If you’re looking for something more than just a place to sleep, here are four of the most charmingly quirky boutique hotels from across the region.

The Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel

Normally, I am not one for camping, or even ‘glamping’, but there are times when I will make an exception. One of those times is when you have to take an antique elevator to reach your campsite… or rather trailer park… on an inner-city rooftop.

In the centre of Cape Town is the Grand Daddy Boutique Hotel, a hotel housed in a historical hotel building that dates back to 1895. The original elevator is now the oldest working elevator in Cape Town and possibly the whole of South Africa.

You might expect a building with so much history to be restored to its former glory and operate as a heritage hotel. Instead, the current iteration is modern and full of character. Twenty-five rooms are boldly decorated with striking patterns, bright colours and a proudly South African aesthetic. There are also two event venues, one of which features delightfully trippy Alice in Wonderland wallpaper.

The penthouse suites take the form of seven gleaming Airstream trailers on the hotel’s rooftop. Each one has been decorated by a different local interior designer in line with a South African road trip theme, such as Cape Winelands, Beach House, Rooftop Safari and Karoo Dorps. They are fully serviced with luxury bedding, modern amenities and thoughtful touches.

On the rooftop, you can also find the Sky Bar, where you can have a sundowner
and take in the views of the city, before retreating to your not-so-mobile mobile home for the evening.

The Karoo Art Hotel

Entering the Karoo Art Hotel, a member of the Cape Country Routes just off the R62 in Barrydale, feels like Dorothy entering Oz. The white facade gives way to a vibrant technicolour world as you cross the threshold.

Art is everywhere. 

Oil paintings line the walls, sculptures appear in unexpected corners and colourful murals transform ordinary spaces into imaginative ones. The public areas double as a gallery, with many of the artworks available for purchase. Each of the hotel’s rooms is individually decorated with eclectic art pieces, hand-painted murals and other design details.

You can get lost in history looking at mesmerising vintage colonial safari photographs in the Melvill & Moon Room, while the oversized Tretchikoff wallpaper in the Magnolia Room feels light and playful. Some rooms are whimsical, others dramatic, but all feel like small creative worlds of their own. Apart from the usual facilities, the hotel is also home to an event venue that hosts art-related workshops and live performances, as well as a cinema. 

This hotel doesn’t simply display art. It is art; colourful, expressive and inseparable from the quirky personality of Barrydale itself.

The Turbine Hotel and Spa

On the Thesen Islands in Knysna stands a hotel that, at first glance, doesn’t look like a hotel at all.

With three towering chimneys rising into the sky, the Turbine Hotel and Spa resembles an industrial facility more than a place you might choose for a relaxing getaway. That is until you step inside.

The building was once the power station that supplied electricity to Knysna and its timber industry. Now dining tables sit beside colossal machinery, turbines rise dramatically through double-volume spaces and industrial piping snakes across walls. This is all juxtaposed with velvet chairs, contemporary art and soft lighting.

When the building was converted into a hotel, the original turbines were protected as historical features. Instead of hiding them, the designers embraced them as sculptural centrepieces. What could have felt cold or mechanical somehow becomes warm and atmospheric. The rooms soften the industrial narrative slightly, layering in soft fabrics, elegant furnishings and large windows overlooking the canals.

The hotel’s Island Café and Gastro Pub serve dishes that reflect the region’s fresh produce and coastal influences, while the spa offers a space for another form of relaxation, proving that even a former power station can become a sanctuary.

Dorp Hotel

The terms “best kept secret” and “hidden gem” get thrown around a lot, but Dorp Hotel genuinely feels like both. Despite being a sprawling 42-room hotel perched on Signal Hill overlooking the city of Cape Town, many locals are unaware of its existence.

In the Salon, a double-volume space that functions as both a restaurant and a lounge, palm trees tower over quirky pink granny settees while ceramics, cut flowers, books and striking artworks appear everywhere you look. A set of dinosaur bookends holding many an afternoon’s reading material rests on a grand piano, while gold lettering next to the door reads “Check your privilege”.

