Dock House Boutique Hotel
Located a stone’s throw from the alluring V&A Waterfront, located alongside the Time Ball Tower – Dock House Boutique Hotel offers the ideal balance between convenience and complete privacy. Originally a Harbour Master’s private residence, built in the 1800s, the hotel’s classically beautiful exterior gives way to a world of opulent luxury behind its doors. Furnished with chandeliers and retaining the house’s original ornate ceiling cornices, the Dock House Boutique Hotel has been lovingly renovated to create a sense of Victorian charm which gives a nod to the building’s historical roots, and has been fitted with all manner of modern conveniences to enable true comfort for visitors.
Dock House Boutique Hotel & Spa, Portswood Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
The Dock House Boutique Hotel is situated on Table Bay Harbour, South Africa’s oldest working harbour, in the City Bowl District of Cape Town. The City Bowl holds some of the most historically important neighbourhoods, such as Bo Kaap which was once a racially segregated district, and Oranjezicht and Gardens, which offer visitors hours of easy meandering whilst taking in the historical sights, or whiling away a few hours in one of the many superb restaurants and cafes. The Dock House Boutique Hotel is conveniently located a short 10-minute drive from the city centre and is within walking distance of the V&A Waterfront, a district which houses a mix of commercial and residential real estate, and is home to a world-renowned shopping destination that over 450 outlets call home.
The Dock House Boutique Hotel is accessible by car, the drive is around 22km from Cape Town International Airport via the N2. The hotel also provides airport transfers on request.
- The hotel is a renovated 1800s Harbourmaster’s house
- Swimming pool
- Rooms with private balconies/terraces are available
- Fully equipped gym
- Sanctuary Signature Spa offers a variety of spa treatments and wellness packages
- Situated on the harbour for ideal access to the V&A Waterfront
- Airport transfers available
Cape Town benefits from its Mediterranean climate and well-defined seasons and allows for a variety of seasonal activities, but also seasonal produce. The summer months from November to February are warm and dry with high winds which create the perfect environment for sports such as kite surfing, with average lows of 17°C and highs of 24°C.
Much of the rain falls through the winter months of May to August, but with average lows of 10°C and highs of 20°C, the days are still mild. The rainy season brings the natural beauty of Cape Town back to life, rejuvenating the indigenous forests and botanical gardens, and feeding the waterfalls.
Spring brings a vast array of wildflowers, which carpet the dunes, fields, farms and wetlands in an abundance of colour by the indigenous Cape Floral. The best time to see this wondrous spectacle is between September and October.
The Dock House Boutique Hotel houses five independently appointed Luxury Rooms. Three of the rooms on the upper floor open out onto private balconies with views over the bustling harbour and V&A Waterfront, whereas the Luxury Room on the ground floor opens out onto a veranda with views over the manicured gardens and swimming pool area, guests are invited to use the provided coffee and tea facilities to take their morning coffee or tea on the balcony or veranda, or enjoy a sundowner from the mini bar and watch the sunset over the harbour.
The Luxury Rooms are individually decorated in a neutral palette which allows the original features of the stunning Victorian architecture to shine through. The luxury in these rooms stems from the quality of the furnishings; adorned with individually sourced antique pieces and soft furnishings of silk and satin to encapsulate an atmosphere of easy elegance. The bedrooms are complete with a king-size bed, decadently dressed in 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bedding, for a truly luxurious night’s sleep.
Each of the Luxury Rooms has a spacious ensuite bathroom, all impeccably designed and individually decorated. Each ensuite has a separate shower and bathtub for guests to relax and wash away the city before bed. The Luxury Rooms each sleep up to two adults, rooms 4 and 5 are inter-leading and perfect for three adults travelling together, or two adults and a child over 12.
The Luxury Suite at Dock House Boutique Hotel is perfectly suited to a couple travelling, who wish to explore the stunning sights of Cape Town, but have the option of a more private base in which to relax in opulent luxury.
The Luxury Suite is decorated in a neutral, taupe-based palette, which allows the classically elegant, Victorian-style soft furnishings and individually sourced antique furniture to shine through. Similarly to the Luxury Rooms, the soft furnishings in the Luxury Suite of silk and satin encapsulate an atmosphere of comfortable elegance. The bedroom is furnished with a king-size bed, opulently dressed in 400 tread count Egyptian cotton for a truly luxurious night’s sleep. The bedroom opens up onto a private paved courtyard with a waterfall, the courtyard is furnished with wickers chairs and a table for guests to enjoy room service al fresco!
The Luxury Suite also has a separate lounge complete with comfortable sofas, flat-screen television and a drinks cabinet minibar for guests to relax in if the weather takes a turn! The Suite sleeps up to two adults. A complimentary bottle of champagne is available upon check-in!
Breakfast is served at Dock House Boutique Hotel, guests are invited to help themselves to the continental buffet-style offerings of granola, fresh fruit and yoghurt, or order something from the hot breakfast menu which serves a variety of classic options, such as Eggs Benedict, but served with a distinctive South African twist!
Newmark Hotels have a number of properties in the area, and guests at the Dock House Boutique Hotel are invited to dine at the restaurants at the sister locations. Options include Dash which is located at the Queen Victoria Hotel, named after Queen Victoria’s favourite pet dog, which serves an elegant dining experience with a hint of flair and drama. For a more wholesome dining experience and artisanal-style dishes, Ginja at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel offers dedicated seasonal menus and is gorgeously situated against the backdrop of Table Mountain.
A pristine swimming pool, surrounded by a beautiful courtyard at Dock House Boutique Hotel, offers guests the opportunity to cool off on warm days. A bar and a number of deck chairs alongside the pool invite guests to relax and absorb the view of Table Mountain, the location of this hidden oasis is perfect for sundowners and enjoying the stunning sunset over the harbour.
This modern and elegant spa allows guests to unwind completely, with a variety of treatments and world-class products available. Guests are further able to book a relaxing session in the Tylarium – a unique combination of both a traditional sauna and a soft, mild steam bath.
Whilst the prison at Robben Island is most infamous due to the high-profile prisoners it once held, including former South African Presidents, including Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. the island has a much older and equally dark history. The island has been home to a leper colony, a mental institution and army and naval bases. Robben Island can trace its turbulent history all the way back to the 1300s.
These days the prison is a museum, with the tour allowing visitors access to both the warden’s house and the limestone quarry, which in some ways are as much a part of the prison as the tiny cells. Prisoners were forced to work the limestone quarry, even after the rock was no longer needed on the mainland, part of their punishment being to chisel at the unforgiving rock in the oppressive elements.
Children over the age of 12 are welcome at Dock House Boutique Hotel