City Bowl (Tamboerskloof)

The Cape Milner

★★★★★

The Cape Milner is a smart, well-run four-star hotel in the City Bowl and one of the best-value mid-range bases in Cape Town. It is in Tamboerskloof, a leafy residential neighbourhood on the lower slopes between Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill, about a kilometre from the city centre. That location is the hotel's main appeal: Kloof Street, with its restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, is a short walk away, the Company's Garden and the museums are a little further, and the lower cableway station, Kloof Nek and the roads to Camps Bay and the Atlantic seaboard are all a few minutes by car. The hotel has 57 rooms: 45 standard rooms, split between doubles and twins, ten luxury rooms and two executive suites, many with views up to Table Mountain. The style is contemporary and calm. There is a swimming pool with a deck, which is a welcome feature in a city hotel in summer, a fitness room, the 2 on Milner restaurant for breakfast and meals, and The Glass Lounge bar. Undercover, off-street parking is a real advantage in a part of town where street parking is scarce, and airport transfers can be arranged at extra cost; the airport is about 27 kilometres away. The hotel also has conference facilities and attracts business travellers during the week, so it is efficient and professional, with friendly service. It is not a resort and has no spa, but for travellers who want a comfortable, central base for exploring, it offers a lot for the money.

Choosing a room: standard rooms are compact but well designed; the luxury rooms give more space and are worth the step up for longer stays. Ask for a mountain-facing room on an upper floor for the best views. Twin rooms are plentiful, which suits friends travelling together.

What to know: you can walk to Kloof Street's restaurants in a few minutes, but the streets of Tamboerskloof are steep in places, and after dark it is better to use a ride-hailing app than to walk long distances. The hotel does not run a shuttle, so a car or ride-hailing apps are needed for the beaches and the Waterfront, which are about ten to fifteen minutes away by car. Breakfast is served in the restaurant, and the pool deck is a pleasant place to finish the day.

Who it suits: couples and independent travellers who want a central, comfortable and affordable base, business travellers, and first-time visitors who want to be close to Table Mountain and the city's restaurants. It is a better choice than the Waterfront for those who want to live like a local, and much cheaper than the Mount Nelson, a few minutes away.