COUNTDOWN to The Cape
With Cape Town set to become World Design Capital next year, Lisa Grainger reveals her favourite spots in and around the city
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REASONS TO GO Cape Town is the perfect city for first-time visitors to Africa: no visas are required, most
locals speaks English and, as its clocks are only two hours ahead of Britain, jet lag is minimal. It is particularly appealing to lovers of the outdoors: around the peninsula are pretty beaches to visit (including a couple, at Betty’s Bay and Boulders, with penguins), the impressive Table Mountain to climb and the Kirstenbosch Garden (this year celebrating its centenary) to explore. An hour away are the winelands and their Cape Dutch homesteads and fine restaurants. The city will be World Design Capital next year, showcasing the best of South African creativity, with art exhibitions, events and international talks (capetown2014.co.za).
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RESTAURANTS The city’s food reflects its inhabitants’ ethnicity – from French
Huguenot to Malay and Zulu – as well as its position between the sea and rich farmland. Star chefs include Cape Town’s first Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef, Peter Tempelhoff, who whips up modern cuisine in Cape Dutch surroundings at the Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia (0027 21 794 2137, cellars-hohenort.com); Luke Dale-Roberts, who delivers inventive platters at the Pot Luck Club in the artsy-crafty Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock (0027 21 447 0804, thepotluckclub. co.za); and Michael Broughton, known for French-inspired dishes at Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch (0027 21 880 8167, kleinezalze.com). Babylonstoren, a restored 1690 farm in the Drakenstein Valley, grows fruit and vegetables in its glorious gardens (0027 21 863 3852, babylonstoren.com).
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HOTELS The city has an excellent range, from elegant five-stars to characterful guesthouses. The Top table A farmturned-restaurant, Babylonstoren, known for fresh produce. Far left: intricate local bead-craft
Mount Nelson is the grand old lady, known for high teas (0027 21 483 1000, mountnelson.co.za). Outside the city, Steenberg has pretty 17th-century buildings surrounded by gardens and vines (0027 21 713 2222, steenberghotel.com). At the V&A Waterfront, the One & Only offers slick service and a restaurant headed by Rueben Riffel (0027 21 431 5888, capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com).
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ESSENTIAL READS Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, is a moving account of his early
life, including 27 years in prison. Disgrace, the literary masterpiece that won JM Coetzee the Booker Prize a second time, explores the new South Africa struggling to come to terms with its guilt.
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THING YOU CANNOT MISS Taking the cable-car up Table Mountain (tablemountain.net) on a sunny day and soaking in
the views, then hiking through the national park, home to the richest variety of plants on earth.
TURNING LEFT
Jane Archer tests the best suites at sea
MASTER SUITE
QUEENS GRILL GRAND DUPLEX
OWNER’S SUITE
WINTERGARDEN SUITE
OWNER’S SUITE
SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER
QUEEN MARY 2
MARINA
SEABOURN ODYSSEY
SILVERSEA SILVER SPIRIT
Design A spacious 1,216 sq ft inside,
Design The Balmoral and Sandringham
Design The suite, furnished by Ralph
Design The 914 sq ft suite incorporates
Design A stylish one-bedroom suite
and 187sq ft on the balcony. The living
Grand Duplex suites are 2,249 sq ft
Lauren Home, spans the width of the
a living room, a dining table for six,
with 1,102 sq ft of living space, plus
and dining room has a large flat-screen
inside, with a 300 sq ft balcony, and split
ship, giving 1,400 sq ft inside. The foyer,
a bathroom for guests and a bedroom
a 190 sq ft balcony (a two-bedroom
television, free bar and guest bathroom
over two levels. Upstairs there is
with grand piano, leads to a living and
with bathroom and whirlpool bath.
suite increases the size to 1,668 sq ft).
and there are two double bedrooms,
a bedroom and marble bathroom with
dining room, and the 626 sq ft balcony
USP Half of the 183 sq ft balcony is
Both bedrooms have ensuite marble
each with ensuite marble bathroom,
a whirlpool tub and downstairs are the
has a whirlpool and television.
enclosed by glass, with a tub and day
bathrooms with separate showers
double basins, separate showers and
living and dining area with a flat-screen
USP The butler, on call 24/7, will serve
bed for sky-lit lounging.
and bath tubs, and Bulgari toiletries.
bathtubs, and walk-in wardrobes.
television and a marble guest bathroom.
dinner from the speciality restaurants.
Why book? What the suite lacks in
The living room has separate sitting
USP Book this suite and you will be
USP The butler keeps you stocked up
There is free loan of a laptop and iPad,
size, Seabourn makes up for with
and dining areas, a flat-screen
upgraded to a business-class flight from
on complimentary wines, spirits and
plus a fridge of goodies on arrival.
personal service that is second to none.
television, guest bathroom and
wherever you fly to join the ship. There
canapés throughout the cruise – so the
Why book? In terms of layout and
Price From £12,799 per person for 12
complimentary bar.
is complimentary use of an iPad,
exercise bike on the landing (with sea
decor, this is luxury with a capital L.
nights in Asia in November, including
USP There is an array of extras at no
king-sized Suite Slumber beds with
views while you pedal) could be useful.
Price From £10,548 for 14 days in the
flights, private transfers, one night pre-
charge, from laundry, dry-cleaning
Egyptian cotton linens, as well as free
There is access to a private lounge and
Baltic in August, with flights and meals
cruise hotel stay, meals, drinks, Wi-fi and
and pressing to four hours of internet
use of the phone for 15 minutes and the
restaurant with single-seating dining, an
(0845 505 1920, oceaniacruises.com).
tips (0843 373 2000, seabourn.co.uk).
use, two hours of phone use and a daily
internet for 30 minutes. The butler
iPad with daily paper downloads, and
newspaper. The butler will also book
delivers a newspaper each morning
priority embarkation, disembarkation
one complimentary dinner for two at
and canapés each evening.
and luggage-delivery privileges.
Le Champagne, Silversea’s Relais
Why book? The master suite is an
Why book? It’s a perfect pad for
& Châteaux wine restaurant (usually
impressive, well laid-out place to stay
parties and there is private dining away
£20 a head, without wine).
with so much included that you really
from the crowds.
do feel privileged.
Price From £12,679 per person for
Price From £14,359 per person for 10
a seven-night transatlantic crossing
nights in the Baltic in July, including
from Southampton to New York in
flights, transfers, drinks, excursions, all
August, including a one-way economy
meals, tips and one-night pre-cruise
flight but excluding speciality dining
hotel stay (02380 682280, rssc.com).
(0843 374 0000, cunard.co.uk)
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Ocean sounds The Owner’s Suite, with grand piano, on board the Marina, an Oceania Cruises ship
Why book? The little extras cost Silversea little but make you feel special. Price From £11,450 per person for a nine-night Mediterranean cruise in October, including drinks and tips, but excluding flights and speciality restaurants (0844 251 0837, silversea.com).