regions of the city, which are considerably less developed than the central areas of Cape Town. We would strongly recommend you avoid these areas without a guide; we would be more than happy to offer reassurance for any planned excursions you might have – just ask at the front desk about safety in the area you are hoping to visit.
Concierge recommended tours
Peninsula Tour
This tour offers a choice between a scheduled or private tour, taking you on a discovery of some of the Cape Peninsula’s most impressive sights. Highlights include the Cape of Good Hope, the penguin colony, a drive around scenic Chapman’s Peak (subject to availability), and a visit to Hout Bay.
Scheduled trips include guide services in an air-conditioned vehicle, free WI-FI, and entrance fees at a rate of R1,330 per person for a full day tour or R1,020 per person for a half day tour. Private tours are priced at R5,200 for a full day tour for up to two people. Pricing for half day tours and for tours for more than two guests is available on request.
Township Tour
The Township Tour provides a unique insight into Cape Town's townships, residential settlements that came to exist as a result of the discriminatory apartheid rules. The townships are a relic of South Africa's volatile political past and tours are conducted with the utmost respect. You'll visit District Six and the District Six Museum (closed on Sundays), take a walking tour through the township, and visit the community school, local church, and a shebeen (bar) to taste local beer (additional cost). On Sundays, tours will include a church service.
Scheduled trips include guide services in an air-conditioned vehicle, free WI-FI, and entrance fees at a rate of R710 per person for a half day tour. Private tours are priced at R5,200 for a full day tailored tour for up to two people.
Private tours
City Tour
This tour takes you on a journey around the highlights of the city and is available as a scheduled or private tour. Scheduled trips include guide services in an air-conditioned vehicle, free WI-FI, and entrance fees at a rate of R710 per person for a half day tour. Private tours are priced at R3,985 for a half day tour for up to two people.
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Experience adventure on the dunes
Jeep Tour
This 4×4 dune Jeep driving experience adventure will take you away from the hustle and bustle of a very active city. Leave the shopping malls and restaurants behind and enjoy the beauty of nature on an exciting excursion. The dunes are located just outside Atlantis, a 30-minute drive from the centre of Cape Town.
This tour costs R2,395 per person including a four-hour jeep tour, lunch and water, tour guide, and sandboarding. R1,000 is added when pick-up at the hotel is requested, this additional cost covers between one and four people.
Discover Cape Town from above
Helicopter Tour
The Fynbos Gourmet Picnic tour from Cape Town Helicopters showcases the magnificent Cape Point and the many reasons you should pay it a visit. The helicopter tour begins at the V&A Waterfront and travels to see the Cape Peninsula from the air. Once you have rounded the point, you will fly back above Misty Cliffs, landing on Baskloof Private Fynbos Nature Reserve. The reserve marks the site for the fynbos tour and gourmet picnic, including a selection of wines from Cape Point Vineyard, the southernmost wine farm in South Africa. After a leisurely lunch, you’ll fly back to the V&A. This tour costs R16,000 per person for a minimum of two people. Please enquire at the front desk to book.
Concierge wine region guide
Cape Winelands tour
It’s possible to experience the wine regions around Cape Town as part of a scheduled group or private tour. The tour we recommend takes you to a variety of different vineyards and includes entrance fees, cellar tour, tasting tram ride and guide services in an air-conditioned vehicle with free WI-FI. This is priced at R1,180 per person for a full day tour and R880 per person for a half day tour. Private tours are priced at R4,850 for a full day tour per person.
The Constantia wine route
The Constantia Valley offers the closest wine route to The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. The historic heart of the Cape Winelands, the Constantia Valley offers an uninterrupted winemaking tradition dating back to 1685. Constantia is renowned for Sauvignon Blanc and white Bordeaux-blends thanks to its granitic soils and cooling sea breezes. Read on to discover our concierge-picked highlights of the best places to eat in this peaceful locale.
Recommended restaurants in the Constantia Valley
Bistro Sixteen82
Steenberg Estate has raised the bar with an innovative Bistro-style cellar door restaurant and wine tasting venue, unlike any other in the Constantia Valley. Named Bistro Sixteen82 after the year in which Steenberg was first established, this interactive food and wine destination a firm favourite for breakfast, lunch, and tapas at sunset.
Our top foodie destinations
Stellenbosch and Franschoek
Framed by rugged mountains, Stellenbosch is known for its natural beauty and oak-lined avenues. Amid the vineyards, you’ll find award-winning brandy distilleries and some of the Cape’s best restaurants. Our concierge team shares their favourite foodie destinations in Stellenbosch and neighbouring Franschoek below.
Recommended restaurants in Stellenbosch and Franschoek
Delaire Graff Restaurant
The Delaire Graff Restaurant, led by executive Chef Christiaan Campbell, has created accessible and approachable fine dining cuisine, using fresh and vibrant flavours. Guests have the option to dine on the terrace under a canopy of oak trees or within the spectacular interiors. Booking in advance is essential due to the restaurant’s popularity.
Jordan Restaurant
Highly acclaimed chef George Jardine and award-winning winemakers Gary and Kathy Jordan are the brains behind Jordan Restaurant in the grounds of Jordan Wine Estate. This refined restaurant offers incredible food, put together with flair, making it a Stellenbosch standout
Le Petit Ferme
Lunches at Le Petit Ferme restaurant are legendary, offering you a feast of culinary delights to entertain your senses. The food reflects the creative energy of their dedicated team, using an abundance of fresh local ingredients.
