Ellerman House

My husband and I enjoyed staying at the Ellerman House on our recent African travels. Although we were only here for a few nights, we immediately felt like we were part of the family. It is a small and intimate gem, not only due to the house/views itself, but the staff that fill it. Our trip was delayed, and our luggage was lost during our stay, but Antonio and Marilie were so gracious in providing us with the toiletries we needed. We enjoyed meeting Ryan and Yololwanda in the lounge on our first evening. Ryan made me the most wonderful cocktails, and Yololwanda is a breath of fresh air. She has a tremendous personality, and there is no doubt she will go far in any avenue she pursues in life, but I hope she remains at Ellerman so we have the pleasure of speaking with her again on our return. I apologize for not remembering everyone's names with whom we came in contact. I thank them all for a wonderful visit. My only regret is that we didn't have a chance to stay a few more days. Looking forward to our return.

Ellerman House is more like a home than a hotel really, with just 11 rooms, each with quite distinct styles to one another. What you'll notice when looking around the property though (and when you look at the various rooms in the online photos), is it sort of seems like bits and pieces have been renovated over time, and what's left is a slightly odd mix of old and new, where parts of the hotel (for example the entry hallway, some of the stairways, the reception area, and some of the rooms) really seem a bit tired and dated, whereas other parts of the hotel (especially the charming grounds, swimming pool area, and the bar and lounge overlooking the pool) are really beautiful. It's a shame they don't just get the whole property up to a consistent standard, in which case it would be spectacular. My room (1), was nice, had a beautiful view, and plenty of natural light as it was on a corner. It did fall into the slightly more dated category, and I think could use a bit of sprucing up, especially the bathroom area which is quite drab. I actually was hoping to get the "Superior House Room", a much cheaper category which looks far more modernised from the photos, but it was unavailable. The food at Ellerman House was great (although service very slow), and I did really enjoy hanging around the lounge overlooking the pool (also because they have a Steinway mini-grand in reasonably good condition which they allow guests to play). But there were just too many small nuisances for me to rate it 5 stars. Probably the worst, was there was a massive construction site extremely nearby, which both completely spoiled the view and even worse, was incredibly loud throughout the day so really ruined the relaxing vibe in the hotel. I assume the construction is why the hotel offered "off-peak" rates for my last minute booking (still an extremely high price in my opinion), but I think it's inexcusable that they didn't disclose the construction in advance, as an off-peak rate is not close to enough compensation for how much that ruins the experience. I also thought the pool was unnecessarily cold, it really wouldn't kill them to heat it up a few degrees, and I feel they slightly overcharged me for a day trip to Cape Point and Boulder's Beach (although the driver they booked me was very good). Having said all that, on a return visit to Cape Town, I would probably stay here again if a better room were available, and there were no nearby construction.

Everything was perfect. Beautiful hotel, rooms and gardens. Exceptional staff, could not fault a single thing. Very well located, and 24hr security at main entrance. Food was beautiful, the decor of the rooms and communal areas were gorgeous and the extensive art collection was exceptional, and they offer art tours which I would definitely recommend! Everything was 10/10, only wish we could have stayed longer !

The Ellerman house is a unique gem based in Bantry Bay. Offering spectacular views and scenic garden space. The rooms are absolutely breathtaking. I truly had such a delightful and fulling time at this establishment. What a wonderful place to be

What an unusual and classic spot to stay. From the time you arrive you feel like a guest in some extravagant home. We have stayed in some fantastic properties and this is definitely a top 2-3. We had room 11 which is fantastic. You feel like your right at home, large living area, and a large bedroom. The owner has one of the largest African art collections in the world and most are on display in the rooms, common areas and art gallery. If you or your spouse are into art the complimentary tour is a must. Staff is top notch, food is very good, and the 11 room quaint hotel is very cozy. There is a fantastic wine room/cellar defiantly worth a visit. On top of that the Telegraph just rated them #3 hotel in the world and I would agree. It’s a must stay if in Cape Town.