La Grenadine
Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa
The peaceful, slightly wild, scented and fruit-laden garden is a rare find in the city centre; step out of this hidden oasis and you’re within walking distance of Cape Town’s hippest bars, restaurants, galleries, museums and sights. This is ideal for urban explorers and nature lovers alike; beaches and Table Mountain are only a 10-15 min drive away.
Highs
- A fabulous location: tucked away so you'll get a good night’s sleep, but walking distance from Cape Town’s social buzz
- Fantastic prices
- The garden: jasmine scents the air, and pomegranate, guava and avocado trees create pools of shade
- Maxime and Melodie are warm, friendly, helpful and interesting
- Instagram-worthy vignettes at every turn
Lows
- No pool
- Only the Mountain View Rooms have air con, and only The Cottage has a TV
- Bathrooms are semi open-plan so lack privacy, and showers over baths or open to the room make everything a bit wet
- Off-street parking is limited and tight, but you can do without a car here (an additional High!)
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Boutique Hotel
- 5 rooms and a 2-bedroom cottage
- Breakfast only (restaurants nearby)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
The 5 rooms are all different, all beautiful. Their calm palette is paired with pops of colour (we had a bright orange bathtub), bright African print cushions, historical framed prints and indigenous protea flowers. Large, comfy beds are dressed in luxurious cotton bedlinen, hand embroidered at Melodie’s family atelier in Mauritius.
Ground-floor rooms lead onto the tranquil garden; upstairs rooms have gorgeous mountain views. Ensuite bathrooms are semi-open plan (best if you know your roommate well!). Some are open to the room; others can be closed off behind shutters or glass doors.
Families or groups will love The Cottage, which has 2 double/twin bedrooms (1 with in-room bath), a full kitchen, lounge and large terrace shaded by an ancient olive tree.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
A continental breakfast is served at a long table in the dining area or garden, and includes pastries, local cheeses, homemade jams and freshly-pressed juices.
No other meals are served. The Cottage is self-catering with a full kitchen, and if you're staying in the rooms but want to bring in a takeaway or picnic, you're welcome to use the hotel crockery. The restaurant over the road will deliver food, too.
Eating out is great value for most overseas visitors, and the quality is excellent. Many of Cape Town’s most popular restaurants are on nearby Kloof and Long Streets - Melodie and Maxime can advise. During peak season (November-March), you’ll need to make reservations in advance.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Honesty bar
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Hike or take the cable car up Table Mountain; best done an hour before sunset to see the city in both day and night light
- Spend the day on one of Cape Town's gorgeous beaches; we love buzzy Camps Bay, or the quieter Clifton beaches round the headland
- Take a tour of Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were incarcerated during apartheid
- Explore the colourful Bo Kaap district (you can walk there from La Grenadine) and discover its Malay culture and history
- On Saturdays, don’t miss the Oranjezicht City Farm market - an organic, foodie, hipster paradise
- Head out to the Winelands for a day of tasting, beautiful scenery and delicious food
- Borrow a book from the hotel’s trilingual library and curl up in the colourful lounge or a find shady spot in the garden. There's a record player and cool collection of vinyl, too
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Mountain biking
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Wine tasting
Kids
Children are welcome. Maxime and Melodie are parents themselves and happily lend their kids’ paraphernalia to guests.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
Families tend to book The Cottage, which has 2 double/twin rooms and is self-catering. The 2 Mountain View Rooms share a terrace and are good for families with older kids who are happy to have their own room. All bedrooms can fit a baby cot or extra bed
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Distances:
- Airport: 30 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
La Grenadine’s location is one of its big pluses. It’s in the central Gardens district, just off trendy Kloof Street and near Long Street, Cape Town’s restaurant-and-going-out hub. Taxis to the Waterfront and Table Mountain take 10 minutes. The main beaches are a 10-15 minute drive away.
By Air:
There are regular flights into Cape Town International Airport (20.5km away) from many European cities. From the US, many flights route through Johannesburg, or you can fly via Europe. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
From the Airport
It takes about half an hour to reach Gardens from the airport in a taxi. You might want to hire a car for exploring the wider area, but there's no need to if you're just staying put in Cape Town. See our car rental recommendations. There is limited off-street parking at the property.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com. 
More on getting to South Africa and getting around
Airports:
- Cape Town International Airport 20.5 km CPT
Other:
- Beach 5.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km