Cape Grace, a Fairmont-managed luxury hotel on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with new dining, art, wellness and family experiences.
Opened in 1996, the 112-room hotel occupies a private quay between the waterfront precinct and its yacht marina, with Table Mountain rising beyond the harbour. It was conceived by Charles Brand and designed by architect Louis Karol, while some members of staff have remained at the property for decades.
A recent redesign by 1508 London refreshed the foyer, guestrooms, suites, restaurants, bars, pool and spa while preserving the hotel’s strong connection to the Cape. Deep coastal colours, patterned rugs and locally inspired details now sit alongside large windows framing the water and mountain.
The anniversary arrives after Cape Grace received two MICHELIN Keys in 2025 and a place in La Liste’s Top 1000 Hotels for 2026. These five developments offer the clearest sense of what guests can experience now and what is planned for 2027.
1. Contemporary African art fills Cape Grace
Cape Grace’s expanding art collection places contemporary African work throughout the reception, restaurants and shared spaces, extending beyond a single gallery. Every artist represented is from Africa, with most coming from South Africa, and several works were commissioned for specific parts of the hotel.
Under Lezanne van Heerden’s curatorship, the collection spans painting, photography, mixed media and textiles. Artists include Galia Gluckman, Sthenjwa Luthuli, Teresa Kutala Firmino and Lulama Wolf, alongside works on extended loan from Norval Foundation by Nicholas Hlobo and Zanele Muholi.
The collaboration with Norval Foundation allows the museum’s programme to extend into a working hotel. Recent additions include pieces by Dada Khanyisa as well as Hlobo and Muholi.
“It was important to me to show the diversity of art forms from the continent and to introduce truly unique works in a multitude of materials,” van Heerden said of her approach. “I wanted to create a visual layering that invites guests to look closer and to feel the work.”
Among the commissions are Gluckman’s large-scale Sunrise and Sunset, created with recycled materials. The result feels integrated with the interiors, giving guests time to encounter the work during breakfast, drinks or a quiet pause in the lounge.
2. Heirloom brings Cape winemakers to the table
At Heirloom, Cape Grace’s elegant signature restaurant, executive chef Wesli Jacobs is leading Terroir & Table, a monthly dinner series pairing South African winemakers with seasonal four-course menus.
The programme began on 25 July with Sam Lambson of Minimalist Wines, known for cool-climate, site-specific Syrah. Trizanne Barnard follows on 29 August, while VUUR chef Shaun Scrooby will join Jacobs for a Heritage Weekend collaboration on 25 and 26 September. De Grendel is also scheduled to take part in October.
Before then, London-based chef Nokx Majozi will collaborate with the Cape Grace kitchen on a Four Hands dinner on 22 August. These intimate events introduce guests to South African producers and chefs in a more focused setting.
The Savoy’s Afternoon Tea is also running until 13 September, returning for its second season with Cape ingredients. It is served overlooking the marina and Table Mountain, making it an appealing afternoon option during Cape Town’s cooler months.
Downstairs, Bascule Bar has introduced social plates intended for sharing over cocktails. The atmospheric marina-side bar also holds more than 400 whiskies, with warm timber, low lighting and design references to shebeen culture and the Prohibition era.
3. Fairmont Spa draws on the Cape’s flora
The renovated Fairmont Spa at Cape Grace offers a calm waterfront retreat shaped by fynbos, ocean air and ingredients associated with the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world’s six floral kingdoms.
Its facilities include a couples’ treatment suite with a private steam room and balcony, alongside a salt room, sauna, shared steam room and sensation shower. Treatments incorporate local botanical ingredients into the hotel-spa setting.
Available until 31 August, the Gentle Pause Ritual is a 180-minute winter experience combining a foot ritual and full-body massage with facial and hand treatments. A two-course lunch follows, allowing the visit to unfold without an immediate return to the waterfront’s busier public areas.
Guests looking beyond the hotel can combine spa time with a guided hot-and-cold ritual at Sauna Haüs. Private sunrise hikes on Lion’s Head or Table Mountain offer a more active alternative, reaching Cape Town’s best-known viewpoints before the main crowds arrive.
4. The Signature Safari Family Room makes space for children
Cape Grace’s new Signature Safari Family Room faces the marina and was developed with ideas from general manager Leon Meyer’s children. Designed around a safari sleepover theme, it accommodates up to three young guests and can connect with an adjoining room for larger families.
A loft area, safari murals, selected books and toys give children a space with its own identity. Flexible layouts allow the arrangement to be adapted for babies or teenagers.
The same focus extends to a children’s afternoon tea and age-appropriate Fairmont Spa treatments. Cape Grace’s concierge can also organise family outings, including visits to the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
5. Cape Town’s 2027 calendar brings new reasons to stay
In 2027, Cape Grace plans to begin a partnership with Klein Constantia, the historic wine estate beneath the Constantiaberg in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley. Hotel guests are expected to receive access to private vineyard drives and tastings, offering a closer look at one of the Cape’s established wine regions.
Cape Town will also host Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major on 23 May 2027. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will become the eighth race in the global series, bringing international runners to a course framed by the city and surrounding mountains.
Kirstenbosch’s summer sunset concerts and whale-watching season off Gansbaai can extend a longer itinerary. From its private quay, Cape Grace offers straightforward access to the V&A Waterfront while keeping the marina, mountain and city within view.
