The Winchester: Cape Town’s grande dame

Built in the 1920s, The Winchester was one of the first buildings in the Sea Point suburb. We’re in a prime location overlooking the Atlantic Seaboard with the ocean right in front of us. While somewhere like the V&A Waterfront is more commercially driven, this residential area is known to be tranquil and charming. There’s a beautiful promenade where every day, people go running, cycle and walk their dogs. You can even watch the paragliders descend from Signal Hill while you’re having breakfast. It’s a bit like an airstrip with a landing every few seconds.

You don’t have to pack your Louboutins. We’re that cargo pants and no collar shirt vibe – no pretence at all. We have the most incredible courtyard with monochrome tiling wrapped by a 70-year-old bougainvillea creeping up three storeys with incredible flowers. You might see Mrs Wainford here, the owner, who’s in her late 70s chatting to guests. Essentially the hotel’s still family-run.

Although The Winchester’s a heritage Cape Dutch building, she’s recently undergone a full makeover. No two rooms are the same featuring beautiful headboards, smart televisions and Mrs Wainford’s personal collection of furniture from crocodile leather desks to modern local art. If you want that romantic feeling of waking up and sipping your morning coffee as you look out onto the ocean, I’d suggest the two Luxury Balcony Suites located on each gable.

When it comes to dining, Shoreditch is more of a destination eatery than a hotel restaurant. We cook everything on a braai barbeque including my favourite dish, a classic Caesar salad with chicken grilled on the open flame or we do these amazing, seared salmon sashimi tacos. Definitely have a cocktail at Harvey’s bar and relax by the pool but it’s all about getting out and about in Cape Town. There’s just so much to do and the best bit about it is that you have everything on your doorstep.