If there’s a guest book at Ellerman House, Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey will be among the stars to have written messages on its plush pages, no doubt using a fancy fountain pen.

A-listers of that calibre don’t just stay anywhere, which is why Ellerman House is definitely somewhere you should book a stay if you’re looking for the luxurious, the exclusive and the beautifully homely.

Hillside history

This historic hotel built in 1906 is named after the shipping magnate who paid for the building work, Sir John Ellerman. His love of all things maritime required his home to afford him views of ships entering Cape Town’s harbour, hence the hillside location in Bantry Bay under the lion’s head.

Originally a house, in its new guise as a fully modernised hotel with 11 rooms, 2 suites and 2 villas, Ellerman retains its homely feel and harbour views, while demonstrating all the elegance and unique touches that Tinseltown stars and royalty expect.

You don’t have to be either to stay here, of course. Just someone who appreciates the finer things in life and who’ll enjoy the hotel’s central Cape Town location, as well as hearing the splashes of Atlantic waves on the rocks below and feeling soft warm sand between your toes on the beach.

1.5 acres and 1,000 works of art

It’s fair to call the location picturesque (a word we like but never over-use). The presence of 1.5 acres of gardens and a pool certainly helps paint a beautiful landscape, which links nicely with the fact that Ellerman House also happens to be home to current owner Paul Harris’ private collection of over 1,000 pieces of South African modern art, which, many of those in the know call one of the nation’s finest. These works are to be found in the bedrooms as well as communal areas, including the dining room, bar, and spa which has four treatment rooms and a massage room just for couples.

Another impressive collection is to be found in the wine cellar, which we are reliably informed contains in excess of 9,000 bottles of delectable drinks and a brandy tasting area.

11 rooms, 2 suites

Yes, that does add up to 13, officially no longer an unlucky number, especially if you’re lucky enough to get to stay in one of them. There’s no decorating by numbers at work in any of the accommodation. Each room has its own look and feel, with some offering sea views, others mountain views.

Everything is as you’d expect – luxurious, from the kingsize beds to the heated flooring, and the in-room bar to the marble finish bathrooms. And the service is of an equally high standard.

2 ocean view villas

Added to the grounds of the original house in more recent times, the two villas have five bedrooms and three bedrooms respectively. Unlike the hotel, where there’s a minimum age of 12, the villas are family friendly, with your children welcome to stay alongside you to enjoy the private facilities which include a kitchen, living area and infinity pool, as well as all kinds of services provided by a dedicated concierge team.