The Ocean View Hideaway
Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
Inside, décor is chic and minimalist - the design lets the gorgeous vistas take centre stage - and finishes are good quality. While glass and chrome prevail, light oak and sand-like quartz flooring are a nod to coastal living. It comes with an open-plan living area, fully equipped kitchen and swish marble bathrooms, with sea-view tub plus one of the best showers we’ve ever experienced! Glass doors open onto ocean-facing terraces with a rim-flow plunge pool - an unbeatable spot for lazy alfresco meals. Overall, it's a perfect beach-meets-city hideaway for a group of friends travelling together, or a family with teenage children.
Highs
- It’s hard to look away from the pretty, ever-changing view of the ocean, Lion’s Head mountain and the rocky coastline
- The walk to Camps Bay beach and restaurants takes under 10 minutes and is flat. There's a supermarket nearby for supplies, too
- Being north-facing, the apartment gets plenty of light but doesn’t face the setting sun directly
- You’re only 15 minutes from central Cape Town (and there’s an efficient bus service if you don’t want to drive), so the city’s highlights are within easy reach
- The manageress Elize is super efficient and knowledgeable - from table reservations to Table Mountain trails
Lows
- Expect some road noise as the street between the apartment and the sea is busy (though double-glazing helps)
- The uncluttered, minimalist décor may feels a little impersonal - a bit like a high-end showroom
- The glass-walled ensuites are beautiful but not very private
- No kids under 10 are accepted
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Penthouse Apartment
- Apartment for 4-6
- Self-catering (restaurants nearby)
- Ages 10+ only
- Open all year
- Plunge Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Laundry Service
- Housekeeping Monday-Friday
Rooms
The apartment has a sleek, modern feel, with a private ocean-view terrace and plunge pool off an open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas. Huge glass doors slide back to create large indoor/outdoor spaces, and marble, glass and chrome reflect the light. A few carefully chosen artworks and cushions create a minimalist, Euro-chic look. Expect the requisite mod cons too, including smart TV, Sonos sound system, full A/C and underfloor heating.
Bedrooms have glass-walled ensuites in white Italian marble, which include fantastic showers; some have tubs, too. Bathrobes and big fluffy towels are provided, and storage space is abundant if you want to unpack.
The kingsize master bedroom is large, sea-facing and almost entirely glass-fronted, showcasing the vistas perfectly; it opens onto a private balcony where you can gaze at the scenery. The second and third bedrooms (one with a double bed, the other with twin beds pushed together) are smaller and face the side access steps; one opens onto a tiny courtyard. Huge blinds are operated at the touch of a button, and the high-tech lighting, surround sound and air-conditioning are controlled from panels in every room. There's also an additional toilet off the living area.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- Safe box
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
The apartment is entirely self-catering. The kitchen is well equipped, with full oven and hob, large fridge/freezer, wine cooler, Nespresso machine, kettle and toaster, as well as cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery and glassware. There's a Miele dishwasher and Bosch washing machine, too. You can eat either at the indoor dining table and chairs, or at a smaller table and seating out on the terraces.
Only supplies for tea and coffee are provided, so you’ll need to stock up on groceries. Local supermarket Pick’n’Pay is within walking distance, or alternatively manager Elize will take your order and arrange a delivery for you for a small fee.
But chances are you’ll want to try many of the city’s fabulous restaurants. Elize provides guests with a list of recommended options and their contact details, and you’ll be spoilt for choice - Cape Town is well known for being a foodie capital, and eating out is very affordable for overseas visitors. Turn left as you exit and, after a short stroll towards Bakoven, you’ll come across a small bistro where we had a delicious and healthy breakfast. Or turn right and walk along Victoria Road to Camps Bay’s centre: the cosmopolitan ‘strip’ is no more than 10 minutes away. Here, you can gaze at the beautiful palm-fringed beach and the equally beautiful people as you lunch or dine at one of the many bars and restaurants along the seafront. This is the place to be in summer, so reserve tables in advance if you visit between November and March.
Features include:
- Coffee maker
- Dishwasher
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Microwave
- Oven
- Restaurants nearby
- Shopping service
- Toaster
Activities
- Soak up some sun on your terrace, then cool off in your plunge pool
- Relax on stunning Camps Bay beach, where chairs are available to hire. But beware: the water is very cold, so swimming is only for the brave!
- Enjoy a less crowded beach experience at Beta Beach in Bakoven (a 3-minute walk)
- Hop on the clean and efficient MyCitiBus at the nearby stop and head into the city centre or to the Sunday craft market at Hout Bay
- Take a trip up Table Mountain - the cable car is a short drive away and you can walk back down - or climb the spectacular peak of Lion’s Head to watch the sunset
- Shop up a storm at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Quarter or trendy Kloof Street
- Visit the Oranjezicht City Farm Market at Granger Bay on a Saturday morning to stock up on organic produce
- Go hipster-spotting and art-hunting in the up-and-coming Woodstock Design District
- Visit Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela and many other anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned for decades
- Hop in the car and explore the beautiful Cape Peninsula, including the magnificent Chapman's Peak Drive, the penguins at Boulders Beach and the wave-lashed Cape Point
- Hire a driver and head out to Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Constantia for a day of wine tasting and gourmet dining
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Plantlife / flora
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Traditional cultures
- Wine tasting
Kids
No children under 10 are allowed, but if you have older children, this is a good option, with easy beach access, a plunge pool and one twin-bedded room plus 2 doubles.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Ocean View Hideaway is located on the coast in Camps Bay, an upmarket suburb on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, with the spectacular Twelve Apostles mountain range as its backdrop. It’s a 15-minute drive from the city centre.
By Air:
Cape Town International (30km) is a 30-minute drive away.
From the Airport
Transfers can be arranged, but most guests hire a car (see below).
By Car:
Hiring a rental car is recommended. You can get by without one by using taxis and the very efficient MyCitiBus service, but to explore properly you’ll want your own wheels. The roads are good and well signposted - and many of the drives around the Cape Peninsula are spectacular. There’s secure underground parking at the building. .
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Cape Town International 30.0 km CPT
Other:
- Beach 0.3 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km