Bank on the new improvements at this elegant hotel with Indian flair

Brian Berkman says to search the Internet for affordable deals at this five-star Cape Town establishment.

- Brian Berkman

Taj Cape Town is a five-star hotel that is part of the India-born but now global Taj Hotels group. Like many of its properties in India, which are built in former palaces, the Cape Town property, on the corner of Adderley Wale streets, is built on top of heritage buildings, the original Reserve Bank being among them.

Rooms are either in the Heritage section or the Tower, and the former is decorated with period details while the latter has contemporary interiors. All are equally elegant and comfortable. A drawback of the Heritage rooms is that the sash windows don’t open.

The Taj Club rooms include access to an exclusive lounge offering all-day refreshment options and other perks such as the use of a meeting room.

If, as in the case when Farmer’s Weekly visited after spotting a highly discounted rate on Booking.com, your room is not ready at 2pm when you arrive, you may be invited to wait in the Club Lounge an hosted by its affable concierge.

There are a few things that make this hotel special. One of them is the clientele: due to its proximity to Parliament and the High Courts, guests often include members of the diplomatic corps and legal eagles.

BUBBLY WITH BREAKFAST

The buffet breakfast, served in the Mint Restaurant and the Lobby Lounge, is among the best offered in Cape Town and includes a range of Indian dishes too.