Nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town blends nature, urban life, heritage, and global influences, now hosting EDITION’s first African hotel. This South African city, known for its artistic spirit and local identity, welcomes the brand’s debut, marking a significant expansion into a culturally rich destination.
The Cape Town EDITION is a meeting spot set to become a social center and a way to explore the city. Cape Town becomes part of EDITION’s worldwide collection of hotels in prime locations from Lake Como and Tokyo to London, New York, Riviera Maya and others, where careful design, curated food, and a strong cultural relevance come together in an EDITION style.
“As one of the world’s most compelling cultural capitals, it is a natural home for EDITION. This opening marks an important milestone for the brand as we continue to grow in destinations that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity and global influence.
Opening at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront, The Cape Town EDITION occupies a coveted position within Cape Town’s historic working harbour, a gateway that has connected cultures for centuries. Overlooking the V&A Waterfront’s new superyacht marina and facing Table Mountain, the hotel sits at the intersection of the city’s maritime heritage and lively cultural scene, surrounded by leading museums, art galleries, acclaimed restaurants, raised retail and the dynamic atmosphere of the Waterfront neighbourhood.
“The opening of The Cape Town EDITION is an important milestone in the V&A Waterfront’s continued evolution and a strong expression of confidence in Cape Town as a globally competitive tourism and investment destination,” said Graham Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the V&A Waterfront. “At Quay 7, the EDITION brings an exceptional international hospitality brand into a working harbour and connects it to the wider Waterfront neighbourhood through new dining, cultural and public-facing experiences. It also signals the next chapter for Granger Bay: a well-connected waterfront district that creates long-term value for Cape Town, our visitors and the communities we serve.”
Where Minimalistic Design Meets Maritime Heritage
Designed by Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects and professional firms, The Cape Town EDITION draws on the industrial maritime character of Quay 7. The architecture references the warehouse structures that previously occupied the site through a long, low-slung form, pitched rooflines and a material language inspired by the working harbour. More than six million bricks were laid by hand in shifting patterns that bring texture to the façade, transforming a humble material through meticulous craftsmanship and creating a distinctive architectural identity rooted in place.
At the centre of the hotel is The Drum, a soaring cylindrical space open to the elements above. Here, Cape Town’s shifting light and sea air are welcomed in. A spiralling staircase ascends to an outdoor viewing platform, gradually revealing the city: the harbour, Table Mountain, the Atlantic and the rhythm of the Waterfront below. Part arrival experience, part public lookout, The Drum invites guests, visitors and locals alike to discover Cape Town from a new vantage point.
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We want The Cape Town EDITION to feel as relevant to a Capetonian as it does to someone visiting the city for the first time The hotel’s 142 guestrooms and suites balance refined comfort with a distinctly residential sensibility. Bespoke furniture, natural finishes and cleverly integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks create warm, layered interiors designed to feel both intuitive and deeply comfortable, while large windows frame sweeping views.
Custom furnishings and rugs woven by KwaZulu-Natal-based Shuttleworth Weaving layer local craft into the experience. The 240-square-metre Penthouse and 112-square-metre Harbour Suite crown the hotel, with generous living spaces and panoramic outlooks. Throughout the hotel, art and design serve as a reflection of Africa’s creative environment, connecting guests to the people, stories and traditions that shape the destination.
Design Network Africa sourced progressive pieces from makers across the continent, including Zulu ukhamba vessels and mouth-blown recycled glass from Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Cape Town’s Southern Guild curated an art collection of established and emerging African voices including Zanele Muholi’s black-and-white photographic portraits in Punch Room, EDITION’s contemporary take on the traditional punch house; Usha Seejarim’s Fading Dish Cloth, assembled from hundreds of wooden clothes pegs, appears in the spa; and Chuma Maweni’s smoke-fired ceramics lend a sculptural presence to the lobby and dining spaces.
The Cape Gathered Around the Table
With experience spanning Berners Tavern at The London EDITION and some of the Cape’s leading restaurants, Executive Chef Phil Carmichael and award-winning South African beverage partner George Hunter lead the hotel’s food and beverage programme across a collection of distinct restaurants and bars, shaping experiences that move seamlessly from morning through late night. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Shale, brings the Cape to the table through a seasonal menu, drawing on farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers.
Meat is dry-aged in-house, while a predominantly South African wine list carries the regional story into the glass. Dishes are recognisable yet quietly unexpected, such as Saldanha Bay mussels in a curry velouté with seaweed salad and braised black rice. On the rooftop, EAVE offers a relaxed, yet refined, setting with broad views. Set beside the heated pool, the indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar moves from leisurely afternoons to sundowners, dinner and curated music programming after dark.
The menu pairs refreshing cocktails and a thoughtful wine list with small plates that showcase the flavours of the Winelands and the surrounding coastline. The adjoining Pool Terrace follows the sun, from breakfast and easy midday bites to sunset cocktails and light dinners. On the ground floor, EDITION’s signature Lobby Bar takes on the warmth and ease of a Cape Town living room, where hotel life and local rhythm meet.
Anchored by a striking bar and pool table, the space seamlessly transitions from morning coffee meetings to light bites and evening drinks. Punch Room revives a centuries-old drinking ritual once carried along the trade routes that passed through the Cape. Wood panelling, velvet banquettes and low lighting create an intimate, opulent retreat, where punches are served in generous bowls for sharing.
