The Ocean View Hideaway

Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
Book from GBP Book from £658 per night

A sleek seaside apartment for 4-6, with stunning views, mountain backdrops and private plunge pools in a fantastic location

A sleek seaside apartment for 4-6, with stunning views, mountain backdrops and private plunge pools in a fantastic location

Tumbling from the lower reaches of the Twelve Apostles to the cool blue Atlantic, upmarket Camps Bay is one of Cape Town’s highlights. The palm-fringed beach is known for dramatic sunsets - and for some of the city’s hippest bars and restaurants. If you want all this, but also crave independence and privacy, this 3-bedroom penthouse duplex apartment is the answer. A short, easy walk from all the action, it comes with some of the best views in the area.

Inside, décor is chic and minimalist - the design lets the gorgeous vistas take centre stage - and finishes are good quality. While glass and chrome prevail, light oak and sand-like quartz flooring are a nod to coastal living. It comes with an open-plan living area, fully equipped kitchen and swish marble bathrooms, with sea-view tub plus one of the best showers we’ve ever experienced! Glass doors open onto ocean-facing terraces with a rim-flow plunge pool - an unbeatable spot for lazy alfresco meals. Overall, it's a perfect beach-meets-city hideaway for a group of friends travelling together, or a family with teenage children.

Highs

  • It’s hard to look away from the pretty, ever-changing view of the ocean, Lion’s Head mountain and the rocky coastline
  • The walk to Camps Bay beach and restaurants takes under 10 minutes and is flat. There's a supermarket nearby for supplies, too
  • Being north-facing, the apartment gets plenty of light but doesn’t face the setting sun directly
  • You’re only 15 minutes from central Cape Town (and there’s an efficient bus service if you don’t want to drive), so the city’s highlights are within easy reach
  • The manageress Elize is super efficient and knowledgeable - from table reservations to Table Mountain trails

Lows

  • Expect some road noise as the street between the apartment and the sea is busy (though double-glazing helps)
  • The uncluttered, minimalist décor may feels a little impersonal - a bit like a high-end showroom
  • The glass-walled ensuites are beautiful but not very private
  • No kids under 10 are accepted

Best time to go

Peak season is over the summer, from November to April. Book as far in advance as you can if you want to stay over the Christmas and New Year period (when there's a 14-night minimum stay), or the UK school holidays in February. April/May is a particularly lovely time in Cape Town - the weather is still warm but the intense summer heat is over, the wind has dropped, queues are shorter and it’s better value. Many restaurants offer fantastic winter specials from May to September.

Our top tips

  • Two restaurants worth trying are Camps Bay’s iconic Blues, with its spectacular beach views, and The Roundhouse, which has made a name for itself for fine dining in The Glen nearby
  • Ask Elize about her secret spots to swim, and her favourite trails up Table Mountain; she often heads up in the early morning and, if you are fit and ask nicely, you might be able to join her
  • Great for...

    Beach
    City Style
    Eco
    • Penthouse Apartment
    • Apartment for 4-6
    • Self-catering (restaurants nearby)
    • Ages 10+ only
    • Open all year
    • Plunge Pool
    • Spa Treatments
    • Beach Nearby
    • Pet Friendly
    • Disabled Access
    • Car recommended
    • Parking
    • Restaurants Nearby
    • WiFi
    • Air Conditioning
    • Guest Lounge
    • Terrace
    • Garden
    • Gym
    • Daily Maid Service
    • Towels & Bedlinen
    • Laundry Service
    • Housekeeping Monday-Friday
    Room:

    Rooms

    The apartment has a sleek, modern feel, with a private ocean-view terrace and plunge pool off an open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas. Huge glass doors slide back to create large indoor/outdoor spaces, and marble, glass and chrome reflect the light. A few carefully chosen artworks and cushions create a minimalist, Euro-chic look. Expect the requisite mod cons too, including smart TV, Sonos sound system, full A/C and underfloor heating.

    Bedrooms have glass-walled ensuites in white Italian marble, which include fantastic showers; some have tubs, too. Bathrobes and big fluffy towels are provided, and storage space is abundant if you want to unpack.

    The kingsize master bedroom is large, sea-facing and almost entirely glass-fronted, showcasing the vistas perfectly; it opens onto a private balcony where you can gaze at the scenery. The second and third bedrooms (one with a double bed, the other with twin beds pushed together) are smaller and face the side access steps; one opens onto a tiny courtyard. Huge blinds are operated at the touch of a button, and the high-tech lighting, surround sound and air-conditioning are controlled from panels in every room. There's also an additional toilet off the living area.

