The Credentials
Towering over the V&A Waterfront, the Silo Hotel is a celebration of art, outstanding architecture, style and design. Its opulent glass windows – the work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick – shine like diamonds over the Mother City, and from the inside, offer spectacular views of the sea and iconic Table Mountain. But, perhaps the most interesting thing about this 5-star hotel, is that it’s built inside the historic grain silo complex. The Silo occupies the top six floors, formerly the grain elevator portion of the building, and below is the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art. The decor and impressive art throughout the hotel speaks to the relationship between the two – a priority for magpie collector Liz Biden.
The Silo Hotel makes every guest feel special. From the welcome glass of champagne to the service and little touches in the rooms. Its location means guests are in the perfect area for exploring, with the Robben Island ferry just a few minutes away, shopping mall, and restaurants. And if all you want to do is relax, the rooftop pool is a rather wonderful spot.
Sleep
The Silo Hotel has just 28 rooms, one of which is a spectacular penthouse suite. Each room has at least one of the large pillowed windows – apparently inspired by grain kernels and intended by Heatherwick to glow like lanterns above the harbour. Like the rest of the hotel, the rooms are beautifully decorated, with Egyptian chandeliers, bold coloured furniture, and Persian carpets. The beds are huge too, and I was lucky enough to have the whole thing to myself. It was soft-as-a-cloud, with crisp white sheets and fluffy pillows. And the touch-pad blinds meant I could block out the rest of Cape Town with a single press.
Bathrooms have possibly the best views, with a bathtub placed directly in front of one of the jewel-like windows – no one can see up that high but there is a blind for privacy. Toiletries are from British brand, Penhaligon’s, and leave your skin feeling soft and smelling wonderful after a long soak in the tub.
Each room has a mini-fridge, stocked up daily. Wine, beer, water and soft drinks are included in the nightly room price, including a welcome bottle of champagne and a decanter of locally made sherry. Bedrooms are turned down every evening, and a delicious chocolate chip biscuit and bottle of water is left by the side of the bed.
Dine
There are three restaurants in the Silo. The Granary Cafe, which is open for dinner daily, showcases seasonal, fresh ingredients and dishes like poached crayfish, Cape Malay cauliflower, crab ravioli, linefish, and Springbok, amongst others. On the same floor (the 6th) is the Willaston Bar, which is open from 11am to 11pm. Plush velvet turquoise sofas hug tables, which look over the waterfront, and stalls line the bar – a great spot for cocktails. Guests can dine from the ‘Eat on 6’ menu, which is served both here and at the Granary Cafe. The menu isn’t huge but the food is executed well. On the night I dined in the Willaston Bar, I enjoyed the fish of the day, alongside some fresh sauteed green vegetables. Other dishes include steak tartare, prawn pasta, salad, and seafood curry.
Breakfast is also served on level 6, in the Granary Cafe – this was probably my favourite meal at the Silo. It’s a real occasion, with everything you could want to start your day. First, a Harvest Table is brought out, featuring delights like fresh fruit, yoghurt, homemade nutty granola, cheese, and smoked salmon. A tray of fresh pastries then follows – I couldn’t resist the mini pastel de nata. There’s also a hot breakfast menu. Diners can choose from omelette, eggs benedict, poached eggs on toast, and a full house breakfast with fresh, high-quality meats. Each morning I had the same: poached eggs on sourdough, with avocado. The eggs were always perfectly cooked.
On the top floor of the Silo is the rooftop bar, which offers 360-degree views of Cape Town. It’s open both day and evening. During the day you’ll likely get away without booking but come evening you’ll be fighting for a table, as guests and Capetonians flock to get the best seat on the waterfront for sunset. The food is delicious too, with loaded flatbreads, poke bowls, fresh salads, and more.
Out and About
Being in Cape Town, you’ll never be short of things to do. The ‘Hop On, Hop Off’ bus goes all around the city and beyond, stopping off at places like Hout Bay, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and the Table Mountain cable cart. There are also day tours to Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, which I highly recommend doing. If you’re into the outdoors, you’ll love Cape Town, with hundreds of hikes on your doorstep. Lion’s Head, Table Mountain, and the Pipe Track are the most popular. And let’s not forget the vineyards. 20 minutes from the Silo is Constantia, where there are three vineyards. But if you’re really into your wine, head to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and definitely take a ride on the wine tram.
The V&A Waterfront itself is lovely to walk around, and always buzzing with people. It’s full of restaurants and bars, as well as a food and craft market, with lots of locally made clothes and art.
Of course, under the hotel is MOCAA. The artists featured are always changing and I highly recommend you take a tour while staying at the Silo. The hotel also has a gym and spa area.
The Crowd
The hotel was mostly full of couples, aged roughly 25 – 65. I heard accents from all over the world, including Ireland, Germany, and America. The hotel is open to the public too, although they only have access to the bars and restaurants.
The Worst Thing
I don’t have a bad word to say about the Silo. I have never felt so spoiled at a hotel before. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and happy, which I was – very.
The Best Thing
It’s not often you go to a hotel and want to spend more time in the room than outside exploring. But the rooms at the Silo are just so wonderful. I enjoyed people watching from my balcony, and instead of going out for a drink after dinner, I would soak into my plush velvet sofa and pour myself a glass of wine – you pay for a fully stocked fridge, so you may as well make the most of it!
The Details
Rooms start at R14,000 / £678, including breakfast and a full mini-bar. I can’t compare my experience at the Silo to anywhere else I’ve stayed. I felt relaxed, welcomed, and safe – which if you’ve been to South Africa, you’ll know is incredibly important.
Silo Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 8801, South Africa.
00 27 21 670 0500
www.theroyalportfolio.com
