This enchanting property in the heart of Cape Town, where the slopes of Lion’s Head meet the Atlantic Ocean, is a luxurious retreat that feels like home. Explore the beauty, bounty and diversity of the vibrant city, which showcases the very best of South Africa through the heartfelt hospitality of the Ellerman House family.
Hotel
Each of the 13 individually styled rooms exudes comfort and sophistication, featuring exquisite decor, eye-catching South African art and all the little touches that make for a seamless stay.
Classic House Room
This classically-styled room is elegantly decorated in soothing shades of slate, silver and charcoal. Sunlight spills in through generously-proportioned windows during the day, while luxurious drapes make for a deep, uninterrupted sleep at night. It is a beautifully-appointed space with a cosy atmosphere and every amenity the heart desires, offering a peaceful respite in the majestic clifftop enclave of Bantry Bay. Please not this room has no ocean view and no terrace.
Superior House Room
Classic elegance blends seamlessly with serene comfort to create an atmosphere of warm intimacy in this inviting, sun-drenched house room. On crossing the threshold, your eye is immediately drawn to the majestic bay window, and through it, the expansive Atlantic Ocean view for which Ellerman House is famous. Touches of warm, tactile woods and a palette of wheat, caramel and tawny bronze give this luxurious room a sense of cosy comfort and peaceful solitude. This room has no terrace.
Deluxe Spa Room
Tucked away in the tranquil oasis of the world-class Spa, two spacious Deluxe Spa Rooms are a peaceful hideaway surrounded by lush tropical plants. The adjacent rooms share their own gorgeous swimming pool and a private sun deck, making them ideal for couples travelling together. Decor is elegant and understated; a reflection of the Spa’s restful ambience.
Deluxe House Room
These large, airy rooms make the most of the hotel’s spectacular position above Bantry Bay with French doors opening out onto your own private oceanfront terrace. Guests will struggle to tear themselves away from the views of the indigenous terraced gardens and the sunlight shimmering on the surface of the sea as waves crash into the cove below. Each of the seven Deluxe House Rooms is individually decorated to enfold guests in a cocoon of luxurious comfort.
Ellerman House Suites
The Ellerman House Suites are the epitome of luxury and comfort, offering the ultimate feeling of home. Each spectacular suite features a big, beautiful en-suite bedroom, lounge, dining room and expansive private terrace with the quintessential Atlantic Ocean view. At over 1100 square feet, these suites are a haven of quiet exclusivity, and feature prized examples of South African art from the owner’s private collection.
Villas
Villa One
Offering guests complete exclusivity and highly-personalised service, Villa One at Ellerman House is the ultimate private villa experience in Cape Town. Accommodating up to 10 people, including children of all ages, in five en-suite bedrooms, this deluxe contemporary home features superb entertainment and relaxation areas and a stunning private infinity pool with endless views over the Atlantic Ocean. Meals are prepared in the villa’s fully-equipped kitchen by your private chef and served in the open-plan dining room or al fresco on the suspended pool deck. Enjoy downtime in the main lounge, study or reading room, splashing around in the pool or finding mind-body balance in the spa.
Villa Two
Gravity-defying contemporary architecture, magnificent Atlantic Ocean views and highly personalised service define the experience at Villa Two at Ellerman House. This breathtaking property is ideally suited to small families or a group of close friends looking to enjoy the very best of the Mother City. With three spacious en-suite bedrooms accommodating six guests and the added luxury of a sparkling infinity pool, a tantalising terrace, a beautiful open-plan living, dining and entertainment area and a cosy cinema room, Villa Two is the ideal private retreat. Your very own chef will prepare meals in the gorgeous social kitchen, while the rest of the hospitality team dedicated to your group will help to bring your dreams of the ultimate Bantry Bay villa vacation to life.
Contemporary South African Cuisine
The culinary experience at Ellerman House is an expression of the team’s deep love for South Africa. The country’s colourful history and rich cultural heritage provide inspiration for Head Chef Kieran Whyte and his team, who bring local flavours to life with contemporary flair.
Every plate is a showcase of passion, bursting with colour and creativity and assembled with extraordinary attention to detail. The use of fresh seasonal produce grown in and around the city is complemented by indigenous ingredients, a splash of imagination and a sprinkle of global influence, which together create the most exceptional fine dining experience in Cape Town.
Breakfast
Begin the day with a freshly brewed coffee, one of the world’s finest teas or a refreshing cold-pressed juice while you peruse the à la carte breakfast menu. Served on the sunny terrace with its sweeping views of the ocean, inside the elegant dining area on cooler days or even in your room, the first meal of the day can be as light or indulgent as you wish.
Whether you are in the mood for fresh seasonal fruit and homemade granola, a warm, flaky croissant or a flawless Eggs Benedict, the kitchen team are more than up to the task. Breakfast in Cape Town doesn’t get better than this.
