EDITION Hotels has expanded its global portfolio with the opening of The Cape Town EDITION, marking the luxury hospitality brand’s entry into Africa and adding a new property to one of South Africa’s leading tourism destinations.
Located at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront, the hotel overlooks the waterfront’s superyacht marina, with views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. The property combines contemporary design, locally inspired art, curated dining and wellness experiences, positioning it as a destination for both international travellers and Cape Town residents.
Cape Town joins EDITION’s portfolio of hotels in sought-after destinations including Lake Como, Tokyo, London, New York and Riviera Maya. The brand’s approach centres on distinctive architecture, personalised hospitality and experiences that reflect the character of their locations.
“Cape Town has a distinctive energy shaped by extraordinary landscapes, diverse influences and an exceptional culinary scene,” said George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader of EDITION. He described the city as a natural fit for the brand, noting that the opening represents an important milestone in its expansion into destinations shaped by culture, creativity and global influence.
The hotel occupies a site within the V&A Waterfront’s historic working harbour, an area that has connected cultures and supported maritime activity for centuries. Its location provides access to the district’s museums, art galleries, restaurants, retail outlets and wider cultural attractions.
Graham Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the V&A Waterfront, said the opening reflected confidence in Cape Town’s position as an internationally competitive tourism and investment destination. He added that the development would contribute to the waterfront’s continued transformation through new dining venues, cultural offerings and public-facing experiences, while supporting the long-term development of the Granger Bay district.
Designed by Shanghai-based architecture and design practice Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects and professional firms, the hotel draws inspiration from the industrial character of the harbour. Its low-slung structure, pitched rooflines and textured brick façade reference the warehouse buildings that previously occupied the site. More than six million bricks were laid by hand in varied patterns, creating an architectural identity rooted in the area’s maritime heritage.
A central feature of the property is The Drum, a soaring cylindrical space open to the sky, where a spiral staircase leads to an outdoor viewing platform overlooking the harbour, Table Mountain, the Atlantic and the surrounding waterfront. Designed as both an arrival space and a public lookout, the feature offers guests and visitors a different perspective of the city.
The hotel has 142 guestrooms and suites, designed to combine contemporary sophistication with the comfort of a private residence. Bespoke furniture, natural finishes and integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks create warm interiors, while large windows frame views of the surrounding landscape. Custom furnishings and rugs produced by KwaZulu-Natal-based Shuttleworth Weaving introduce elements of local craftsmanship.
The accommodation includes a 240-square-metre Penthouse and a 112-square-metre Harbour Suite, both featuring expansive living areas and panoramic views.
Art and design also play a central role in the property’s identity, with works reflecting the diversity of African creative expression. Design Network Africa sourced pieces from artisans across the continent, including traditional Zulu ukhamba vessels and mouth-blown recycled glass from Eswatini. Cape Town gallery Southern Guild curated an art collection featuring established and emerging African artists, including photographic portraits by Zanele Muholi, Usha Seejarim’s installation Fading Dish Cloth and smoke-fired ceramics by Chuma Maweni.
Dining is another defining element of the hotel, with executive chef Phil Carmichael and South African beverage specialist George Hunter overseeing a programme spanning restaurants, bars and social spaces.
The signature restaurant, Shale, offers a seasonal menu shaped by ingredients sourced from local farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers. Meat is dry-aged in-house, while a predominantly South African wine selection highlights the country’s wine-producing regions. Among the dishes is Saldanha Bay mussels served with curry velouté, seaweed salad and braised black rice.
On the rooftop, EAVE combines indoor and outdoor dining with views of the city and coastline. Located beside a heated swimming pool, the restaurant and bar transitions from relaxed daytime dining to evening meals, sundowners and curated music sessions. Its menu features small plates inspired by the Cape Winelands and surrounding coastline, complemented by cocktails and a carefully selected wine list. The adjoining Pool Terrace offers breakfast, light meals and drinks throughout the day.
The hotel’s Lobby Bar provides a more relaxed setting for socialising, moving from morning coffee meetings to evening drinks around a central bar and pool table. Punch Room, meanwhile, draws inspiration from the centuries-old tradition of communal punch drinking, with wood panelling, velvet seating and low lighting creating an intimate atmosphere.
Its beverage selection includes Brandewijn, a locally inspired punch combining brandy, Pinotage, rooibos, pineapple, lemon and winter spices, bringing South African ingredients and flavours into a traditional format.
Wellness facilities include a spa below sea level, five treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, a sauna and a steam room. Infrared beds and Therabody recovery boots complement treatments incorporating skincare, massage, fascia work and aromatherapy, alongside mineral-rich formulations from Omorovicza.
A 24-hour gym and a programme of yoga, breathwork, sound baths and movement sessions extend the wellness offering to the rooftop pool and sun deck, giving guests opportunities to balance relaxation with physical activity.
The property also caters to business meetings, private functions and celebrations, with a ballroom accommodating up to 200 people, a boardroom, two meeting studios and a private event terrace. Its dining and social venues provide additional settings for events, including harbourside receptions, rooftop gatherings at EAVE, private functions at Vantage and dinners at Shale.
Leonie Andereya, General Manager of The Cape Town EDITION, said the hotel had been designed to appeal to both residents and international visitors by bringing people together through food, culture, creativity and conversation.
The opening adds another luxury hospitality offering to Cape Town’s tourism landscape, combining international brand positioning with local architecture, art, cuisine and craftsmanship. For EDITION, the property represents a strategic step into the African market, while for the V&A Waterfront, it strengthens the destination’s growing mix of premium accommodation, dining and lifestyle experiences.
