WMBW Travels – The Silo Hotel

The Silo Hotel must be the most talked about and most Instagrammed hotel of 2017 . A quick scroll down will show you exactly why this old grain silo is getting so much well-deserved attention, racking up 9 awards since its opening less than a year ago.

In one short (well “mediumish”) word, it’s spectacular!

We were lucky enough to experience lunch at the Granary Cafe shortly after its launch in 2017, but you can read all about that here. This time we were invited to spend a couple of nights to experience everything The Silo has to offer.  As far as staycations go, we were about to knock it out of the park!

With only 28 rooms (one of which is a penthouse) I would almost consider The Silo a boutique hotel. There is nothing mass or generic about this place. Each room is individually decorated with the Liz Biden touch, giving them all an eclectic charm in an industrial setting. As you can well imagine, the hotel’s location and it’s incredible pillowed windows, guarantee you the absolute best views of Cape Town from anywhere in the building.

We were staying in a Deluxe Superior suit (set in the corner of the hotel) offering postcard views of Table Mountain together with views of Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean – it really doesn’t get better than that! The 5.5m (18ft) high pillowed glass windows ensure that 10 floors up, you don’t miss a thing. Watching the sun come up over Table Mountain from our bedside balcony in the mornings was worth every minute of lost sleep!

In true Royal Portfolio style, every room in the hotel goes a little further to bring you closer to home – or at least what you wish home was like. Sure there are all the expected 5-star amenities of King Sized beds with luxury linens and a bathroom filled with a different lotion for every part of your body, but it’s the small things that make a difference. Our favourite detail is always the inclusive mini bar stocked up with snacks and drinks to make your stay a little more relaxed. Nothing makes you feel more at home than reaching into the refrigerator and grabbing a cold beer without worrying about the surprise bill at checkout.

With breakfast being the most important meal of the day,  no hotel stay is complete without it. The breakfast at the Granary Cafe (included in your stay) won’t disappoint as it offers a great twist on the continental buffet and hot food offering. Your continental options include bread, cheese and charcuterie, are brought to your table alongside cereals, yoghurt and fresh fruit on an individualised tray. If you manage to show some restraint (we didn’t) you can also order a hot breakfast of your choice (which we did anyway). I can highly recommend the salmon omelette souffle. Wow. Breakfast is unfortunately for hotel guests only, so best you book a stay if you want that life-changing omlette.

I’ve often found that after such a busy morning of eating, there is no better way to relax than a spa treatment. I mean, breakfast can be stressful. Between order-envy and the FOMO of something you may never taste again, it’s a tricky affair. We decided to give the in-house spa a try by booking a couples treatment. Elzaan went with a facial while I de-stressed to the signature massage. The spa is open to the public and offers tranquillity in the middle of the city – they’re currently hosting a summer special (till March 2018) inclusive of a rooftop cocktail, so I definitely suggest checking it out for the rooftop views alone – but more on that later.

The best part of a staycation is that it comes with none of the stress of visiting the local tourist attractions, yet all the opportunity of doing it anyway. The Silo is within walking distance to the V&A Waterfront and a stone’s throw from the hustle of downtown Cape Town – with all it’s culinary and nightlife offerings. If you want to get a little further out of town, the hotel offers a quick helicopter flip to its sister hotel La Residence in Franschhoek. Trust me, it’s well worth the journey! We decided instead, to just walk out the front door and enjoy the awesomeness that is the V&A harbour. We really are so spoilt to live in such a beautiful place and if you’re in town here’s a list of must do’s: Featured On CapeTownInsider

During our stay, we were honoured to play host to Blake Scott and his beautiful wife Ashley who were out here from LA. They were honeymooning in South Africa and we wanted to give them a taste of Cape Town by inviting them to a lavish Royal Tea. The Royal Tea is one of The Silo’s unique offerings and is served from 14:00 to 16:30 in the Granary Cafe. Every tea time tray is made to order by the in-house pastry chefs that morning and therefore requires a 24hrs advanced booking to ensure mind-blowing results. This is the ultimate indulgence and the perfect way to spend the afternoon. We literally sat from 14:00 to 16:00 getting to know each other over Champagne and tea. They are both incredible people and if you’re not following them on Instagram, you should (links on the names above). Needless to say, there are enough sweet and savoury (though I could have done with a little more savoury) teatime treats to ensure you won’t need dinner afterwards.

The new Zeit Mocca (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) has also just opened it’s doors at the base of The Silo. Hotel guests can enjoy a day of free entrance to the museum with a ticket obtained from the concierge. We had every intention of going but then decided to take a nap instead. Probably a good thing though, this blog post is long enough as it is! : )

Of course, I have gone and saved the best for last. In a place where views come standard, nothing beats the incredible uninterrupted views of The Silo Rooftop. The rooftop is complete with a bar and a hotel pool to rival every other pool anywhere ever – well, at least any pool anywhere I’ve stayed at and definitely any pool in Cape Town. There are no bad seats, there are no bad views and there is nothing quite like it. Watching the sun go down over Lions Head and Signal Hill from this vantage point gives the sunrise over Table Mountain a little bit of a run for its money. Luckily, neither of them charge and both can be enjoyed from one location. If there is a better place to enjoy a G&T, I dare you to find it!

Unfortunately (though not for us on the day) the hotel pool is exclusive use for hotel guests, however, the bar is available for an afternoon drink or 2 by prior arrangement.

In the end, I think it’s safe to say that Elzaan and I would have happily stayed here the week. The Royal Portfolio always has a knack for service that makes you feel… well, like royalty. The standard at this sought after hotel remains the same. The staff in every part of the hotel are amazing and go to such lengths to ensure you enjoy your stay.

Lets, however, address the elephant in the room. The Silo Hotel is without a doubt at the highest end of luxury, and of course, that kind of luxury doesn’t come cheap. Combine that with being situated walking distance from Cape Towns mega tourist hub on Cape Towns most expensive land. Now, add a premium for the most incredible views the city has to offer, and you’re in for a pretty pricey stay. This is by far the most expensive hotel we’ve had the pleasure of staying at, and I do believe that if you can afford it, it’s worth every cent. Besides, it’s the only way you’ll get to try that omelette. 😉

Okay. Travel safe and stay fancy.