Background
This 5-star hotel is independently-owned by the Solomon Brothers and opened in 2010 after an investment of R400 million into the existing building structure.
Where Is It?
n the heart of the Cape Town CBD, on the corner of Loop and Pepper streets. At just one street back from the buzzing Long Street, it’s in the perfect spot if you plan to sample Cape Town’s night life. On the flipside, if you’re looking for a quiet retreat, then it’s probably not for you. The hotel is about 10 minutes’ drive from the V&A Waterfront and about 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.
Rooms
The hotel has 210 suites, made up of a variety of one, two and three-bedroom options, whilst the Presidential suite is 7965m2 and takes up two floors. My large one-bedroom suite was interesting in design, in terms of its separate bedroom, bathroom and lounge/dining room layout, as opposed to the open plan layouts you find in most modern hotels. The bedroom was quite ‘snug’, with the king-size bed taking up most of the space, but with a large flat-screen TV, cupboard and digital safe. The spacious walk-in power shower was the feature of the bathroom, which also included a bath, single basin and toilet. A further walk along the passage took me into the large lounge/dining room/kitchenette, featuring a lounge suite, flat-screen TV, dining table and chairs, and modern kitchen amenities (kettle, toaster, cutlery etc ). This made for a comfortable space in which to get some work done at the dining room table, but perhaps most eye-catching was the terrace off this room that could probably accommodate at least 20 people and enjoyed an incredible view of Table Mountain.
Restaurants & Bars
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the hotel’s ground floor in-house restaurant, Sinatra’s. According to the hotel, the chef favours fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a “seasonal approach to European continental cuisine”. The breakfast spread was extensive, with a host of hot offerings buffet style, along with some European options in the form of cold meats and a selection of cheeses. I opted for the scrambled eggs which was particularly tasty, whilst I found the tomato, mushrooms and hash browns fairly standard. Piping-hot coffee and orange juice topped things off. For dinner, I went for the chef’s ‘choice cut’. This was a sirloin steak on a bed of coriander mash, with stir fry vegetables, parmesan salad and red win jus. Medium-rare was my selection, and whilst the cut was a little fatty, it was done to perfection.
Meeting & Conference Facilities
The hotel has four executive boardrooms and one banqueting room that can cater for up to 150 people – all offering state-of-the-art equipment. According to the hotel, it is comfortable hosting cocktail parties, exclusive dinners, birthdays, weddings, business conferences and product launches. The hotel building also features a multi-storey parking garage, so parking is not an issue. Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the hotel and I found it easy to use and the connection speed impressive. Pepperclub also sports a fleet of luxury vehicles – including a Rolls Royce Ghost – for chauffeuring guests to and from the airport and business meetings, as well as sight-seeing trips.
Leisure
The standout feature is the 29-seater cinema that can be booked, with a collection of movies to choose from and popcorn on hand as part of the offering. Otherwise, there’s a fitness centre and rooftop swimming pool that both enjoy views of Table Mountain, whilst the Cayenne Spa also has a sauna and offers a multitude of treatments. Alternatively, if you’re after some beach time, the hotel has a Pepperclub Beach Club at Camps Bay, which offers the use of private lockers, shower and restroom facilities, along with a complimentary shuttle.
Verdict
A quality 5-star city hotel with great service, but probably best suited to those who don’t mind being in and amongst the hub of Cape Town’s night life.
Dylan Rogers
Contact
Address: Corner of Loop and Pepper Street
Tel: +27 21 812 8888
Email: info@pepperclub.co.za
Web: www.pepperclub.co.za