The Cape Town EDITION has officially opened at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront, marking the luxury hotel brand’s first property in Africa. Overlooking the new superyacht marina, with views towards Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the hotel adds another international name to Cape Town’s hospitality offering.
Part of the global EDITION portfolio, which includes properties in London, Tokyo, Lake Como and New York, the 142-room hotel combines contemporary design with references to Cape Town’s maritime history and local creative scene.
Architecture and design
Designed by Shanghai-based architecture and design practice Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects, the building takes its cues from the industrial character of the historic working harbour. Its pitched rooflines, low-slung form and brick façade reference the warehouses that previously occupied the site. More than six million bricks were laid by hand to create the exterior.
Inside, the design incorporates bespoke furniture, natural finishes and joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks. Locally made pieces also feature throughout, including custom furnishings and rugs by KwaZulu-Natal-based Shuttleworth Weaving.
African art is another focus. Southern Guild, the Cape Town gallery, curated a collection featuring established and emerging artists from across the continent. Works include photographic portraits by Zanele Muholi in Punch Room, Usha Seejarim’s Fading Dish Cloth in the spa and smoke-fired ceramics by Chuma Maweni in the lobby and dining spaces.
At the centre of the hotel is The Drum, a cylindrical, open-air space with a spiralling staircase leading to an outdoor viewing platform overlooking the harbour, Table Mountain and the Atlantic.
Five restaurants and bars
The hotel’s food and beverage programme is overseen by Executive Chef Phil Carmichael and South African beverage partner George Hunter, with five restaurants and bars offering different dining and drinking experiences.
Shale, the signature restaurant, focuses on seasonal ingredients sourced from Cape farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers. The menu includes Saldanha Bay mussels served with curry velouté, seaweed salad and braised black rice, alongside a predominantly South African wine list.
On the rooftop, EAVE combines an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar with views across the city. Located beside the heated pool, it serves small plates inspired by the Winelands and surrounding coastline, alongside cocktails and wine. The venue also hosts music programming in the evenings.
The Lobby Bar serves coffee, light meals and drinks throughout the day, while Punch Room takes inspiration from the traditional punch house. Its drinks menu includes Brandewijn, a combination of brandy, Pinotage, rooibos, pineapple, lemon and winter spice.
Wellness and events
The hotel’s spa is located below sea level and includes five treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, a sauna and a steam room. Treatments combine skincare, massage, fascia work and aromatherapy, using products from Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza. Additional facilities include infrared beds, Therabody recovery boots and a 24-hour gym.
A daily programme of yoga, breathwork, sound baths and movement sessions is also available, alongside the heated rooftop pool and sun deck.
For meetings and private events, the property has a ballroom accommodating up to 200 people, a boardroom, two meeting studios and a private event terrace. Vantage, the rooftop event space, provides another setting for gatherings, while the hotel’s restaurants offer options for private dining.
Connecting with the city
The Cape Town EDITION plans to host a programme of collaborations with chefs, winemakers and creatives, spanning food and drink partnerships and rooftop stargazing.
According to General Manager Leonie Andereya, the aim is to create a hotel that appeals to both international visitors and Cape Town residents, with dining, art and cultural programming forming part of its wider offering.
The Cape Town EDITION is located at Quay 7, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
