Temporarily closed: Cape Town's Iconic The Ritz Hotel

Temporarily closed: Sea Point’s iconic hotel, the Ritz, has been upgraded to reflect a charming, modern aesthetic

NOTE: As of 2 July 2018, The Ritz Hotel has been temporarily closed due to a leasing agreement dispute. We don’t have any further information but the management team have told us that they are working hard on reopening soon – we will announce it as soon as they do. Note that restaurants CASA and Top of The Ritz are also temporarily closed.

If you have any bookings at The Ritz or any of the restaurants or facilities, please know that you will be refunded. For queries on your existing booking, please contact virgil@theritzcapetown.co.za and eugene@theritzcapetown.co.za.

We'll keep you updated on the reopening. And, in the meantime, check out these incredible specials on winter accommodation.

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After a multi-million rand facelift the Ritz, one of the most iconic buildings in Cape Town, is ready for its big reveal.

The refurbished hotel, made over from bottom to the very top where the hotel’s famous revolving restaurant soars 23 floors above Sea Point, opens to the public from Saturday, 16 December.

The new Ritz captures all the glamour and grandeur of a Miami resort combined with a fresh, modern style. Despite the lavishness of it all, much care has been taken to ensure that it is accessible to all guests, catering to both locals and visitors from abroad.

“We’re very much aimed at locals as well as guests – they are key,” says general manager Johann Du Plessis. “Come in and have a good time. We want everyone to enjoy our hotel, and it’s not stiff or stuffy.”

From the moment you drive through the entrance, you’re treated to an exceptional experience of luxury and comfort that is relaxed enough to encourage you to kick off your sandals and feel at home.

The lobby is dominated by a huge golden palm tree – echoed by living palms and lush foliage – where guests are checked in at the marble front desk. Plush seating and WiFi create the ideal environment to simply hang out, conduct business meetings, or to meet with friends.

Ascend the wide stairs and you’ll find the light and airy CASA restaurant, which leads through to the pool area, continuing the retro-chic theme with the bold use of authentic Martinique palm frond wallpaper – a pattern originally created for The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. This is where breakfast is served, as well as an all-day menu from 11am till 11pm.

The pool area features a supervised play area for kids, while adults can recline, cocktail in hand, on a lounger or in a private cabana.

The colour palette here is bright and tropical, but as you move to the suites on the upper floors, it transforms into shades of smoky blacks and greys. Accommodation-wise, The Ritz comprises 213 rooms in five categories, 114 of which are completed and ready for occupation, with phase two rolling out in 2018. Compact deluxe rooms are the current entry level, with views of the ocean or the mountain, and in corner rooms with wraparound windows, both.

The larger luxury rooms include a spacious living area with two velvet armchairs, a choice of king or twin beds, and en-suite bathroom with shower; while one-bedroom suites feature a bedroom with an extra-large king size bed leading to a separate lounge and dining area with a table and chairs, as well as a comfy velvet sofa. The en-suite bathrooms have a spa shower and a bath.

The Ritz respects that there are water restrictions in Cape Town, and urge guests to choose showers over baths, and reduce laundry loads by using towels more than once a day.

The city rooms, which will be completed during the off-peak season in 2018, will be on the lower levels where any sacrifice of views will be compensated by affordable rates for groups and budget-conscious travellers. Two penthouses on the 21st and 22nd floors will also be launched in 2018 for the ultimate in exclusivity and privacy.

All rooms have smart TVs and high-speed WiFi, come air-conditioned and are non-smoking. The Champagne Bar is an intimate area which can be enjoyed individually or as part of the bigger bucket list experience of dining at Top Of The Ritz, Cape Town’s only revolving restaurant and an icon on the urban landscape. 

The bill: Deluxe rooms range from R3800 to R4600, luxury rooms from R5000 to R5950 and suites from R9800 to R11500.

Phase two launching in 2018: City rooms from R2550 to R2750, penthouse from R19500 to R22 655.

The Ritz Hotel, corner of Main & Camberwell Roads, Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa

+27 (0) 21 439 6010, email reservations@theritzcapetown.co.za, www.theritz.co.za
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Be spoiled by the immaculate views of the Atlantic Seaboard and surrounds by dining in Cape Town's only rotating restaurant at the Top of The Ritz.

Fancy a relaxed lunch or a glamorous poolside experience with a cocktail in hand? Try CASA Restaurant and Cabanas at The Ritz.

If enjoying a glass of bubbles in a stylish setting is your thing, look no further than The Champagne Bar at The Ritz.

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Check out our selection of rooftop bars in Cape Town, or discover the most romantic restaurants around. Be sure to visit The Ritz as part of the ultimate alternative Cape Town bucket list, and in light of the water crisis, make use of the gorgeous swimming pool here to cool off during the summer months. View our guide to the coolest places to swim in the city.

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