{Cape Town}: The Grand Daddy Hotel

Cape Town has always been a city that's quick to conjure up feelings of nostalgia for Jurgen and I.  We met there, went on our first date there, said many tearful goodbyes at the airport there, and had just as many warm reunions there after spending months apart.  We've developed our own favorite cafes, running paths, coffee shops, and cocktail bars.  We know just the spot if you're looking for the best Kurdish cuisine in town, and we can tell you exactly how to avoid the crowds that tend to flock towards Table Mountain.

In short, Cape Town feels like home.

... Which is exactly why we've made it a tradition to spend a night or two in the city whenever we find ourselves in the area visiting friends or family.

On our last trip, I was thrilled when Jurgen recommended that we book ourselves into the incredibly swanky Grand Daddy Hotel.  Arguably Cape Town's trendiest place to get some zzz's, the Grand Daddy's been sitting towards the top of our list for awhile now and is renowned for it's upmarket Afro-centric decor as well as the famed airstream trailer park and sky bar that sit on its roof.

Located on Long Street, the hotel is perfectly situated in the equivalent of Cape Town's Soho district.  Virtually any university student or young professional will flock to this part of town on the weekends, as it's home to a host of popular bars (my favorite of which is The Dubliner) and restaurants.  While a number of backpackers are located on Long Street, to my knowledge, the Grand Daddy is the area's only boutique hotel.  This makes it especially appealing to mid twenty and thirty year olds like myself, who are still drawn to the allure of Long Street, yet aim to avoid the once-cherished joys of bunking with drunk strangers.

Although the airstream trailer park was fully booked over the weekend of our stay, we still loved all of the little touches that made our room feel uniquely African.  The lamps were my personal favorite, with major South African cities outlined around their perimeter, and the headboard also stood out with its vibrant African pattern.  Even the mini shampoos and conditioners were locally produced.  Add to this a fantastic city view and our borderline obsession with the historic elevator in the lobby and you are left with two very happy Jo'burgers.

For all twenty'ish to forty'ish travelers planning a visit to Cape Town {especially if this will be your first time in the city}, the Grand Daddy is pretty hard to beat in terms of its rates, location, and overall vibe.  The hotel is within walking distance of a ton of major city attractions and also offers a daily shuttle to and from the Waterfront free of charge.  The Sky Bar is ideal for evening sundowners and the hotel even hosts frequent rooftop movie nights at their Pink Flamingo Cinema.  Awesome, right!?

What's the trendiest // quirkiest hotel you've ever stayed in?

By the numbers:

Room rates: R1,410-R2,200 ($125-$200) per room per night

Airstream Trailer Park: R1,410-R2,500 ($125-$225) per trailer per night

Breakfast: Included in the above rate

Wifi: Included in the above rate

Waterfront Shuttle: Included in the above rate

To book a stay at The Grand Daddy Hotel, see here.

For other accommodation in the area, see here.