One&Only Cape Town

One&Only Cape Town
Name	One&Only Cape Town
Location	V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Opening date	2010
Owner	Kerzner International
Architect	HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates), Anouska Hempel
Number of rooms	130

One&Only Cape Town One&Only Cape Town is a luxury resort and urban hotel located in the V&A Waterfront precinct of Cape Town, Western Cape. Positioned near landmarks such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Cape Winelands, the property serves as a gateway for visitors to South African attractions including Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Signal Hill, and Bo-Kaap. The resort integrates hospitality influences from global brands like One&Only Resorts, Kerzner International, and design firms associated with hospitality projects at Atlantis, The Palm and Sun City.

Overview

The hotel occupies prime real estate on the Atlantic Seaboard adjacent to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront development masterminded alongside stakeholders including Transnet, Hasso Plattner, and the City of Cape Town. Guests arrive from transport hubs such as Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town Station, and ferry connections to Robben Island Museum. The property markets itself to audiences familiar with international destinations like Cape Town Stadium, Table Bay Hotel, The Silo Hotel, Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, and resorts in regions like the Garden Route, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. Corporate and leisure clientele overlap with attendees of events at venues like CTICC and festivals such as Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Cape Town Carnival, and Franschhoek Bastille Festival.

History and development

Development was led by Kerzner International with construction milestones coordinated with the broader redevelopment of the V&A Waterfront undertaken by entities including Allan Gray, Growthpoint Properties, and private equity partners. The opening coincided with increased tourism following South Africa's hosting of global events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup and grew alongside cultural institutions like Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Iziko South African Museum, and District Six Museum. Strategic partnerships were formed with luxury operators that have histories at properties including One&Only Reethi Rah, One&Only The Palm, and management collaborations reminiscent of deals involving Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Expansion and refurbishment phases referenced international design precedents seen in projects by Terence Conran, Philippe Starck, and hospitality refurbishments near V&A Waterfront's Clock Tower.

Location and architecture

Sited at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront with views of Table Mountain and Nelson Mandela Gateway, the hotel draws contextual inspiration from Cape Dutch gables found across the Western Cape and contemporary interventions seen around the Silo District. The architectural brief balanced relations with neighboring developments like Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront Marina, and the Clock Tower precinct. Interior schemes invoked references to designers with portfolios spanning HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates), Anouska Hempel, and firms that have worked on projects such as The Ned and The Savoy. Landscaping and public realm coordination interacted with municipal planning frameworks and conservation areas like Table Mountain National Park and cultural conservation projects in Bo-Kaap and Green Point Common.

Accommodation and amenities

Guest rooms and suites reference hospitality typologies found in luxury properties such as Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Aman Tokyo, Bulgari Hotel London, and Ritz-Carlton Millennia Singapore. The resort offers spa services reminiscent of treatments at Six Senses and Banyan Tree properties, fitness facilities comparable to those at Equinox Hotels, and leisure programming aligned with experiences at Singita lodges. Concierge services coordinate excursions to Robben Island, Cape Peninsula, Cape Point, Boulders Beach, and wine estates in Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. The marina-facing orientation supports yacht mooring similar to marinas that host vessels visiting Monaco, Porto Cervo, and Marina di Porto Cervo.

Dining and bars

Culinary offerings reflect collaborations and influences from chefs and restaurants associated with global scenes including Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Jamie Oliver, and regional peers such as The Test Kitchen, La Colombe (restaurant), FYN Restaurant, and Wolfgat. Venues on-site align with dining trends visible at establishments like Nobu, Hakkasan, and Cipriani while showcasing South African producers from markets such as Old Biscuit Mill, Neighbourgoods Market, and suppliers linked to estates like Rust en Vrede and Kanonkop. Bars present beverage programs that reference cocktail craft movements associated with bars like Dandelyan, The American Bar, and wine lists curated in the tradition of sommelier teams active at Vineyard Hotel and Boschendal.

Events and weddings

The property hosts weddings and private events in settings comparable to venues used during ceremonies at Bosjes, La Petite Ferme, and functions held at Cape Town City Hall or Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. It serves as a venue for corporate meetings and conferences interfacing with the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), creative industry gatherings such as Design Indaba, and film and television productions linked to Cape Town Film Studios and festivals like Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. Event services coordinate logistics with vendors and planners who have worked on high-profile events like state visits involving attendees from institutions such as the African Union and delegations associated with BRICS summits.

Sustainability and awards

Sustainability initiatives reference frameworks and certifications pursued by hospitality peers including LEED, Green Globe, and partnerships similar to those between hotels and conservation NGOs like WWF South Africa, BirdLife South Africa, and Greenpop. Recognition and awards bracket the property within lists and ceremonies hosted by organizations such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, World Travel Awards, Michelin Guide adjunct honors, and regional tourism bodies like South African Tourism. The hotel's programs intersect with conservation efforts at Table Mountain National Park, marine protection initiatives near Robben Island, and community development projects in collaboration with cultural institutions such as District Six Museum and Iziko Museums of South Africa.

Category:Hotels in Cape Town