Cape Town - The “Grand” in the Grand Daddy Hotel must be due to the hotel decor. From the creative and stylish hattery at the reception (the different kinds of hats hanging next to the reception desk) to the bling of their Daddy Cool bar - the owners have really adorned this boutique hotel well.
Priding itself as a luxurious Cape Town boutique hotel, the Daddy has received a number of numerous awards over the years. And with a reputation that preceded it, I expected the wow factor to take centre stage from the moment we walked into the lobby.
But before I spout forth on the hotel’s bragging rights, I need to get something off my chest first.
When checking in, we were given instructions on how to get to our room as opposed to being escorted by one of their staff. Fine, finding the room was not tricky - the hotel has only three floors - but being shown to our room and offering to take our luggage (even if they were half-empty backpacks) would have been greatly appreciated.
Upon reaching the suite, we faced what seemed to be an impossible task at the time - unlocking the door. We couldn't slip in the card properly and so ended up loitering in the empty passage for a bit until I finally “broke the code” and got us in (prime reason they should accompany guests instead of giving directions).
Our suite was small, yet cozy - a generous balance between stylish and comfortable. Local interior designer Tracy Lynch added her trademark touch of urban chic mixed with some local flavour.
Another jewel in the Grand Daddy crown is the Airstream Rooftop Trailer Park. think kitsch with a touch of playfulness.
Each trailer was specially commissioned by the owners to have its own decor theme, and this is where a few of the names in the interior decor world came into play. Each designer was given a blank canvas to work with and let their imaginations run wild.
All together there are seven trailers, each with its own sense of identity. For example, the Goldilocks And 3 Three Bears Trailer, the brainchild of Mark and Joe Stead has been a hit with guests. If ever you deicide to see the Mother City from a different view, this is it. The Grand Daddy rooftop trailer park just about takes glamping to a whole different level.
The Sky Bar is the IT place to be for the who’s who in the Cape Town crowd. So up we went to see what the fuss was about. Suffice to say, the bar closes at 9pm - disappointing if you want to take in the sights and sounds of the city from the comfort of a lazy chair on a rooftop. And, by the time we packed into the bar area, it was already full. We ended up having our cocktails in the room instead.
On a positive note, the Daddy Cool Bar is a great place to hang out; the space is big enough to accommodate a group of people, and the barman knows his job pretty well.
When it comes to food, L’Apero is just the eatery to impress the palette. A fusion of Mediterranean flavours and hearty dishes, there is a wide variety on the menu that will get your mouth watering. And, they have free wi-fi - always a big plus in my book.
All in all, the Grand Daddy is really ideal for people looking to explore the night life in the Mother City. It’s laid back and provides the great environment to have fun, drinks and good conversations with friends.
But a little extra care for their guests, as opposed to the uber chic decor, would go a long way.
If You Go...
The Grand Daddy is situated on Long Street in Cape Town
Room rates range from R1800 to R2350 per night with breakfast included
The Grand Daddy airstream trailers are approx R1800 per night
Visit www.granddaddy.co.za for more info or specials or phone: +27 21 424 7247
* Zama Shange was a guest of The Grand Daddy Hotel - IOL