    Features include:

    • Bathrobes
    • Fan
    • Hairdryer
    • Safe box
    • Tumble dryer
    • Washing machine
    • WiFi

    Eating

    The apartment is entirely self-catering. The kitchen is well equipped, with full oven and hob, large fridge/freezer, wine cooler, Nespresso machine, kettle and toaster, as well as cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery and glassware. There's a Miele dishwasher and Bosch washing machine, too. You can eat either at the indoor dining table and chairs, or at a smaller table and seating out on the terraces.

    Only supplies for tea and coffee are provided, so you’ll need to stock up on groceries. Local supermarket Pick’n’Pay is within walking distance, or alternatively manager Elize will take your order and arrange a delivery for you for a small fee.

    But chances are you’ll want to try many of the city’s fabulous restaurants. Elize provides guests with a list of recommended options and their contact details, and you’ll be spoilt for choice - Cape Town is well known for being a foodie capital, and eating out is very affordable for overseas visitors. Turn left as you exit and, after a short stroll towards Bakoven, you’ll come across a small bistro where we had a delicious and healthy breakfast. Or turn right and walk along Victoria Road to Camps Bay’s centre: the cosmopolitan ‘strip’ is no more than 10 minutes away. Here, you can gaze at the beautiful palm-fringed beach and the equally beautiful people as you lunch or dine at one of the many bars and restaurants along the seafront. This is the place to be in summer, so reserve tables in advance if you visit between November and March.

    Features include:

    • Coffee maker
    • Dishwasher
    • Fridge
    • Full kitchen
    • Hob or stove
    • Microwave
    • Oven
    • Restaurants nearby
    • Shopping service
    • Toaster
    Eating:
    Activity:

    Activities

    • Soak up some sun on your terrace, then cool off in your plunge pool
    • Relax on stunning Camps Bay beach, where chairs are available to hire. But beware: the water is very cold, so swimming is only for the brave!
    • Enjoy a less crowded beach experience at Beta Beach in Bakoven (a 3-minute walk)
    • Hop on the clean and efficient MyCitiBus at the nearby stop and head into the city centre or to the Sunday craft market at Hout Bay
    • Take a trip up Table Mountain - the cable car is a short drive away and you can walk back down - or climb the spectacular peak of Lion’s Head to watch the sunset
    • Shop up a storm at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Quarter or trendy Kloof Street
    • Visit the Oranjezicht City Farm Market at Granger Bay on a Saturday morning to stock up on organic produce
    • Go hipster-spotting and art-hunting in the up-and-coming Woodstock Design District
    • Visit Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned for decades
    • Hop in the car and explore the beautiful Cape Peninsula, including the magnificent Chapman's Peak Drive, the penguins at Boulders Beach and the wave-lashed Cape Point
    • Hire a driver and head out to Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Constantia for a day of wine tasting and gourmet dining

    Activities on site or nearby include:

    • Boat trips
    • Historical sites
    • Museums / galleries
    • Nightlife
    • Plantlife / flora
    • Shopping / markets
    • Surfing
    • Traditional cultures
    • Wine tasting

    Kids

    No children under 10 are allowed, but if you have older children, this is a good option, with easy beach access, a plunge pool and one twin-bedded room plus 2 doubles.

    Best for:

    Teens (over 12)

    Kid Friendly:

    Location

    The Ocean View Hideaway is located on the coast in Camps Bay, an upmarket suburb on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, with the spectacular Twelve Apostles mountain range as its backdrop. It’s a 15-minute drive from the city centre.

    By Air:
    Cape Town International (30km) is a 30-minute drive away.

    From the Airport
    Transfers can be arranged, but most guests hire a car (see below).

    By Car:
    Hiring a rental car is recommended. You can get by without one by using taxis and the very efficient MyCitiBus service, but to explore properly you’ll want your own wheels. The roads are good and well signposted - and many of the drives around the Cape Peninsula are spectacular. There’s secure underground parking at the building. .

    Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.

    Airports:

    • Cape Town International 30.0 km CPT

    Other:

    • Beach 0.3 km
    • Shops 0.3 km
    • Restaurant 0.3 km

    Rates for The Ocean View Hideaway

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