Guest Pantry
Head Chef Kieran Whyte and his team delight in putting together all manner of tasty treats and savoury snacks for the 24-hour Guest Pantry. Prepared fresh daily, the shelves are stocked with homemade cakes, cookies and other confections, as well as jars of favourite South African candies. The more restrained among you can enjoy lighter options such as date balls, fresh seasonal fruit and a selection of sugar- and gluten-free baked goods.
In addition to the array of naughty nibbles, guests can also help themselves to savoury quiches, wraps and tarts – perfect for a quick bite or to grab on your way out for the day. A fully-equipped tea and coffee station completes the offering.
Restaurant
Cape Town’s Ultimate Fine Dining Establishment. The restaurant at Ellerman House is a proud part of the city’s thriving culinary landscape, offering guests a refined dining experience in a setting that feels like home. Exquisitely balanced and plated with extraordinary care and skill, each dish reflects the best of seasonal produce and mouthwatering local flavours.
Pitch-perfect wine pairings are carefully selected to complement every menu, while guests sit surrounded by remarkable pieces of South African art. At Ellerman House, these three elements – art, wine and food – combine to tell the story of the country and the love for all it has to offer. Please note advance booking is essential.
Wine
As much an expression of South African culture as its art, wine forms a fundamental part of who we are at Ellerman House. Each of the 9,000 bottles in the collection is carefully stored and monitored until it reaches optimal maturity, only then being released onto the wine list. Many of these fine wines are also available by the glass without compromising on quality, thanks to the Le Verre de Vin preservation system. The depth and diversity of the wine list allows guests to try verticals of varying vintages as well as multiple labels sharing the same varietal, demonstrating the influence of technique and terroir.
Integrating outstanding contemporary architecture with breathtaking sculptural elements and cutting-edge design, the Ellerman House Wine Gallery is not only a showcase for this extensive, award-winning wine collection but offers guests a unique, interactive journey into the world of wine. It brings to life South Africa’s 350-year old heritage of winemaking, providing an environment for tasting and learning about local wines as intriguing and inspiring as the wine itself. Sophisticated storage is provided in state-of-the-art wine racks and separate, temperature-controlled maturation cellars for white and red wines. The gallery incorporates an interactive multi-media wine library and brandy tasting lounge. There is also a Champagne cellar, stocked exclusively with rare and special vintages of Dom Pérignon.
Daily complimentary wine tastings accompany the start of sunset every day at Ellerman House, allowing guests to sample a variety of interesting and unique bottles from the outstanding selection of South African wines.
Experiences
Spa Experience
Body treatments designed for relaxation. A small, highly experienced team of therapists offers a carefully considered menu of skin care therapy and body treatments designed for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-improvement. Everything is designed to soothe the senses while the body and mind are coaxed into balance. With four luxurious treatment rooms, including a double room designed for couples, the spa at Ellerman House specialises in muscle-relieving massage and well-ageing beauty rituals that draw on the wisdom and restorative healing techniques of ancient cultures from around the world. The spa also features a serene relaxation area complete with a sauna, steam room and sensation shower. Specialised massage techniques on offer include traditional Swedish, Aromastone, Bellabaci, Aromatherapy, Lymph Drainage, and deep-tissue massage. The spa stocks a choice of excellent skin care ranges for facials, pedicures, manicures, body wraps and scrubs. The spa is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 – 19:00 and Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:00 – 19:00.
Yoga
Connect with your breath and set the tone for your day with a complimentary morning yoga session available on request, subject to availability. Based on the principles of Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, this gentle restorative practice focuses on breathing, movement and meditation and is suitable for beginners. For advanced yoga or pilates, specialist teachers from Cape Town’s extremely active wellness community can be booked on request and at an additional charge.
The Art Collection
Exhibited throughout the property as well as in a dedicated gallery of contemporary works, the Ellerman House art collection is as unique as it is significant. The pieces span more than two centuries, taking visitors on a journey through South Africa’s complex political and cultural history. From landscape painter, Thomas Bowler, bringing 1800s Cape Town to life through his watercolours, to more recent pieces from artists like William Kentridge and his striking social commentary work; it is a vast and diverse collection.
In-house art guides are available to take guests on a private tour of the collection, which hangs throughout the house and in the Gallery, as well as in the garden where striking pieces of South African sculpture can be found. Private tours of Cape Town’s best art galleries and museums can also be arranged, offering guests behind-the-scenes access, curator- and artist-led tours and other insider exclusives available only to those in the Ellerman House family.
Gardens
This charming and much-loved city sits at the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is recognised for its remarkable diversity of plant life, including thousands of endemic species you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The lush gardens at Ellerman House are a celebration of this natural heritage; an indigenous oasis inspired by Cape Town’s world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Working on the advice of its botanists, the one-and-a-half acre site has become a showpiece of iconic species from all over the country. Various plants, synonymous with other regions of South Africa, like statuesque aloes from the Eastern Cape and succulents from the Karoo, complement the impressive architectural features of Ellerman House and blend seamlessly into the other foliage.
Map and travel information
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Visit
Monday – Friday: 9am – 5:30pm
Saturday: 10am – 4:00pm
1 Market Place Mews, Gardiner Place,
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2AH