hotel cape

Looking at the city hotels in Africa picked by Travel + Leisure readers, it’s easy to deduce their favorite city. Cape Town, South Africa, claims four out of the top five hotels. Not that that’s surprising. The Mother City, as it’s known, is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world — arranged around Table Mountain with the Atlantic Ocean hugging one side and the Cape Winelands on the other­­ — and home to some of the best city hotels in Africa.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels (including safari lodges) were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city hotel, resort, or safari lodge based on their locations and amenities.

Three of the top five city hotels are in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront area. This harborside complex is home to a shopping mall; the Watershed, where vendors sell locally made arts, crafts, and produce; the excellent Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA); the departure point for Robben Island tours; a slew of restaurants and bars; and of course, hotels. An “ideal location,” said a guest of this year’s No. 1 hotel, Cape Grace.

Belinda Amoedo/Courtesy of Cape Grace

A short stroll from Cape Grace are One&Only Cape Town (No. 3) and Silo Hotel (No. 2). The latter has an enviable position on the upper floors of the Zeitz MOCAA building, a strikingly reimagined grain silo. The hotel is known not only for its stylish design but also for its extensive collection of art. “What a unique building from the architecture