Taj Cape Town
Taj Cape Town sits in the historic centre of the city. Most of the Waterfront and Atlantic seaboard hotels sit elsewhere, in a different part of town entirely. It occupies two adjoining heritage buildings: the former South African Reserve Bank and the 1890 Temple Chambers, later the Board of Executors building. Both join a contemporary tower added when the hotel opened. This is a meaningfully different proposition from most of Cape Town’s other top-tier hotels. It puts you in the middle of the old city instead, across from St George’s Cathedral. The Company’s Garden and the Houses of Parliament sit a short walk away too.
Heritage and Architecture
The Reserve Bank building’s facade, modelled on Florence’s Palazzo Pitti, gives the hotel a genuinely grand exterior. The restoration inside has kept much of what made the building notable in the first place. Fluted marble columns remain, alongside a barrel-vaulted skylight. This sits over what was once the banking hall, now serving as the hotel’s lounge. Original chandeliers survive too, along with a vault converted into a ballroom. It’s a building that earns its heritage status, rather than simply trading on the address. The hotel restored rather than redesigned during conversion. As a result, a stay here carries a genuine sense of Cape Town’s institutional history.
Rooms run to 176, spread across both the heritage wing and the contemporary tower. Nearly all carry either a city view or a view of Table Mountain. The split between old and new buildings means the room experience varies more than at a single-block hotel. Heritage rooms carry more period character, including details like a bathroom floor tiled with copper coins. Tower rooms, by contrast, lean more contemporary. Taj Club rooms and suites add an executive lounge with butler service, evening canapés and a private breakfast. This gives travellers a useful upgrade path, without needing to book a full suite.
Indian Heritage and Dining
The hotel’s Indian ownership shows up clearly in its dining and wellness offering. This, in fact, gives it a genuinely different character from Cape Town’s other heritage hotels. Bombay Brasserie serves Indian fine dining that’s won awards independent of the hotel’s own profile. The Jiva Grande Spa is the brand’s signature wellness concept. It was the first of its kind in Africa, built around Indian wellness philosophy rather than the more conventional spa menus found elsewhere in the city. Mint handles all-day, more conventional dining. A cocktail and tapas bar, in addition, rounds out the evening offering.
Location is the clearest practical argument for choosing Taj Cape Town over a Waterfront or coastal property. It sits at the entrance to St George’s Mall. More than a dozen of the city’s art galleries sit within walking distance too. The restaurant and nightlife streets of Long Street and Bree Street sit close by. A complimentary shuttle, meanwhile, covers the ten-minute run to the V&A Waterfront for travellers wanting both worlds. The hotel’s own City Specialist guides and a daily guided city walk lean into this positioning directly.
Why Stay Here
- A restored former Reserve Bank building, with original marble columns, chandeliers and a vault turned ballroom
- A genuinely central city-centre location, walking distance to the Company’s Garden, St George’s Cathedral and a dozen art galleries
- 176 rooms split between heritage and contemporary tower wings, nearly all with city or Table Mountain views
- Jiva Grande Spa, the first of its kind in Africa, built around Indian wellness philosophy
- Bombay Brasserie, an award-winning Indian restaurant distinct from the city’s typical hotel dining
Accommodation
176 rooms and suites span the restored heritage building and a contemporary tower wing. Nearly every room offers either a city or Table Mountain view. Taj Club rooms and suites include access to an executive lounge with butler service, evening canapés and cocktails, and a private breakfast. One and two-bedroom suites suit families or travellers wanting more space.
Dining
Bombay Brasserie serves classic and contemporary Indian cuisine and has won independent restaurant awards beyond the hotel’s own guests. Mint offers all-day dining with a terrace suited to a summer cocktail or a relaxed lunch. A dedicated bar, in addition, serves bespoke cocktails alongside tapas-style dishes.
Experiences
The Jiva Grande Spa is the first of its kind on the continent. It draws on Indian wellness philosophy for its treatments, alongside an indoor heated pool, gym, sauna and steam room. The hotel’s own City Specialist team runs a daily guided city walk through the surrounding historic district. A complimentary shuttle, meanwhile, connects guests to the V&A Waterfront.
Best For
Travellers wanting to be based in Cape Town’s historic city centre rather than the Waterfront or coast. Business travellers will also find it suits them, along with guests interested specifically in Indian cuisine and wellness traditions.