A sign saying “No naughty children under 14” greets you in the entrance to Dorp hotel. It sets the tone for a unique stay, followed up as it is by a picture frame in the restaurant which claims that Dorp stands for Decency, Originality, Respect and Psycho. Yes, Psycho.

In short, it’s time to expect the unexpected. To revel and relax in adult focused luxury in a hotel complex built from scratch on the slopes of Signal Hill in 2018 by artist, architect, interior designer, gardener and hotelier Gail Behr.

Dorp, which actually means village in Afrikaans, is a collection of whitewashed Georgian style hotel rooms, houses and suites above Bo-Kaap on the outskirts of Cape Town (just a 2 minute drive away). It remains a fitting legacy to its popular creator who died in 2022.

To be fair, there’s so much eye candy to enjoy here, including a beautiful country garden and views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s hard to do it justice on a page. But we’ll try.

As we’ve already mentioned, this is unlikely to be like any hotel you’ve stayed in before. Think mirrored staircases, curtains instead of doors in places, a shower built into the conservatory and a box in your room called The Behr Necessities (a pun we love) containing all sorts of things there’s a good chance you’ll need but haven’t packed, including plasters, tweezers, even a Snakes and Ladders game.

You’ll get plenty of exercise trying to find the spa, gym, or tennis court. They’re not here. Perhaps they’re a bit too norm for Dorp, although there is a pool. Even information about your room and the local area is delivered in a novel way. No boring files or leaflets to wade through. Instead, a noticeboard of cuttings and postcards to peruse.

A range of accommodation

Dorp has places to stay to suit most budgets, like the great value ground floor room called Isaac, named after a frequent Dorp visitor. At the top of the range, there’s a one-bed cottage called Rose with a private pool, sauna, roof garden and pool with city views. Elsewhere, choose from family suites with 2 bedrooms, rooms with garden patios, suites with fireplaces and Table Mountain views, and suites with showers or bathtubs (it’s best to express your preference when you book).

Onderdorp

This is a new wing of the Dorp development, built on the underside of the original and featuring 15 self-catering apartments that are ideal for longer stays or group bookings. Kitchens are included, and some have dining tables. They tend to be smaller than Dorp suites and don’t offer the same quality of views as Dorp rooms, but there are three small pools and a shared lounge and games room where breakfast is served.

Eat and relax at Salon

Open to the public as well as Dorp guests, your meals will be served in a plant and book enriched restaurant next to a lounge area that’s all pink sofas and patterned rugs. If you think the views of Table Mountain and the harbour through the arched window are spectacular, wait until you get up to the roof terrace.

Worth knowing

Dorp is located at the top of a very steep hill in the historic Muslim Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town. That means there’s a call to prayer every morning (quite early) that might rouse light sleepers. (The daily firing of the nearby Noon Gun is sure to wake late sleepers.) Also, no alcohol is for sale in the hotel, although you can bring your own and enjoy the complimentary wine provided in your room. Larger suites have their own stocked bar.