The Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay, Cape Town: Accommodation Review

The Twelve Apostles
Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town

Accommodation type: Small Hotel
Number of stars: 5
Rooms starting from (per person sharing): R500 and up
SA Blog recommends? Definitely

Snippet
A drink is offered upon arrival and the mini-bar is well-stocked for those who want seconds. Little extras, such as slippers, winter- and summer-weight towels, and a “pillow menu” stand out.

(See full review below.)

Low season specials? Yes
Breakfast included? Yes
Dedicated non-smoking rooms? Yes
Staff friendliness (out of 10): Not reviewed
Staff competence (out of 10): Not reviewed

Room options: Single, Double, Suite, Penthouse
Room comfort level (out of 10): Not reviewed
Noisy? A Little
Does the TV remote work? Not reviewed
Fan or A/C? Not reviewed
Pool? Yes

Concierge? Yes
Restaurant? Yes
Conference facilities? Yes
Three ink blot adjectives: Money, money, money
Value for money? Yes

Booking information
The Twelve Apostles
Victoria Road
Camps Bay 8040
Tel: +27 (0) 21 437 9000, Fax: +27 (0)21 437 9055

Review
The Twelve Apostles is one of the most lauded small hotels in Africa – and the world. With a price tag to match – the cheapest single room in low season goes for R3,500 – expectations run pretty high.

The hotel certainly has the setting for it – located on the Table Mountain reserve between the 12 Apostles (hence the name) and the ocean, it is the only property for a mile in either direction. The view hasn’t come without controversy, however, as many people protested its construction within a National Park, and also its proximity to a sacred Muslim burial site.

There are 70 rooms within the hotel, with four different themes and wings. A drink is offered upon arrival and the mini-bar is well-stocked for those who want seconds. Little extras, such as slippers, winter- and summer-weight towels, and a “pillow menu” stand out.

Visitors can visit a 24-hour a la carte cafe, a specialty vodka lounge called the Leopard Room and a restaurant, Azure.

Guests also have access to the soaking pool in the Sanctuary Spa and can pay for extra treatments such as massage and facials as well as botox, waxing and de-stress packages. There is also a small 16-seater cinema that shows daily movies.

Located a twenty minute drive from the city center, those without cars can take advantage of “complimentary” (aka, included in the price of your room) shuttles to the V&A Waterfront, Clifton, Camps Bay and elsewhere in the city upon request.

Really, in a line, the Twelve Apostles is a place where the sky is the limit. If you can think of it (and pay for it), the staff will help get it done, from arranging helicopter transfers to waitstaff at your own private picnic. Without a doubt, this is one of the poshest places in the city.