Greetings from South Africa, where we are celebrating our epic honeymoon by spending three weeks in this beautiful country. We are doing the best of the best while on our trip, including luxe hotel stays. We started our trip in Cape Town, where we stayed at the truly stunning 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, a five-star boutique resort in secluded area of Cape Town with the most epic views of Table Mountain.
Close your eyes and picture yourself overlooking a sparkling turquoise ocean lined by a rocky coast. Towering mountains dotted with flowers reach to the sky around you. A delicious breeze blows over the cliff and ripples the sails on the little white boats that sprinkle the water below. You are nowhere other than the 12 Apostles Hotel in Cape Town. This unique, hotel and spa offers its guests a one of a kind experience along the Atlantic coast of South Africa. (Don’t forget to read our Cape Town Travel Guide!)
The 12 Apostles Hotel boasts a designation from Leading Hotels of The World, which is a badge of honor in the hotel community. Every hotel we’ve stayed at with a LHW distinction has been truly extraordinary, and the hotels are held to the highest standards for their design, service, hospitality, food, etc. It only includes the crème de la crème.
The 12 Apostles offers everything a person could envision for relaxation and enjoyment. Let’s start with the rooms. We had a delightful suite with a private balcony overlooking the hotel’s rock garden and waterfall. The spacious room had such charming décor that completely fit into the coastal vibe of the hotel. It had delightful wicker furniture, fresh local flowers potted around the room, two bathrooms (which I’d call a requirement for any successful marriage), and tons of natural light.
Our living room was roomy, which a couch, television, love seats, breakfast table and access to a very spacious deck. It came equipped with a coffee machine and also had one of the two bathrooms. We loved the shutters lining the entire wall of the room that opened up to bring in loads of light and also facilitated the singing of birds every morning, which is a better alarm clock than my iphone. Our bedroom had a giant king-sized bed with the fluffiest pillows and bedding (and they even had a pillow menu which we utilized) , excellent storage for our suitcases and outfits and modern amenities. The master bathroom was enormous, with a great free-standing bathtub, a waterfall shower and heated towel racks, perfect for our showers after day of adventuring. We also loved the toiletries, from B Africa, which had the most delicious scents.
The hotel has an impressive range of restaurants which have the most incredible views I’ve ever witnessed in all my years of travel. Each morning, we indulged in the most amazing breakfast – which is included as part of your room stay – in the Azure restaurant. The restaurant itself overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is centered around the view of Table Mountain. Now, for the food. The spread at Azure each morning was so impressive, with trays of fresh oysters, pastries, croissants, fresh fruits, yogurt, granola, dried fruits, eggs, bacon, vegetables, freshly squeezed juice and delicious cheeses and meats. On top of that, you can order off a menu – also included in your hotel price – that includes items such as omelets, waffles, pancakes and more. The foods are organic, which was a big plus for us. There was nothing better than starting the day on the balcony of the restaurant sipping on Champagne and watching the morning fog clear Table Mountain as the mountain became bathed in beautiful light.
We also loved their iconic Leopard Lounge, which is ranked one of the best spots in all of Cape Town to take in the epic sunsets over Table Mountain. You’d be remiss to miss the sunset from Leopard Lounge even if you are staying at a different hotel. We spent a night at the Leopard Lounge and it was a highlight of our stay. Post up at the bar about an hour before sunset and secure a spot on the terrace in the corner. Then, order a bottle of champagne to sip on as the sky puts on the most beautiful of shows in front of your eyes. Top that off with a delicious cheese and charcuterie board while the vista turns the most unbelievable shades of pink and orange and purple, and you have yourself a successful night, and the most stunning Instagram photos. We also loved Leopard Lounge, which appropriately has Leopard-print carpet and furniture, for late-night drinks and snacks.
The views, and the vibe, are made possible by 12 Apostles’secluded location, past Camp’s Bay. We viewed this as a total positive attribute to our stay, because it made it feel like a beach vacation away from the touristy and crowded areas of Cape Town. But, it was still easy to get to those areas when we liked. For one, Uber is super inexpensive in Cape Town. So, 20-minute Uber rides to Kloof Street for dinner came to about $6. Also, the hotel provides shuttles to and from the Victoria & Albert waterfront and Camp’s Bay, both of which are delightful.
One of our more “chill”travel days we spent a day at the pool sunning ourselves and ordering drinks and snacks from the bar, which we also highly recommend. Their mixologists are wonderful and it was great to unwind on a pool lounger sipping gin cocktails and feeling the breeze from the Atlantic.
The Spa at the Twelve Apostles is ranked one of the best in the world, so naturally I scheduled myself a spa day. First, the spa itself is positively to die for. I scheduled a 60-minte deep tissue massage, which was extremely reasonable in price given the U.S. dollar’s conversion rate versus the South African rand. The setting of the spa is truly relaxing and the massage therapists are very attentive to your needs and preferences. Once I emerged from my treatment, which I highly recommend after 19 hours of airplane travel, I felt the knots in my back and shoulders truly dissolve. That’s not where my spa day ended. I gladly took advantage of the spa’s other amenities – which are open to guests free of charge even without a treatment – such as their plunge pools and salt pool. This was truly relaxing and decadent. I loved just floating in the salt tank and unwinding in the warm water.
The 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa has won numerous awards. It was voted number 3 in Top 20 Hotels in Africa, by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2018, the Luxury Sea View Hotel & Spa of The Year in the Luxury Travel Awards 2018, and won 2nd place as World’s Best City Hotels in Africa by Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best’ Awards in 2017.
The staff always greeted us with a smile, and we loved little touches, like their daily turndown service, which provided us with delicious chocolate and cookies on our bed, lighted candles in our bathrooms and even rose petals on our bed one night to celebrate our honeymoom.
The hotel was initially a personal piece of land given by the Governor, Charles Somers, to a man by the name of Van Breda in 1836, the location of the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa has developed quite significantly from the thatched-roof abode it once was. The house went through a series of renovations and eventually new owners, until it was sold to Business bank by a developer for 40 million Rand. In March of 2002, what is now the hotel was renamed ‘The 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa,’ and in a short amount of time, was transformed into the ultimate luxury getaway destination.
The consensus? If you’re looking for breathtaking views, mouthwatering food, vibrant culture, and treatments so relaxing you’ll think you’re in heaven on earth, then the 12 Apostles Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa is the place for you. Props to you if you do bring yourself to visit, because once you’re there you’ll never want to leave.
Read More Of Our Africa Travel Guides:
The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
Where To Eat & Drink in Cape Town
How To Get A Reservation At Test Kitchen In Cape Town
Where To Say In Cape Town: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Safari Fashion: How To Look Chic on Safari
Where To Stay In Hermanus: One Marine Drive Hotel
Hermanus, South Africa Travel Guide
Franschhoek & Stellenbosch Travel Guide
Our Safari In Sabi Sands