The One&Only hotel group is the pinnacle of luxury. This was the intention of its creator, Sol Kerzner, when the group was originally conceptualised and, over the years, they have extended their reach around the world with properties in some of the world’s most magical destinations.

So, what exactly constitutes as luxury when you think of a hotel? Is it the beautiful finishings and facilities? The location, amenities and service? Well, it’s all of those things but also so much more. It’s the luxury of space and of privacy, of having every need anticipated. It’s also the luxury of time and the ability to completely switch off and disengage. That is true luxury and that is exactly what you’ll find at One&Only Cape Town resort.

Arrival at One&Only Cape Town is an orchestrated affair and it needs to be with plenty of guests checking in daily. You pull up under the portico where someone immediately greets you and assists with luggage, whisking your car off into the underground garage. Check in is seamless and every effort is made to keep it efficient and speedy.

Our room was very spacious and stylishly decorated with every amenity you could wish for. Small but thoughtful details like interior cupboard lighting that activates upon opening and the day’s expected weather and a personal welcome message on the TV, are nods to the One&Only experience. Our room had an amazing balcony that overlooked the island that is home to the hotel’s stunning pool area and villas and looked directly onto Table Mountain.

Once settled in, we headed off to Vista Bar and Lounge area for afternoon tea, where the kitchen team had laid on a spread of delicious sweet and savoury snacks. Quiches, mini pies, cheesecake, macarons and more were all on offer, accompanied by a selection of fragrant herbal teas. Live music is played in the lounge daily from 14h30-17h30 from different local artists and the duo playing were immensely talented. It was the perfect way to start our stay – nothing says relaxation and indulgence to me like sitting back and relaxing with tea and cake.

At Vista Bar we also met Phetogo Sefanyetso, bar manager and cocktail conjurer extraordinaire. Phetogo introduced us to several of the newly created cocktails soon to be appearing on the Vista Bar menu. A favourite was definitely the The Clifton – grapefruit oil is squeezed fresh from the fruit rind and adds a citrusy note to the MCC base. It is served in the most beautiful rose gold pineapple cup that feels decidedly tropical. After several delicious cocktails and an impromptu mixology lesson, we retired to our room to relax before dinner.

One&Only Cape Town has three main restaurants – Isola, located on the island, serves breakfast and light meals to those enjoying the pool area. Nobu offers a Nikkei-inspired menu and Reuben’s offers more locally inspired flavours. For dinner, we enjoyed a 5-course menu paired with wine. Sommelier, Luvo Ntezo, took us through a selection of delicious local wine with his own entertaining anecdotes about each one.

Standouts on the menu were the octopus and springbok courses. The Octopus Carpaccio not only looks striking on the plate but also tasted incredible; served with crispy garlic squid and a lemon gel, it was packed with flavour and was one of those dishes that you just don’t want to end. The Peppered Springbok Steak was beautifully tender and was complemented by the richness of pancetta and sweetness from rooibos poached pear. Our dinner was intimate and we were very well taken care of by the team.

After a wonderful night’s sleep and waking up to another beautiful Mother City morning, we made our way down to Reuben’s for breakfast. It is also a lavish affair with a buffet packed with choices from freshly baked pastries to a full complement of cold and hot breakfast options. It was also good to see a range of gluten-free options including chia seed cups, yoghurts and granolas. There is also a really extensive and brand new à la carte breakfast menu to choose from and great coffee to get your day started.

Post breakfast we headed to One&Only Cape Town’s onsite spa and treatment facility. The spa is an extension of the luxury of the hotel and offers a full range of treatments, as well as private pools, steam and sauna rooms, an ice fountain and massage pools. We were booked in for a couples massage and our therapists Melinda Golden and Cece Makanda  took the utmost care of us.

We were cocooned warmly in the double treatment room where both therapists ensured that we relaxed and comfortable. Every element of the treatment was really superlative from the warmth of the heated beds, to the choice of oil and the actual massage itself. After the treatment, we were guided to a relaxation room where snacks and drinks are offered. What we really loved here is  that the food and drinks are divided into Detox and Indulge, so, if you’re trying to be healthy you can choose from herbal tea, fruit skewers and mini salads, whereas if you are enjoying some much needed time off and indulgence, you can sip on bubbly and enjoy a chocolate truffle or two.

There are plenty of incredible luxury hotels to stay at and it can be hard to differentiate experiences, however, one area that One&Only Cape Town really excels at is service. At every turn the team were a step ahead of us; we were greeted, often by name, wherever we went and no request was too difficult. The service is extremely personal and despite the fact that you are staying in a big hotel, you never once feel as though you’re just another guest. Going above and beyond the call of duty is a mantra that may sound clichéd for the service industry but there is no doubt that it is what sets apart the really good from the truly great.

Leaving the warm embrace of the One&Only Cape Town can be jarring but all good things must come to an end. All the more reason to book in for your next break right away though. The team almost seem to be able to anticipate what you’ll need before you’ve even thought of it and they work together, often unseen, to ensure that guests have an incredible stay without having to think too much about it. And after all, isn’t a luxury break away meant to be exactly that?

SA-residents book in for One&Only Cape Town’s locals only offer ‘The One Escape’. Discounted room rate plus complimentary breakfast per night sharing. T&Cs apply. 

Enjoy a winter warmer menu in Reuben’s. A delectable three-course winter menu is available in Reuben’s from 4 June at a cost of R295 per person. It’s the perfect winter date night idea! Email to make a booking.

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