The Bay Hotel
69 Victoria Rd., Cape Town, Western Cape, 8040, South Africa, Cape Town, South AfricaWhy We Like It
The Camps Bay Hotel is an area landmark that manages to combine a feeling of luxury with the chilled-out, scene-y sunset vibe that Camps Bay is famous for. The facilities are great and the constant views of the beach below only add to the relaxed holiday feel.
Fodor's Expert Review
The only large hotel in Camps Bay, this luxurious yet relaxed property sits across the street from a white-sand beach and is backed by the towering cliffs of the Twelve Apostles. The hotel's raised pool deck looks out over sea, sand, and Camps Bay's "see and be seen" main drag (and the car park, less attractively). Service is excellent, and there's a host of restaurants and bars to pose around in while soaking up the views, as well as other amenities like a spa.
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Room
The decor is contemporary, clean, and bright, and the rooms incorporate a sophisticated range of neutral shades. There's a pleasant seaside vibe, and views to the sea or the mountains are both wonderful. Many in the higher classes have their own balconies.
Tip The cute cabana rooms on the ground floor, with an extra bed for families (and cots available) also have direct acccess to two little pools, with their own patches of grass and patios looking out to sea, so they are pet friendly, too.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are reasonably sized and fairly plain, with baths and showers.
Lobby
The hotel's large lobby has a pleasant rustic vibe, with old cameras and motorbikes dotted around among washed pine furniture and cactuses and other plants.
You Should Know There was a slight smell of petrol on our visit - perhaps we sat too close to the motorbikes?
Pool
The hotel's pool and decked surroundings are good for basking in the sunshine, although you can hear (and occasionally see) cars coming in and out of the carpark just below.
Spa
The Mint Wellness spa is comprehensive, with everything from a couple's massage room to facials on offer. Its steam room, sauna, and spa bath are currently out of action as a result of Cape Town's ongoing water crisis (as of 2018).
Gym
The hotel also has a gym, part of its spa facilities.
Dining
The lovely conservatory of Tides Restaurant, where breakfast is served, is also an option for dinner or a glass of chilled white. Bistro @ The Bay is more of an all-day dining place, with sandwiches, sushi and pasta next to the hotel pool deck.
Drinking
Sandy B's Private Beach Club, complete with pool, is for over-18s only and does a good job of giving off that sense of exclusivity that a proper beach club delivers. Caamil's bar--named after its stellar barman--is a cute nautical-feeling bar, with a fireplace in winter.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The hotel is perfectly located for strolling around Camps Bay, and close to Clifton, too, so it's a great choice for beach-lovers. The inner city and CBD are around 20 minutes away by car.
Restaurants
There's great seafood at Codfather Seafood and Sushi (3-minute walk), also right by the ocean. Or Cafe Caprice (2-minute walk) is a buzzing spot for sundowners and tasty eclectic meals.