Art safari

Ellerman House (Cape Town)

GETAWAYS • South Africa

The Skinny: In Cape Town’s exclusive suburb Bantry Bay, Ellerman House exudes old-school exclusivity, which is to say it’s discreet, decadent, and in no way a scene. Tucked behind an unmarked gate with thoughtful security, the hotel hangs off the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.

The Scene: The large estate mimics a home, with plush carpeting throughout, an extensive and elite private art collection on display, cozy libraries with fireplaces, and a regal deck overlooking the manicured lawn. Lacking the late-night action of a bar or destination dining experience (though the restaurant is intimate, and the food top-notch), it attracts a sophisticated, more subdued crowd. While children are technically allowed, we didn’t run into any on our stay. Most guests, like us, were couples stopping over before or after a safari.

The Rooms: There are 13 guest rooms and two villas. We stayed in one of the Ellerman House Suites, the largest of the rooms, which included a private porch with beach views, two separate seating areas, and two bathrooms (one with a large bathtub). Also included were small surprises like a yoga mat and box of in-room exercise equipment, as well as a daily resupply of coffee, gin, and tonic. The rate also includes laundry service, a necessity (and ultimate luxury) if you’re at the tail end of a trip.

The Amenities: As expected of a Relais & Chateaux property, there’s a spa and fitness center (that I didn’t use) and a pool (that it was too cold for). We did a wine tasting featuring the house’s collection of South African wines and a tour of its impressively overstuffed cellar. There’s also an onsite gallery showing rotating artists. For food, there’s a 24-hour pantry stocked with waters, sodas, fruit, and homemade treats like cupcakes and slices of cake.

We took the hotel up on their offer to help arrange a hike of Table Mountain, which we could have booked ourselves — but then we wouldn’t have had backpacks prepared and packed for our 630a departure filled with water bottles and fresh-made snacks like house-roasted nuts and chef-prepared biltong.

Why it’s FOUND: Ellerman House is classic in a way that could easily become stuffy, but it’s stood the test of time with small unexpected moments like those hiking snack surprises and elevated in-room amenities. It’s an ideal boutique hotel, personal and attentive without really trying. –Sylvie Florman

→ Ellerman House (Cape Town) • 180 Kloof Rd • Weekend summer rates from $1622.