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Cape Town is a curious city. Built around the mountains of the coast bordering its harbours the City embraces growing suburbs such as the seaside resort area of Camps Bay, Vineyards in Constantia and self proclaimed ‘republics’ such as its fishing port that calls itself the ‘Republic of Hout Bay’ with its lively sea food markets and restaurants, delightful beach and sense of its own identity. Leading new hotels are clustered around the old port area of the City, on the edge of the bustling City centre, and are transforming it into a throbbing cultural and shopping zone whilst still a working port. Other hotels are in the Constantia area of the city or along the coast where a foremost hotel boasts of sea views despite having no beach and a busy road between it and the rocky foreshore
For the last fifteen years the South Africa economy has been transforming itself, and with growth rates of around 7% unemployment has been falling and incomes rising. Social stresses are still there, exacerbated by 3 million refugees from ‘Mad Bob’s’ social experiment to the north, but living standards for the majority are steadily improving. Tourism continues to grow, growing employment and developing a unique sense of African style in interiors.
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A drive through the vineyards and past the golf course brings the guest to the hotel entrance - click to see the porte cochere
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"Nowhere is the search for a local design identity more apparent than in the Hotel market"
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Increased investment from international groups such as Radisson, Starwood’s, Marriott and Intercontinental is raising the game for local concerns such as Sun International and for the independents such as Liz McGrath’s hotels of ‘The Collection’ (see our previous review of the Cellars Hohenort, and various news articles). Steenberg was bought in 2005 by Graham Beck’s Kangra Group and continues to receive major investment from the owners. A new wine tasting area and bistro are planned as a part of the development of the wine estate.
Located in the Constantia Valley, this winery is gradually changing into a more urban type retreat as development around it changes the landscape. The owners have accelerated this change, taking out of grape production the least productive land and building a golf course and golf house estates there instead. The quality of the wine has improved and Graham Beck’s eponymous high quality champagne is offered in the suite minibars. All suites, the hotel is pushing to develop more upmarket services and room sizes, offering Butler services at the top of its market whilst the smallest rooms have lounges, separate luxury bedrooms and bathrooms. All rooms have private terraces, and the larger have private pools to complement the main hotel pool. There is a small well designed spa offering luxury treatments, a cigar bar and a hair dressing salon as well as a restaurant striving for real quality and about to be expanded and refurbished.
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Vernacular architecture provides the dominant white against the blue and green of sky and vagetation - click for a panoramic of the central garden area
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Steenberg
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