Taj Hotel Cape Town Review: The Luxury Hotel Stay that Cured my Burnout (and Fed Me Butter Chicken)

If you’re looking for a luxury break with outstanding hospitality in the heart of the Mother City, Taj Cape Town is it. Housed in two beautifully restored heritage buildings, this international five-star hotel combines old-world charm with modern elegance. It also offers incredible views, world-class dining, and a spa that could probably fix all your life problems.

Image: Supplied

When life gets a little bit too hectic and one needs a break, I have a number of friends who will book themselves into a silent retreat and spend some time in humble accommodations, ignoring other people. I am not one of those people. Frankly, I prefer my self-care to involve thread counts higher than my stress levels. My idea of relaxing and recuperating involves going to a luxury hotel and pampering myself with lavish spa treatments, dining on amazing food and talking to strangers in the elevators.

Desperate for a bit of self-care, I recently spent the night at Taj Cape Town, in one of their recently refurbished suites, and it was exactly what I needed. (Seriously, doctors should prescribe this kind of treatment.) Whether you’re planning a Cape Town staycation or visiting from afar, here’s why Taj Cape Town may be the perfect stay for you too: 

*I was a guest of Taj Cape Town, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Luxury Hotel Suites in the Heart of Cape Town

This international hotel has a certain charm and depth to it that you won’t find in a lot of newer establishments. Though the building may be marked as a heritage site, there’s nothing dated about the interiors. The public areas are refined with contemporary interiors and furnishings, while the 40 Tower Rooms, the Taj Club Suites, and the Heritage Rooms (like the one I stayed in) have recently been refurbished. This was my first stay at the hotel, so I can’t speak to the previous look, but the new aesthetic is said to be lighter and fresher.  

The Heritage Room I stayed in beautifully set the tone for some relaxation with its elegant decor. Bold floral wallpaper with images of Cape fynbos frames a corner of the room, adding visual interest without being overpowering. The colours and patterns beautifully complement those on the scatter cushions on the bed, which depict a pattern in line with the hotel chain’s Indian heritage, as if marrying the origins of the brand and the location of this hotel. 

Also beautifully matching the colour scheme was a fresh flower in a vase on one of the tables, while the plush carpets, leather pieces, glossy marble table tops, wooden finishes, and other elements make for a sophisticated experience with a distinctly sensory appeal. The room is refined and tasteful but not in a way that makes it lacking in personality.

A glass screen separates the bathroom from the bedroom, with a blind that can be pulled down for privacy. The bathroom has tasteful cabinets and amenities, a shower, and a big bathtub for the types of bubble baths people only have in movies.

Image: Supplied

Image: Supplied

Hotel Suites with Table Mountain Views

The sheer curtains give way to a private balcony with incredible views. Not only is the vista from the suite I stayed in (910) scenically beautiful, but it also offers a view of some of Cape Town’s most significant attractions: 

This side of the hotel overlooks St. George’s Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Cape Town, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu served from 1986 (before the end of Apartheid) to 1996. This was once a common meeting point for anti-apartheid activists. His remains are interred in front of the high altar.

Just next to the cathedral, you can see the Arch for Arch, a memorial for Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This also forms the entrance to the Company’s Garden, a public garden created in the 1650s by European settlers to grow fresh produce for ships rounding the Cape as part of the spice trade. 

Also visible from here are Cape Town’s parliament buildings. The majestic Table Mountain forms a backdrop to all of this, so you can get that burst of joy every time you see its profile and remember which city you are currently located in. An obvious necessity to any Cape Town hotel stay!

Dining at Taj Cape Town

Bombay Brasserie

The Bombay Brasserie is a great place to go for an upscale Indian gourmet meal. The restaurant features cuisine from pan-India, crafted by chefs hailing directly from the country, and served with a distinctly South African flair. I enjoyed their Experience Set Menu once before while seated in their plush velvet seating, under stunning chandeliers surrounded by intricate peacock motifs and, yes, it was every bit as opulent as it sounds. 

Read the full review here: 

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The Bombay Brasserie at Taj Cape Town: 

A Taste of India, a Touch of South Africa

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Mint Restaurant and Wood-Fired Grill

As much as I loved the idea of enjoying another meal at the Bombay Brasserie, this time I opted for Mint in the interests of trying something different. If the Bombay Brasserie is their signature Indian cuisine restaurant, Mint is the more modern international bistro-style option that offers all-day dining. 

The menu includes everything from sandwiches, wraps, and burgers to pizza and pasta, to Indian and Cape Malay curries, to seafood and steak. It also offers vegan and vegetarian options. It’s hard to imagine not finding something you like here. It has both indoor and outdoor seating areas, so you can enjoy Cape Town’s weather or take shelter from it in all its typical four-seasons-in-one-day glory.

It may have been the not-so-subliminal messaging in all the decor, but I was craving Indian food, so I ordered my favourite dish, butter chicken. It didn’t disappoint! I also had garlic naan with it because “garlic” is always the right answer to the question, “What type of naan would you like?” Every mouthful was rich, velvety, perfectly spiced, and so flavourful. I nearly licked the bowl, but I managed to maintain decorum.  

The dessert posed an even bigger challenge to my efforts to behave appropriately in public, as I didn’t know what I was ordering, so I couldn’t mentally prepare myself. I do not know how I have not seen any viral videos of this dessert on social media, but I was so, so naive when I ordered the Secret Brownie Sundae. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! 

