The Taj Cape Town. Blending Old-World Charm And Indian-Inspired Luxury

Frank Mannion reviews the Taj Cape Town and finds the former bank building transformed into an opulent luxury hotel.

The old South African Reserve Bank building in Cape Town, completed in 1932, was styled after Florence’s Pitti Palace. The Taj Cape Town opened in the former bank building in 2010, combining the Reserve Bank building with the 19th century Temple Chambers and a new tower to create a 5 star luxury hotel.

The Taj Cape Town is centrally located on Wale Street and I admire its meticulously restored fluted marble columns and original chandeliers as I walk through its lobby. I am in Cape Town for a work conference and am staying in the more modern Tower part of the hotel. I am impressed with some nice touches like my luggage already being in the bedroom when I arrive. My gorgeous 10 th floor suite has a spacious bathtub with a spectacular view of Table Mountain. It is a joy to sit out on my balcony and watch the mood change as the mountain disappears under fast moving cloud cover, known colloquially as “the Tablecloth”. Room service comes speedily.

Just like the Ned in London, the older part of the Taj Cape Town still maintains some of the quirky features of its former mercantile past. The older Heritage Wing maintains the architectural integrity of the original building with neoclassical features and high ceilings. The cashier area has been transformed into a stylish bar and it is a great hub to meet other jetlagged international guests. The whisky bar is a nice snug-like area.

At cocktail hour in the old bank lobby, the friendly staff start dispensing complimentary wine from three different local producers. It is a lovely touch and a nice way for the hotel guests to interact with one another. I meet a Dutch couple on their honeymoon who had been self-driving through the Cape winelands and were captivated by the Cape scenery, and just like me, they felt safe everywhere, all the while taking subtle precautions.

Being a 17-storey hotel, the Taj has the space to have a luxury spa that offers a much-needed steam and sauna. The Taj also has an inviting 15m pool. The welcoming staff honour the Indian owners’ fundamental principle that the guest is God. The banking hall has been converted into a stylish bar. The Taj has an Indian infused offering including a delicious breakfast menu. The breakfast area converts into the Mint restaurant during the day and the Taj’s Bombay Brasserie is widely considered to be the best Indian restaurant in the city.

The Taj Cape Town has a complimentary shuttle to the Waterfront area of the city. The end of conference dinner is held in Terrarium, the city’s best restaurant.

The Taj is located directly opposite the red brick St George’s Cathedral where the Nobel Prize winning archbishop Desmond Tutu preached for over 40 years and is only a 5-minute car journey from the Table Mountain Aeriel Cableway where breathtaking summit views await of Robben Island and the World Cup Bird’s Nest stadium (where the Springboks are playing rugby and comprehensively defeating the visiting Barbarians).

Visiting Cape Town in winter will naturally involve some rain and an autumnal feel to the city, but it maintains its natural charms. I feel safe travelling in Ubers and my drivers are all friendly emigrants from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Somalia and Mozambique. During daylight hours I feel unthreatened and walking at night feels as safe as any European city. The hotel has incredible customer service – genuinely friendly, knowledgeable and curious staff – rare traits in the rat race of London.

As I get into my Uber for the airport, I catch a final glimpse of Table Mountain. When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island, he often looked across Table Mountain “at its magnificent silhouette”. For Mandela, “Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.” I too hope to return, but in summertime, when I will see more of Table Mountain, and less of the Tablecloth!