One&Only Cape Town

Why the location works

One&Only sits inside the V&A Waterfront precinct, so you get one of Cape Town’s easiest visitor bases without giving up a sense of separation. The resort spans the marina edge and a private island linked into the property, while the wider Waterfront’s shops, restaurants, aquarium and harbour attractions remain close enough to reach on foot.

That matters most on a first trip. You can land, settle in and have a useful first afternoon without negotiating unfamiliar city streets. It also makes evening dining straightforward if you do not want every night to involve a car. The trade-off is obvious: this is not a beach hotel. If walking onto Atlantic sand is the priority, compare it with an Atlantic Seaboard base instead.

Marina or island?

The current official room collection is split between Marina accommodation and rooms or suites on the island. Marina Rooms are listed at 63 square metres and can face the marina or Table Mountain; Island Superior Rooms are larger at 73 square metres and sit at the water’s edge on the private island. The suite range climbs substantially from there, including one- and two-bedroom options.

I would choose by how you plan to use the hotel. A Table Mountain-facing Marina room is about outlook and quick access to the resort’s main spaces. Island accommodation buys more of that removed-from-the-city feeling and puts some room categories close to the island pool. Do not pay for “resort seclusion” if you will leave after breakfast and return at midnight — the value is in using the setting.

What the resort adds

The difference between One&Only and a standard five-star city hotel is the depth of what is on site. The current accommodation pages list balconies or terraces across key room types, generous bathrooms and family/interconnecting options. The resort also operates a full spa with South Africa-inspired treatments and dedicated wellness spaces.

That makes it useful on a mixed-energy trip. One person can disappear into museums or a Table Mountain day while another takes a slower resort afternoon without feeling stranded. It also gives you a credible bad-weather fallback that does not depend on leaving the property.

Dining without leaving the property

The resort currently has several distinct dining concepts rather than one generic hotel restaurant. Nobu Cape Town is the only Nobu in Southern Africa; ROOI focuses on South African fire-led cooking; Isola covers poolside Mediterranean/Capetonian dining; and Vista Bar & Lounge handles lighter meals, afternoon tea and drinks.

I would still leave the resort for at least some of Cape Town’s food scene — use our food and drink guide for that — but having genuinely different on-site options matters after a long flight or on a night when you have no appetite for logistics. Restaurant concepts, menus and opening patterns change, so check the resort’s current dining page before planning a specific meal around an old review.

Families and longer stays

This is one of the stronger luxury choices for families who want to stay central. The current collection includes two-bedroom family suites accommodating larger parties, and the room pages explicitly flag interconnecting options in some categories. That can be more useful than squeezing everyone into two unrelated hotel rooms and negotiating meeting points all week.

Families should still compare the total cost with an apartment-style stay, particularly if laundry, a kitchen and more independent living space matter. One&Only wins on service and facilities; a serviced apartment can win on everyday practicality. Our Airbnb versus hotels guide explains the broader trade-off.

Getting around from the Waterfront

For the Waterfront itself, walking is the advantage. For Camps Bay, the southern suburbs, Cape Point and the Winelands, expect a car, rideshare, transfer or organised excursion. I would not rent a car solely because you are staying here; parking and driving only make sense if your wider itinerary needs them.

For airport arrival, decide your transfer before landing rather than accepting the first offer in the arrivals hall. Our Cape Town Airport guide covers the current transport decision. Travel times are traffic-dependent, especially around commuter periods and major Waterfront events.

Who should book it — and who should not

I would shortlist One&Only for: a celebration trip, a family that values large rooms and resort facilities, first-time visitors who want the Waterfront’s convenience, and travellers deliberately building downtime into the itinerary.

I would look elsewhere for: a beach-first holiday, a design-led small boutique stay, a low-cost base, or a trip where the hotel is simply somewhere to sleep. There are excellent Cape Town hotels at lower price points; paying resort-level money only makes sense if the resort part matters to you.

Booking checks that actually matter

Room names, inclusions and package conditions change, so compare the exact category rather than treating “One&Only” as one product. Check the view, bedding, maximum occupancy, whether breakfast is included, cancellation terms and any resort package conditions. Families should verify the exact child occupancy of the chosen category rather than relying on a generic “family friendly” label.

If the island setting is the reason you are booking, make sure your chosen room is actually an island category. If Table Mountain views are the reason, make sure the booked category explicitly includes that view. Luxury hotel disappointment often starts with assuming the marketing image describes every room.

Cheers, Carpe Diem & leave one afternoon for the resort! 🍻⏳🌴
TATS Man
your marina-versus-mountain room-picker

Frequently asked questions