A few moments later, a bowl with a large chocolate dome arrived at my table. Spoiler alert: The waitress then proceeded to pour hot caramel over it, melting the dome and revealing ‘the secret’: vanilla ice-cream, brownie bits, and strawberries underneath it, now covered in warm melted chocolate and caramel.

 

Considering I have a sweet tooth of note and a separate stomach for dessert (still scientifically unproven, but all signs suggest this to be true), I can vouch for the fact that the portion is big enough for two people. Take a date who has a similar palate to my own, and they will love you forever. Or better yet, if you need someone to share it with, name the time, I know the place, and I’ll make space in my calendar (and that separate dessert stomach). 

Make a reservation for Mint Restaurant here. 

Taj Cape Town’s Hotel Spa: J Wellness Circle 

The J Wellness Circle also takes inspiration from India, incorporating the principles of Ayurveda (a system that emphasises the connection between the mind and body and the laws of nature) and yoga into its therapeutic experiences. I can’t explain how it works, but between the decor, the soundtrack, the scents of the aroma therapy oils, and the service you receive, your body starts to relax from the moment you step in the door, long before the massage therapist has even looked at you, let alone touched you.

I had a Vishrama massage. The experience started with a foot washing. You know that feeling when you didn’t know how stressed you were until you find yourself in a spa treatment room having your feet washed and your face starts leaking? Well, I had that experience. All the anxiety I didn’t even know I was carrying started to exit my body out of my tear ducts the moment my feet touched the water. -An indication that an experience like this was well overdue. 

Just before the foot bath started overflowing, the foot washing came to an end, and I hopped on the bed for a two-hour massage! There’s just no way to write that without sounding like I’m bragging. I am. How can I not? After 120 minutes of bliss that involved hot compresses, therapeutic Indian herbs, and deep massage, Palesa, the massage therapist, had worked out what felt like several years’ worth of stress from my body. I went from being a ball of tension with limbs (that were also quite tense) to being a completely zenned-out, relaxed person. By the time it was over, I didn’t walk, I floated out of that treatment room.  

J Wellness Circle offers a whole list of amazing spa treatments and packages, including scrubs, wraps, facials, cupping, manicures, pedicures, and more. These can be enjoyed in the spa’s beautiful facilities, many of which have also recently been refreshed, such as the recovery room, the hot tub, and treatment rooms.    

Find out more or book a treatment at J Wellness Circle here: 

I took some pictures of the spa, but none of them do the experience justice

Taj Cape Town’s Other Amenities 

Taj Cape Town is also home to the Taj Lobby Bar and Lounge, a sophisticated space perfect for a drink or one of their exciting cocktails. Adjacent to this is the Whisky Lounge, where you can enjoy one of Cape Town’s most extensive high-end whisky collections. They also offer a range of whisky tastings. 

The hotel also has an indoor swimming pool and a gym that is open 24 hours.

Incredible Hospitality

Sometimes it’s the little touches that make all the difference. What I love most about Taj Cape Town is that it’s not just beautiful, it’s thoughtful. It feels like they have considered everything and are prepared for whims you don’t even know you have. 

The room is furnished with everything you could need for a comfortable stay, right down to the most magnificent shoe-horn I have ever seen! (I immediately sent a picture to my friend who is inexplicably passionate about shoe horns - we all have our niche interests!)

 She was very jealous. 

I have stayed in so many hotels where the bathroom has a big, beautiful bathtub, but no bubble bath is provided. Not only did my suite have bubble bath, but bath salts and after bath essential oils (with madurai jasmine & magra - the scent was heavenly). I believe this is part of the ‘She remains the Taj’ welcome package for female guests. This little touch made me feel like the spa experience continued into my suite.

I also appreciated the welcome petit fours which greeted me in my suite and tide me over until dinner. 

As a former hospitality worker (and thus, eternally judgmental), I can attest that the staff were perfectly on point. They offered me things I didn’t know I wanted, arranged restaurant reservations and spa appointments for me, and served me with warmth and professionalism.  

All things considered, it’s no wonder that the parent company, Indian Hotels Company Limited, has recently been named the World’s Strongest Hotel Brand for 2025 by Brand Finance for the fourth time. It’s also exciting to hear that the company is expanding into other parts of sub-Saharan Africa to cater for bespoke bush experiences in addition to city breaks like this one. They recently acquired three bush lodges in the Greater Kruger National Park, which are all scheduled to open in 2026, with several other new properties scheduled to launch in 2027. I’m excited to experience the same exquisite décor, outstanding food, and incredible service while trying to spot a lion instead of a member of parliament. 

For now, though, if you’re after a Cape Town stay that makes you feel pampered, peaceful, and a little bit smug, Taj Cape Town is the answer.

For more information or to book a stay at Taj Cape Town, click here or contact the Reservations Department on 021 819 2000.

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Things to do near Taj Cape Town:

Its ideal location in the city makes it conveniently close to everything: 

• Walking tours (St. George's Mall, a pedestrian street running alongside the hotel, is a meeting point for walking tours of the city and Bo Kaap)
• St. George's Cathedral, the Arch for Arch and the Company’s Garden are all just across the road.
• Museums: There are a number of museums nearby, such as historical ones like Iziko Slave Lodge (also across the road), the District Six Museum, and the Castle of Good Hope. Nearby museums that showcase the lighter side of Cape Town include the Museum of Illusions and the Museum of Dogs.
• Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is just a 15-minute drive away. 
• The V&A Waterfront is just seven minutes away.