The Tamboerskloof Hideaway

Rooms

The spacious main bedroom – our favourite – opens onto a veranda and has a kingsize bed, oak flooring and plenty of light to make this space feel bright and cheerful. The décor is modern, done in an African safari theme with wallpaper and pillow slips featuring the savannah, a leopard motif (complete with leopard-print throw) and foliage-print curtains. The aircon was most welcome on hot summer nights. The bedroom has a modern, ensuite bathroom with a large walk-in shower and heated towel rails.

The second bedroom, with views onto Kelvin Street, also has a king bed, which can be set up as a twin, and is done in a black, white and yellow zebra theme with quirky geometric wallpaper. We loved that you can glimpse Table Mountain from your pillow. If there are more than four of you, there is a downstairs, spill-over study we liked the underwater theme with coral and fish motifs) with a comfortable double sofa bed. These two share a good-sized ensuite bathroom with twin basins.

The open-plan living room, with bold contemporary art, geometric turquoise details and matching L-shaped sofa (we enjoyed the African themed animal sculptures, baskets and prints) sits beside the orange and gunmetal kitchen and dedicated dining space. The back patio is perfect for enjoying breakfast or wine in the evenings, or gazing at Signal Hill and the cute nursery garden below while tending your barbecue.

Other useful points to note: there's a laundry room in the basement, and, in the event of load shedding the cottage is fully backed-up for power. Kelvin Street has frequent security patrols and the cottage has an alarm and a security gate.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Safe box
• Satellite TV
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The cottage is self-catering and has a full modern kitchen strikingly done in grey and orange with top-notch appliances, including a large fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher and Nespresso machine (pods are provided). It has bar stools and a counter which we liked as friends could be part of the cooking process. There’s a comfortable living-dining area for your meals, plus a barbecue on the terrace for long, lazy evenings of ‘braaiing’.

Some basics (seasoning, oil, vinegar, cleaning products) will be waiting for you, along with a bottle of wine for booking through i-escape; you can buy groceries on the corner at the local superette or head to the Gardens shopping centre (2km) for a wider choice.

Eating out in the city is great value for most overseas visitors, and the food quality is excellent. The in-cottage guide book (in English and French) details local information and restaurants. Dinkel is a cute German bakery just around the corner (1 minute walk) that has great coffees, breads and to-die-for pastries. Many of Cape Town’s most popular restaurants are on nearby Kloof and Long Streets. We loved Café Paradiso for its garden setting, friendly ambience and Mediterranean-style menu.The V&A Waterfront (4km) has a shopping mall and plenty of restaurants and bars too. During peak season (December-March), you’ll need to make reservations in advance.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Hike or take the cable car up Table Mountain, best done in the early morning or late afternoon to catch the golden light from on high
  
• Go swimming at one of Cape Town’s famous beaches; we love trendy Camps Bay and the adjacent Clifton (we adored tucked-away Bakoven Beta Beach)
  
• Take a boat ride to Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were incarcerated during the apartheid era
  
• Explore the colourful Bo Kaap district (you can walk there from The Tamboerskloof Hideaway) and discover its Malay culture, cuisine and history
  
• On Saturdays and Sundays, don’t miss the Oranjezicht City Farm market in Granger Bay – an organic, foodie, hipster paradise
  
• Head out to the Winelands for a day of tasting, architectural gems, beautiful scenery and delicious food (Boschendal farm is our favourite)
  
• Order a picnic lunch from Liquorice & Lime deli (just around the corner) and head for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming

Kids

Families are welcome at The Tamboerskloof Hideaway, which is close to the major sights, but note that there's no swimming pool or garden. A baby cot is available on request.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The second bedroom can be configured as a twin, there's also a queen-sized sofa bed in the study.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 25 minutes
• Hospital: 2 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Tamboerskloof Hideaway’s location is one of its big pluses. It’s in a fashionable city suburb, a stone’s throw from trendy Kloof Street and near Long Street, Cape Town’s nightlife hub. Taxis to the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and beaches take less than 15 minutes.

By Air:
There are regular flights into Cape Town International Airport (21 km away) from many European cities.

By Car:
It takes less than half an hour to reach Tamboerkloof from the airport in a taxi. You can also hire a car from the airport for more Cape peninsula exploring.

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