It’s like walking into an alternate universe. Reality fizzles out behind you. The noise of the traffic softens, the pace of life slows. The resort is so peaceful and detached; it’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of the V&A Waterfront. Overlooking aquamarine canals with a purple-grey Table Mountain backdrop, the gulls add a subtle soundtrack to your new world. Make the most of your stay at One&Only Cape Town. Because like most good things, it’ll be over before you know it – and you’ll wish you had a replay button.

There’s one surprising aspect about One&Only Cape Town: the friendliness of their staff. I expected the functional “yes-sir, no-sir” atmosphere I’d experienced at other prestigious hotels, but it was the complete opposite. I’ve never felt more comfortable – except perhaps pyjama-clad, in the snug well-worn couch of my own living room.

Quick to smile, with a contagious laugh, Muchi Gubwe was our first introduction to One&Only Cape Town. As the front office manager, he has a passion that radiates from someone who genuinely loves their job. The employees are part of a close-knit family and have heart-warming stories to tell. This is what makes One&Only Cape Town not just a hotel, but a home.

STAY AT THE ONE&ONLY

Mountain Marina Rooms

The Mountain Marina Rooms are a strictly stress-free zone with an enormous king-sized bed, sofa, and sprawling en-suite bathroom. They have a homely feel with modest paintings and heavy block-out curtains that may result in oversleeping. The understated decor leaves room for the main attraction: the balcony with an exquisite view of Table Mountain, the marina, and canals.

Bubble bathroom

The bathroom has tiptoed out of every woman’s imagination and prompts a girlish squeal with its enormous free-standing bath, rain shower, glass vanities, and your mirrored reflection grinning back at you. The very depths of your soul will be pulled towards the giant bath tub – so long, your feet can barely touch the other side. If you can’t decide between bath salt or foam bath, add both. One&Only Cape Town is all about luxury in excess. Lather yourself with Charlotte Rhys products before slithering into your king-sized bed: a silky cocoon of Egyptian cotton happiness.

Balcony views

Wrapped in your robe in the early morning hours, you’ll feel as though the dawn sun glinting off Table Mountain is reserved just for you. Sit back while your Nigiro tea steeps gently in a glass teapot and watch the marina slowly come to life below you. Take your time. It’s not often you’re treated like royalty.

REUBEN’S RESTAURANT

Dinner

Reuben’s Restaurant is a foodie’s paradise with enormous burnt orange lanterns suspended from the ceiling, retro carpets, and distinguished diners with crisp white napkins folded across their laps. Everything is oversized: the menu that requires two hands to hold it, the generous portion sizes, and even the goblets of wine constantly refilled by your own personal sommelier. Food is paraded on the fingertips of elegant waiters and it’s hard not to get food envy – at least until your own tantalising plate is set before you. With a menu put together by Reuben Riffel himself, it’s easy to become spoilt for choice. You cannot go wrong with the beef sirloin or pork knuckle.

I don’t have to tell you to save space for pudding – everyone knows humans were created with a separate dessert belly. The chocolate hazelnut parfait, strawberry malva pudding with meringue, and banana bruelee are worth those extra centimetres to your waistline.

Breakfast buffet

The breakfast buffet at Reuben’s stretches from wall to wall and caters for every desire. Think pastries like almond and chocolate croissants, cheese and cold meat platters, fruit and every flavour yoghurt, an abundance of homemade bread, as well as bacon, eggs, sausages, American pancakes, and even fresh oysters! You can also order anything off the hot menu.

Although I didn’t get to meet Reuben himself, he visits 3 or 4 times a month, so there’s always a chance of running into him. He’ll be at One&Only Cape Town more frequently in the coming weeks as he lays out a new menu. Watch this space!

