It takes a lot of vision to convert an old grain mill in an abandoned part of town into a hotel. In the case of The Silo hotel in Cape Town, they threw in a Modern Art Museum for good measure. The result is one of the top city hotels in the world.
Atmosphere
The hotel sits on the top six floors of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art, in the heart of the VA Waterfront. This area has transformed over the past decade to become the heart of the city, and the museum and hotel are an anchor. As an old grain mill, the concrete, glass and unique metal design make the complex one of the most impressive in the Cape Town skyline. The building on the exterior and interior are works of modern art. The colorful main lobby makes a bold statement which sets the tone for the rest of the hotel.
The Silo hotel in Cape Town has created what few grand scale hotels in a large city can achieve; a hotels that feels like a private home. I had previously come from The Silo’s sister hotel, The Royal Malewane in Kruger National Park. As you would expect with a high-end safari, the service was personalized and intimate. With The Silo, you have that but in the city version. The design of The Silo attracts a chic guest as well as beautiful locals which align with the vibe of the hotel.
Rooms
Whether you’re looking for a crash pad for a few days or you’re filming a movie for months and want to feel at home, The Silo has a room for that. Like all hotels, rooms range in size at The Silo, from standard to Presidential. However, the common thread is the attention to detail in all. If you’re familiar with The Firmdale hotels and the Kit Kemp design, The Silo gives off similar vibes but yet is in its own category of unique. I especially liked that you’re not going to find the furnishings or the design just anywhere. The design is colorful, big, bold and fearless in the mix of fabrics, stripes on the floor and patterns. It all comes together just to make sense and balances fun yet elegant. There was a mix of vintage pieces like our bar, which was refurbished and painted turquoise. I normally go for a more austere, minimalist design, but staying in the rooms just made me happy.
One of My Favorite Rooms
Yes, it is always nice to be in a Presidential Suite, or a big a** room. I got to see pretty much all as unoccupied rooms are left open on the floors for you to take a wander in. If you think about it, that’s what you would do if you stayed in someone’s home, which is the theme of The Silo. We were in a Deluxe Superior Suite and it was my favorite. The layout made the 721 square feet feel much larger. First there were double height windows with a direct view of Table Mountain. The living area was on a corner and set up with a couch, bar, coffee table and dining area. We enjoyed the room so much that we ordered in room service for a few meals. The bathroom was a room with a view of Cape Town, with the same double height windows. I rarely soak in a tub even in the nicest hotels. However The Silo Cape Town makes my short list of hotels where the housekeeping meets my standard to enjoy a bath. The only thing missing for me was a Dyson Air Wrap and I probably would never have left.
Food + Beverage
Like the dramatic building The Silo hotel sits in, the food aligns with the setting. Presentation and selection are what guides the food at The Silo. Breakfast is served on tiered trays with selections of local artisan cheese, pastries, fruit and yogurt.
There are classic dishes, and signature Silo dishes like Turkish eggs and a quinoa avocado and poached egg packed with protein. The result was easily in the top 5o of my favorite breakfasts in all my 1500+ luxury hotels.
Afternoon tea was another occasion where The Silo shines, which while traditional is top quality. The roof of The Silo serves up light bites which we partook in as the sunset over Table Mountain. In the evenings we enjoyed nightcaps in the bar. I wish I had more time to eat at the hotel but everything we had was flavorful and executed with care.
Spa
The Spa at The Silo is intimate, with just 5 or so rooms, two of which convert into couples rooms. For a brand new hotel the spa could have been much grander, but the super power here are the aestheticians. They work their alchemy on you to tighten, cleanse and work through your skin ailments. My friend had a something uneven on his forehead that a year of his regular aesthetician couldn’t fix. One session though with The Silo team and he was brand new. The pricing is reasonable as well, and about half to a third of what you would spend in NYC. Once again with more time we would have spent it at the spa.
Service
When I left The Royal Malewane, The Silo’s sister hotel, I didn’t know how I would survive without my butler Sydney. I spent a week not wanting much less needing anything as it was just taken care of for me. In city hotels you wouldn’t expect that same level. However at The Silo, it was like the city version of our safari butlers. Like our experience at The Royal Malewane, there was a genuine care and sincerity in the service. It was at every touch point as well, from the doormen who greeted us to the team on the roof who remembered us even after brief interactions. You can tell when people are genuinely happy and it showed through in our service experience at The Silo.
Overall: 9.5/10
I would go back to Cape Town just to stay at The Silo again.
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FAQs
Q: Where is The Silo hotel Cape Town is located?
A: The Silo hotel Cape Town is located at Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Q: Is The Silo hotel Cape Town near Table Mountain?
A: The Silo hotel Cape Town is a close drive to Table Mountain. As importantly, The Silo hotel Cape Town has some of the most incredible views of Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Q: Is The Silo Cape hotel Town part of a hotel group?
A: Yes, The Silo hotel Cape Town is part of a family-owned hotel group called The Royal Portfolio. They have a number of hotels in South Africa, including The Royal Malewane Safari Lodge.