It feels less like a hotel and more like the home of a well-travelled eccentric aunt who has the best stories to tell. Each room has its own personality, decorated with colourful textiles, vintage furniture, books, unusual artworks, unexpected touches and whimsy. A sense of play is woven into every corner, complemented by lush greenery and hidden nooks, perfect for lingering over coffee or a book. The hotel also boasts some of the best views of Table Mountain in all of Cape Town. It almost seems unfair given the captivating interiors.

It’s very hard to put Dorp into words, but it’s impossible to describe the lingering feeling you leave with.

Where the stay becomes the story

Each of these hotels tells a very different story. The Grand Daddy spins a playful tale of glamping in the middle of a city. The Karoo Art Hotel immerses guests in colour and creativity along one of the country’s great road-trip routes. The Turbine transforms industrial heritage into dramatic design. And Dorp offers a deeply personal world of art and imagination above Cape Town.

In a world where many hotels are designed to look reassuringly similar, these places remind us how delightful the unexpected can be. Here, the hotel isn’t just somewhere to stay, it’s a destination worth travelling for.

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Spier Wine Farm, one of South Africa’s oldest and most beloved working wine farms, has entered a new era with the reopening of its reimagined hotel on 1 March 2025. Renowned for its award-winning wines and commitment to regenerative farming, Spier now offers a hospitality experience that blends luxury with authenticity and purpose.

The transformation aligns with a global shift towards meaningful, sustainable travel. Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, notes: “Spier sets a new benchmark for luxury deeply rooted in heritage and purpose, reinforcing our region’s leadership in authentic, forward-thinking tourism.”

Set within the Cape Floral Kingdom, Spier Hotel is surrounded by 39,000 reintroduced fynbos plants, creating a vibrant natural haven. Guests can reconnect with nature at the spa, which features a Cape Herbal Bath House where farm-grown botanicals are used in therapeutic treatments. Rooms open onto indigenous gardens or offer Juliet balconies with mountain views, enhancing the connection to the biodiverse landscape.

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Words – Tessa Buhrmann

Pics – supplied

There’s something deeply satisfying about arriving at a hotel that immediately makes you feel like you are part of the family, and Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank does exactly that. Housed in the repurposed 1970s building, The Bank, the newly rebranded Hyde brings a cool, cosmopolitan energy to the heart of Rosebank. With its bohemian-luxe edge and curated design, this hotel is as much about lifestyle as it is about accommodation.

The transformation of the old bank building into a chic hub of fine dining, trendy tasting room and stylish stays is impressive. High ceilings and generous windows flood the rooms with natural light, while rich textures and clean lines reflect Hyde Hotels’ signature aesthetic. My room is a calm, stylish sanctuary: spacious and beautifully appointed, with a king-size bed, tasteful décor, and a sleek bathroom featuring a luxurious rain shower and high-end finishes.

Hyde’s location is another major plus. Perfectly positioned in Rosebank’s lively centre, it’s just steps from boutique stores, galleries, top restaurants, and the Gautrain station, making it ideal for both business travellers and city explorers.

Dinner is at Proud Mary, the acclaimed all-day eatery within the Hyde. With its mid-century interiors, moody lighting, and tones of oxblood, teal, and emerald set against terrazzo and brass, it oozes understated glamour. It’s the kind of place you could happily linger for hours, and many do. The menu is globally inspired but rooted in local flavours, offering elegant comfort food with flair. I start with the crispy fried squid, followed by a perfectly balanced salmon Niçoise with marinated artichokes and sundried tomato, and end on a sweet note with the decadent coconut brûlée cheesecake. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, spotlighting small-batch South African producers. The Kaapzicht Skraalhans Pinotage hits the mark (yes, I had red wine with fish, but in a place this quirky, breaking the rules just feels right).

Service at both the hotel and restaurant is faultless — warm, intuitive, and quietly confident. It’s no surprise Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank was named Business Hotel of the Year at the Luxe Awards 2025. More than that, it’s a place where locals and travellers can truly tap into the city’s rhythm. Whether you’re in town for meetings or craving a chic urban escape, Hyde delivers modern Joburg hospitality… laid-back luxury that’s unmistakably cool.

Best of all? No matter how early your flight, the barista at Proud Coffee greets you with a smile and a perfect cappuccino. Need a snack? They’ve got that covered too.

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