ONE&ONLY FACT SHEET

• 91 hotel rooms and 40 island villa rooms. The villa rooms are slightly larger, offer an island vibe, and are suited for families with inter-leading doors.
• The spa island. With a sauna, steam room, vitality pool, outdoor rain shower, water garden, and spa menu for lazy lunches. A secret tunnel leads under the canal between the hotel and island to keep shy celebrities and housekeeping out of sight.
• Infinity pool. With the largest hotel infinity pool in the southern hemisphere, you can’t resist flopping down on a sun lounger and joining the bronzed bodies sipping cocktails at 10am.
• Yoga pavilion. For one-on-one yoga classes and private fairy-lit dinners.
• Nobu. A Japanese restaurant with a Peruvian twist and sushi bar.
• Reuben’s Restaurant. This is Reuben Riffel’s first urban restaurant, offering generous bistro fare.
• Neo boutique. Stocking international brands and clothing you can’t buy anywhere else in South Africa.
• Gift Shop. With Cape Cobra leather items, O&O room scents, and signed recipe books by Reuben Riffel.

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

There’s little doubt One&Only Cape Town is a special place. Here are a few things that really stood out for me during my time at the hotel:

I love…

• The tray of snacks, bottle of wine, and personal welcome note.
• The pillow menu: in case the large fluffy pillows aren’t to your liking.
• Complimentary room scents: Scented candles like lavender and lemongrass are set up before bedtime.
• Turn down service. A steward prepares your room for bedtime by closing the curtains, turning on soothing music, placing your slippers beside the bed, and a bottle of water and a Lindt choccie on the bedside table.
• Nespresso machine and Nigiro teas.
• One&Only Cape Town business card with a South Africanism dictionary on the back, with words like “howzit” and “lekker”.
• A personal message on the TV, enquiring whether you need assistance with flights, transfers, or wakeup calls.

Lalela Gallery

One&Only Cape Town has joined the Lalela Project: an organisation in Hout Bay that runs afterschool art classes for disadvantaged kids. One&Only Cape Town has a R5 surcharge that goes towards art supplies. The Lalela Gallery has a new exhibit every quarter where you can buy the learners’ art made into iPhone covers and T-shirts. In December, the kids work in the hotel (offering 40+ career choices) and join workshops to learn about CV writing, interviews, and job applications.

Luvo Ntezo: #4 Sommelier in the World

I loved the story of Luvo Ntezo, who had humble beginnings as a pool porter for another hotel. One day a family ordered a bottle of wine. He’d never opened one before and after trying repeatedly, he had to ask for help. The next day he asked the hotel winemaker to teach him about wine and, under his mentorship, he discovered a love for vino. A few years later at a wine seminar, Luvo informed the winemaker that the wine he was serving was corked. Impressed by his knowledge, the General Manager sent him to the Cape Wine Academy in Stellenbosch to become a certified hotel sommelier. In 2008, Luvo participated in the national Chaîne des Rôtisseurs competition and has won “Best Young Sommelier in SA” every year since. He went on to compete internationally and came fourth in the world. At only 28, Luvo is now Head Sommelier at One&Only Cape Town.

 “Every day I discover new things and meet new people; I’m lucky though – wine is a great unifier, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, if you can share and enjoy a bottle of wine, you’re halfway there.” – Luvo Ntezo.

It’s heart-warming stories like these that make One&Only Cape Town not just a hotel, but a home. Want to experience the warmth of the hotel for yourself? Book a stay at One&Only Cape Town today!

WIN a 2 night stay at One&Only Cape Town!

Two very lucky people will get the chance to experience the One&Only for a weekend, including a 2 night stay in a Mountain Marina Room and breakfast at Reuben’s Restaurant! The competition runs from 16 February – 20 March 2015. Got to the One&Only Competition tab on our Facebook page to enter!

Disclaimer: This stay was a media bloggers trip organised by One&Only Cape Town. I was there by invitation on behalf of TravelGround and did not pay for any of the above-mentioned activities. All words and opinions are my own.

Images supplied the by One&Only Cape Town.