If you're wanting a romantic getaway in a quaint boutique-style hotel, this is not the place for you but for everyone else, stay here! As part of a large American chain, it's busy but somehow, the voluminous foyer remains bustle-free and I've never seen the busloads of befuddled-looking tourists milling about like at other hotels of this calibre. The service is fuss-free; the staff ooze professionalism and the room service is unobtrusive. We asked the turn down service to return later, which by experience, they never do. In this hotel, they did.
The rooms are large, the furnishings of high quality and everything's impeccably maintained.
In the bathroom, there's a full range of complementary bathroom goodies, such as emery boards, cotton buds and shower caps, which are replenished every single day and a large glass-enclosed shower with a choice of two shower heads. The lighting in the bathroom mirror is so good that it illuminated every errant hair - even those growing in ears, as remarked on by my husband. My only gripe was the weak little hairdryer neatly tucked away in a drawer but hey! you can always have your hair professionally done in what must be the salon with the finest view in the world. It's up on the 19th floor where you'll also find a well equipped gym and an infinity pool, which is so lovely, it's worth paying a visit just to marvel at the way the shimmering water meets with the sea - even if you don't stick a toe in the water.
Breakfast at the Westin should be a Cape Town institution, it's so fabulous! But if you want an even a better experience, pay more for a room on a higher floor and get free access to the more intimate dining venue - again on the 19th floor. The choice of food may be limited compared to the plenitude of riches offered by the ground-floor restaurant but the view is unparalleled. And in both venues; the coffee's better than that of Truth's down the road, which boasts the best coffee in the world.
The location is across the road from the Cape Town Convention Centre, at the bottom end of the CBD and a pleasant 10 minute walk to the Waterfront.
And finally, what I really liked about this hotel was that as soon as I stepped into the foyer, the wifi on my mobile phone connected. There was none of that continual reregistering which seems to be required at other hotels, both here and overseas.