Cape Town gets a splash of Taj

What do the original South African Reserve Bank and the old BOE building, also known as Temple Chambers, have in common?

Well, besides being former financial hubs more than 100-years-old, they've both been refurbished and restored to make up the chic new Taj Cape Town. Add a brand spanking new tower with an additional 17 new stories to join the two buildings built in 1890 - and voila you have Cape Town's latest 5-star offering.

View the gallery

Guest are in for a treat at the Taj if my recent educational tour is anything to go by.

A tour is a tour by any media professional's standards - but it's even better when the concept used to showcase the establishment aims way above the gimmicky line - and succeeds. Then it's a couple of hours well spent. It reinforces that those running the operation are a well-oiled machine - good to know especially when you're entrusting them with your much-anticipated and ever-so-carefully planned holiday.

This is a 50/50 joint venture between city centre property investor Eurocape and Tata's Indian Hotels company - owners of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Its portfolio includes some 80 hotels including 15 international hotels in the Maldives Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and now South Africa.

Passport to pleasure

Most of you might remember this as the 80s campaign of Peter Styversant. Well, the dusted off Taj version certainly is smoking. The various facilities and venues of Taj Cape Town were presented as destinations that need to be rubber-stamped into any discerning traveller's passport.

Classic feel, modern features

The 176-room Taj Cape Town - due to open its doors officially at the end of January - offers a selection of 11 room types. These include a two-bedroom, split-level Presidential Suite and 10 Heritage Suites.

We visited one of the 20 Heritage luxury rooms as well as the Tower Rooms. My first impression is that it's a bit small for an above-entry-level offering. But then you have to bear in mind that this is a hotel now housed in a former bank and not forgetting that it's also smack bang in the centre of the CBD.

Vast amounts of space might not be one of its luxuries but floor to ceiling windows, a bathroom with all the added-benefits and safes with laptop power points - are just some of the features that are - as well as magnificent views of the Mother City and the iconic Table Mountain. All the Tower rooms also have walk-out balconies.

Other standard features include high-speed wireless internet, an iPod docking station and charger, an internet-enabled television and a work station with a multi-media hub so laptops can be interfaced with the television.

Of lords and legends

If guests are looking for something super-exclusive, consider the Taj Club floor. With its private lounge served by a dedicated butler team, providing breakfast and evening canapés and cocktails -every whim will be taken care of. Upon checking in there is a lengthy questionnaire to establish guests likes and dislikes - ensuring an absolute tailor-made stay. The information is then inserted into a database for future visits at the hotel.

Champagne and spice plus all things nice

The hotel has two restaurants and a seafood and champagne bar.

Mint, an all-day informal, grille restaurant, is built on three levels. Notable features include an open-plan show kitchen as well a floor-to-ceiling wine wall, which is fast becoming a standard with most restaurants today.

As the name suggests the decor is light and refreshing as are the uninhibited views of the busy pedestrian walk-through of St George's Mall. A group of open-air tables also allows guests to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Cape Town under the trees in the Mall. The mezzanine level can be used for private dining.

The Indian fine-dining restaurant The Bombay Brasserie offers guests a taste of what's on offer at its famous London counterpart. A more formal and exotic culinary experience in comparison to Mint - the food on offer is authentic and delicious. The Tandoori lamb is simply a taste sensation.

To the side of the Taj in Wale Street, there is also The Twankey, a seafood and champagne bar, named after the statue found above its entrance.

Commissioned by the architect George Murray Alexander in 1894, the sculpted shepherdess was likened to the ‘Widow Twankey' an immemorial pantomime dame. The name has since stuck to this day. Its other off-beat feature can be found on the daily menu, namely Guinness and Oysters. Try it if you dare.

Back inside the hotel you'll also find a formal lounge, cocktail bar and a cigar bar.

And those who wish to take the authentic experience even further should try the Jiva Spa, which is open to both the public and hotel guests. The ancient Indian healing tradition of Ayuveda is practiced at the spa along with a range of signature treatments, yoga and meditation.

The spa includes two suites dedicated to skin, nail and beauty treatments, four generously sized massage suites, a double massage suite with a Jacuzzi and an Ayuvedic consultation and treatment suite with an imported Ayuveda treatment table.

For an historic and contemporary blend of Cape Town, combined with an authentic dash of international flavour, the Taj gets our rubber stamp of approval.