As the first hotel to open on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, it’s no surprise that this hotel bagged the best location. It’s on the pier in a pedestrian-friendly part of town with quick and easy access to the harbour and views of Table Mountain that are hard to beat.

The harbour isn’t just a place for the rich to moor their yachts and let others admire them. It’s a working marina with boats being built, spruced up or repaired and all the comings and goings of cruisers and water taxis, while seagulls swoop and seals swim.

The hotel occupies a former warehouse – the 1904 North Quay Warehouse to be precise – and was converted in 1990. If there’s a more central location in town – South Africa’s top tourist hotspot, by the way - we can’t find it.

A central base from which to explore

Guests don’t book here to wax lyrical about the furnishings and décor in their room. They book here for its central location and secure parking. That said, there’s still plenty to delight the eye inside such as the historic wooden staircases and excellent views of Table Mountain and the harbour from some rooms.

When you check in at reception, you’re sure to be tempted to check out the Ginja restaurant and the attached coffee shop. Breakfast is served buffet style to hotel guests and passers-by alike, while the lunch and dinner menus are extensive. Next to the dining area is a bar which leads you to the hotel’s garden, location of the swimming pool. Somewhere else you’re certain to want to visit during your stay is the Quayside Terrace.

Explore Cape Town

You’ve likely bookmarked websites that showcase all the things to do in Cape Town. The V&A Hotel brings them all within easy reach. A plethora of places to eat and drink are a short walk away, so too the ferry to Robben Island. The Time Out Market, where top chefs set up stalls for opportunities to taste and buy their culinary delights is right on your doorstep. And a little further away is the Watershed, perhaps the best place in Cape Town to pick up a memento of your visit. Also close by, the Two Oceans Aquarium and a little further afield the beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay.

Rooms are functional, rather than flashy

OK, so perhaps there is one drawback of the V&A Hotel – its central location means that you’re in the heart of a thriving city, so lights and noise are something you’ll have to put up with. That said, the windows are sturdy and can be covered by blackout curtains, so your nights won’t be sleepless. Just don’t expect silence.

People who book here want somewhere they can quickly get back to after spending days and nights in the city. They’re not looking for quality décor or loads of space (the rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors are the biggest by the way, and those in the loft the smallest but perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing).

The 94 rooms contain either kingsize or twin beds. Request a southwest facing room if you can for views of Table Mountain and the harbour. Other rooms overlook the piazza.