The best boutique hotel in Cape Town, South Africa

Heading to Cape Town after an amazing safari experience in the famous Kruger National Park? Cape Town is a gorgeous, vibrant city famous for its stunning natural beauty, delicious food, and laid-back urban life. And among the many places you can stay to best enjoy your trip to Cape Town, imagine staying at an elegant, luxurious, and sustainable boutique hotel in the heart of the city, close to all the main attractions, and with a rooftop pool with 360-degree views of the iconic Table Mountain and Signal Hill.

That’s exactly what you get at the Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa, the best boutique hotel in Cape Town, or at least one of the best. I had the chance to stay there for a few days, and it was a perfect experience that made my visit to Cape Town even more enjoyable. 

Why is Cloud 9 the best boutique hotel in Cape Town?

1. Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel has everything you need

Every room at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel is ensuite (i.e., has a private bathroom) and comes equipped with a coffee machine, tea selection, AC/heater unit, room service, ultra-HD TV with Netflix, a safe, toiletries, a hairdryer, free high-speed Wi-Fi, a stocked mini-bar, and complimentary water and sherry. Except for the classic rooms, all the rooms have solar power backup. There is also free private parking on the hotel premises, and it’s perfectly safe to park your vehicle there as it’s inside the gates, and there’s a parking security guard onsite.

Cloud 9 has a rooftop bar (Mountain Club Bistro), rated one of the best in Cape Town. It offers amazing 360-degree views of the city and Table Mountain. On the roof, you will also find a plunge pool and sun deck, all of which are accessible to non-hotel guests as well.

Other amenities at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel include a small private courtyard, a restaurant, a spa, a sauna, a jacuzzi, and a heated plunge pool only for guests (not counting the plunge pool open to the public, accessible via the restaurant). The spa offers mani-pedis, facial and hair treatments, massages, and more.

2. The variety of rooms at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel

Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa is a luxury boutique hotel with 48 rooms, some of which offer excellent views of Table Mountain.

There are a variety of rooms to choose from:

• Classic rooms, 17-20 m2 or 183-215 sq ft — best for solo travellers and couples. You get either city or Table Mountain views, with queen-sized beds and an ensuite rain shower

• Heritage Classic rooms, 20-23 m2 or 215-247 sq ft — best for people wanting a bit more space, all with extra length King size beds and an ensuite rain shower. Some come with a balcony, some don’t, and you will either get a city view or Table Mountain view.

• Heritage Deluxe rooms, 28-36 m2 or 301-387 sq ft. There are three types: one without a balcony, one with a balcony, and the family deluxe room. All of them have extra length King size beds or twin single beds, and an ensuite rain shower.

• The Suites are more spacious. There are two types: regular suites and family suites. They both have walk-out balconies and offer city views of Table Mountain views, with an ensuite shower plus a bathtub and can come with either an extra length King-size bed or twin single beds. The family suite can accommodate 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12.

• The interleading family rooms link two rooms into one, and each has its own bathroom. There are two types of interleading family suite rooms.

• Master room (the heritage deluxe room) with an ensuite shower and basin and toilet connecting to a room with bunk beds, plus a private veranda, and views of Table Mountain.
• Master room (heritage deluxe with balcony and city views) connecting to a classic room.

The central reception area connects the 5 Victorian heritage buildings that form part of the hotel grounds, making it easy to access your room, although initially it might be confusing to navigate the hotel.

Note that there are extra charges for more than 2 people per room.

3. Centrally located 

Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel is located in the trendy Tamboerskloof neighbourhood, in the City Bowl. It’s at the base of Signal Hill and Lion’s Head hiking trail, within walking distance to the vibrant Kloof street and multiple restaurants and shops, and even laundromats, as well as attractions such as the Iziko South African Museum, the South African National Gallery, and The Company’s Garden.

If you fancy a night out, a fun nightlife scene awaits you at Long Street and Bree Street, both within walking distance. You can also easily reach Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, Clifton Beach, and Camps Bay within 10 minutes by car. 

4. Ease of access

Due to its central location, Cloud 9 Hotel is very well connected to the rest of Cape Town by public transport. You will find multiple bus stops near the hotel, which will take you all the way to Camps Bay and further. 

The bus is generally safe to take in Cape Town. However, if you don’t feel like taking the bus, you can easily call an Uber or Bolt for pick-up in this area. 

Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel’s sustainability efforts

One of the things that makes Cloud 9 the best boutique hotel in Cape Town is its sustainability efforts, which is one of the main reasons I chose to stay there. 

Here’s how Cloud 9 implements sustainable practices: 

• Breakfast is a la carte rather than a buffet, thus minimising waste
• Empowers the local community by sourcing art for the hotel from South African artists like Sonja Nel
• Energy efficient: solar panels, LED light, movement sensors
• Filtered water supply directly from the aquifer
• Living green walls inside and outside the hotel walls
• Partnership with Clearer Conscience to compost food waste for food gardens that feed the Strandfontein community

My personal experience at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel

This is what I loved the most about Cloud 9

• The restaurant (the staff and the food)

The staff at the restaurant made us feel incredibly welcome and were genuinely helpful. Our UberEats never got delivered, and we were starving, and they were so nice to help us find a solution. But more than that, the food from the restaurant was delicious. We had the Korean chicken burger and the Kung Pao chicken wings, and I would honestly go back to Cape Town just to eat these again from Cloud 9’s restaurant. 

• The amenities

For a boutique hotel, Cloud 9 has everything you need: from spa treatments to a sauna to a restaurant to 2 rooftop plunge pools. I was there on a very cold windy rainy day and didn’t feel like going out, and I was glad to have all these amenities at the hotel. I also appreciated the multiple charging stations for various international plug styles. 

• The location 

You seriously can’t beat this location. It’s centrally located in a very nice area, and you just need to walk out of the hotel to find restaurants and buses and all the things you might need. 

• The staff

The friendly staff really made me want to stay longer. From the receptionists to the restaurant staff to the people at the spa, I really appreciated the hospitality. 

The only two things I would change about the hotel are the toiletries and the insulation. The toiletries brand is nice, but from a sustainability perspective, I would suggest removing the travel-size plastic bottles they come in. 

The insulation issue can be a problem in winter. Air was coming through the door from the hallway and through the windows from outside. From my experience living in Cape Town a few years ago, this seems to be an issue with most buildings. However, despite it being around 5°C (about 41°F), we didn’t feel cold inside the room thanks to the heater and thick blanket. 

Final thoughts on Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa

My stay at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa was perfect, from the reception and warm welcome to the beautiful rooftop to the delicious meals. The location is also perfect for those looking to explore Cape Town. Given the chance, I would stay there again. 

Check the rates at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa.