Hotel Snapshot
Perched above the cliffs in the exclusive suburb of Bantry Bay, Ellerman House is a boutique hotel dedicated to art and small details. With only 13 rooms and nearly 1000 artworks displayed throughout the property, it’s more like your private estate than a hotel.
Opened in the early ‘90s, Ellerman House is not new to the scene. Even so, it cuts through the noise of flashy architecture and Instagrammable hotel-traps with its unwavering commitment to excellence. It’s old school charm without feeling dusty or tired.
Design & Character
As the name implies, stepping into Ellerman House feels like being welcomed into someone's home. Originally designed as a private estate in 1906, the common areas are like personal libraries or living rooms, featuring roaring fireplaces and velvet armchairs. The narrow, carpeted hallways and thick-framed artworks enhance the homey experience. These passageways often help create the illusion that you’re the only guest in the entire place.
All newer additions, like the villas and the wine bar, take notes from the existing designs while inviting in modern accents. For example, the wine cellar features a showstopping black marble twisted wine rack at the center. Overall, the aesthetics lean more classic than playful, catering to a demographic of guests looking for a bit of quiet (note: guests under 14 are only welcome in Villa 1).
The Rooms
There are 11 guest rooms, two larger suites, and two 3-bedroom villas with private pools and kitchens. All rooms feature oversized seating areas and many, especially the suites, offer porches and ocean views. The rooms are decorated with eclectic wallpapers and illustrated headboards that integrate hints of design “newness” into the more traditional architecture.
In our Ellerman House Suite, there was a dedicated living room, plus a half bath; in other words, room enough to entertain if we pleased. Every night, we’d return home to personalized and specialized gifts — like tote bags or homemade snacks — plus the rooms all include small wellness accessories like a yoga mat.
Included in the rate is the fully stocked in-room bar, with various milks for coffee and gins for cocktails. Laundry (also included) was returned wrapped in tissue paper in a box, like a gift for your future self.
The Food & Drink Situation
Cape Town is a restaurant-lover's dream, and Ellerman House knows it. Therefore, they don’t try to compete with a sceney restaurant. Instead, they offer an intimate and tight menu of seasonal ingredients in a petite dining room overlooking the city lit up at night. It was the perfect place to dine upon arrival after a long flight, when just settling in before embarking on a journey.
Ellerman House’s culinary program thrives in the surprise moments, like the sunset cocktails from the poolside gin bar, and, my personal favorite, the guest pantry. This small room is open 24 hours a day with smoothies and freshly baked pastries for a midday cookie or late-night slice of cake. The kitchen also prepared snacks for our early morning hike of Table Mountain, like homemade biltong and house-spiced nuts. Breakfast includes a variety of classics.
They are proud of their large wine cellar with over 7,500 South African bottles. Cellar tours and tastings are offered daily. They’re complementary and heavily encouraged.
Amenities
The hotel features a spa with a cold plunge, sauna, and sensation showers available for guests to use. In addition to the classic treatments, various massages and facials are also available in your room. There’s a simple gym, and they offer yoga classes on the porch with ocean views.
A large, luxurious pool feels like it’s hanging over the side of the cliff, almost over the ocean. There’s an art gallery just down the hill, which features rotating exhibitions from local artists.
Ellerman House can also arrange all sorts of experiences, from private guided local hikes to safaris. They even partner with White Desert to take guests from Cape Town to Antarctica in a private jet.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
Bantry Bay is a somewhat fancy and elusive suburb in the shadow of Lion’s Head mountain. It’s located in Sea Point, which has access to various beaches and beach clubs. The neighborhood also has a long promenade with brunch spots and cafes, like Arthurs Mini Super and Maggie Lou’s. Of course, they’ll also arrange a shuttle to get you anywhere you’d like to go in the city.
Fast Facts
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Vibe: Old school private home with luxury amenities
Rating: Five-star
Room Count: 11 rooms, 2 suites, 2 villas
Pricing: From $1,100 per night
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The exclusive feel without being pretentious, with small details that elevate the everyday experience. The views are stellar with the oceanfront pool and the soundtrack of waves crashing on the shore all night.
Dining: A simple but delicious breakfast and access to a 24-hour pantry of freshly baked goods and homemade snacks are included. Dinner is intimate with a fine dining presentation and local, seasonal ingredients.
Amenities: Spa, wine-cellar with tastings available, expansive permanent art collection and on-site contemporary art gallery, gym, outdoor pool overlooking the South Atlantic Ocean
Nearby Attractions: Lion’s Head, Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Clifton Beaches with their restaurants and clubs.
Transportation: 25-minute drive from Cape Town International Airport (private transfer included in rate)
