One&Only Cape Town
The One&Only Cape Town has a magnificent setting in Cape Town’s iconic Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The hotel is split between the crescent-shaped Marina Rise on the wharf’s edge and two islands in the marina pool at its front. Children of all ages are welcome.
Accommodation & Facilities
With 91 rooms in the Marina Rise and 40 between the two islands, the One&Only Cape Town is spacious and beautifully laid out, with plentiful attractive landscaping. Offering the largest rooms and suites in the city in a variety of sizes and grades, the rooms are all very smartly designed and furnished in a contemporary African style. The family suites feature a one-bedroomed suite with an interconnecting double queen room and accommodate up to two adults and two children (up to 17 years) with the option to add one rollaway bed or one cot per room at no extra cost. All of them feature en-suite bathrooms with a shower and a bath, as well as WiFi, flat screen TV, iPod dock and music player, espresso machine, and views of Table Mountain or the marina, harbour and waterfront. The resort boasts the largest heated infinity-edge pool in the southern hemisphere, ideal for sunbathing or pool-side dining. The pool has a shallow end and steps for children.
Eating & Sleeping
The hotel’s family friendly dining venues are Reuben’s and Isola. Complimentary breakfast is served daily in Reuben’s, with a dedicated KidsOnly waffle station for younger guests. High chairs, bottle warmers and sterilisers are all available as is use of a microwave. A baby cot with child-size bedding, bathrobes and kids turndown are all available upon request. Babysitting is available and bookable 24 hours in advance. The standard rate is R 260.00 per hour and a minimum of three hours is required per booking.
Activities
As a base for exploring the sights and scenes of Cape Town, the One&Only Cape Town is perfectly located. There is plenty to do here, with Table Mountain to climb or scale by cable car, Kirstenbosch Gardens, the Company Gardens, historic buildings, the Cape peninsula, and the beautiful Constantia district of the city as well, all of which are within easy reach.
Specifically for children …
The One&Only Cape Town’s KidsOnly club is open daily from 10am to 7pm and offers complimentary, fully supervised programmes for 4–11 year olds. Children under the age of four years are also welcome to join the daily supervised activities programme, provided they are supervised by an adult or a babysitter. Fun activities such as, cupcakes, pizza or sushi classes – with real chefs, or mocktail making in the bar are all offered. The KidsOnly club consists of an arts and crafts area, a movie and video games lounge, a quiet reading corner, a computer station with the latest technology and an exclusive KidsOnly garden. Dedicated staff also provide personal service and organize activities for teenagers including excursions, fitness programs and spa treatments.
Recommended family excursions include:
• Strawberry picking – Spend a day at one of the several winelands-based farms that open up their berry fields to the public during season from October to December.
• Hop on Hop off Bus – a special child-friendly commentary is available and all children receive a free activity pack with a colouring-in book and crayons which help keep them occupied in between sights.
• Scratch Patch & Cave Golf – The V&A Waterfront offers special programmes for children during the school holidays.
• Two Oceans Aquarium – one of the best places in Cape Town for indoor fun (great for rainy days). Be sure to schedule your trip to the feeding times of the penguins, sharks and other fish.
• Cape Town Science Centre – keep young minds engaged with cool experiments and interactive exhibitions.
• Art Jamming – whether it’s painting, sponging or spraying, unleash your own individual creativity – the most fun you can have with a paintbrush.
• World of Birds – the largest park in Africa and one of the few large bird parks in the World with over 3000 birds housed in aviaries spaced over four hectares of tropical garden setting in the Hout Bay Valley.