When I travel far away from home I look for a hotel which is going to instantly make me feel at ease, and Derwent House did just that. The boutique hotel is housed in a quaint Victorian era residence in the heart of the vibrant Tamboerskloof neighbourhood. The residential neighbourhood is at the foot of Table Mountain and nearby to a great selection of bars, shops, restaurants on Kloof Street and Bree Street.
This small hotel is instantly welcoming when you walk through the door; colourful artwork, smiling staff and a relaxed ambience. Derwent House combines historic charm and contemporary Afro-chic style to create a hotel which truly celebrates African design and hospitality.
The generous public areas (with a self-serve honesty bar, lounge with wood-burning stove in the winter and a solar-heated pool for summer months) are so lovely that they encourage guests to use the entire hotel, rather than stay in the bedrooms which are quite small.
The bedrooms are decorated in a colourful and playful style. Each room has an extra-length Queen, King or twin beds, flat screen television and DVD player, air conditioning / heating and coffee & tea making facilities. The Derwent also provide each room with a mobile “Handy” telephone with city guide and information, for extra convenience whilst out and about. In the bathroom I loved the luxurious Charlotte Rhys amenities, a local South African beauty brand.
We stayed in a poolside Fabulous Room. Located in the pool wing, it was cosy with an ensuite bathroom with rain shower. There was little room to move around the room, but the abundance of natural daylight gave the illusion of space. These rooms start from £150 per night.
Breakfast at Derwent House includes a delectable cold buffet, including seasonal fruit, yoghurt, cereals, cheese & fresh cold cuts and a wide selection of pastries. For something more hearty guests can also choose made-to-order hot options from Full English to Franschhoek trout on eggs, nutella pancakes to Eggs Benedict.
Every day we looked forward to returning home to Derwent House. The staff were wonderfully friendly and the house truly felt like a home away from home.
More information and book a stay at Derwent House here.