The Silo Hotel, Cape Town: A Travel Advisor's Guide to Staying Above the V&A Waterfront

If I had to sum up The Silo in one word, it would be magical. I don't use that word lightly, but from the moment I walked through its oversized entrance, the hotel felt almost like stepping into a fairytale, just one with very good taste in contemporary African art.

The Silo sits at the top of a converted 1920s grain silo on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, with Table Mountain on one side and the harbour and Atlantic on the other. It belongs to The Royal Portfolio, the small South African collection founded by Liz Biden, who personally designed the interiors.

What makes The Silo different

The building itself is the story. Grain was stored here until the early 2000s, and the old grain elevator tower was redesigned by Thomas Heatherwick's studio. The ground and lower levels are now home to Zeitz MOCAA (the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa), which holds one of the most significant collections of contemporary African art anywhere. The hotel occupies the floors above.

From the outside, the most striking feature is the windows. Large, pillowed glass panes bulge outwards from the old concrete frame, and at night the whole tower glows like a lantern over the Waterfront. From the inside, those same windows frame views across the harbour, the city and Table Mountain.

The rooms and suites

There are 28 rooms and suites, and no two are decorated the same way. Each has its own colour palette, bold furnishings and original artwork from African artists. I stayed in a Silo Room with views over the V&A Waterfront harbour, and it came with its own art guide explaining the pieces on the walls, a lovely touch that made the room feel like a small private gallery.

The current categories, according to The Royal Portfolio, are:

• Silo Rooms (around 44 square metres, with a private balcony)

• Duplex Suites (around 76 square metres, split over two levels on the 6th and 7th floors, with mountain or harbour views)

• Deluxe Superior Suites (around 67 square metres, on floors 8 to 10, with a sitting area)

• Family Duplex Suite (two bedrooms, sleeps four, with the second bedroom designed with younger guests in mind)

• Royal Suite (two bedrooms, triple aspect, looking towards the Atlantic and Robben Island)

• The Penthouse (a one-bedroom suite of more than 200 square metres with a cinema room, spa treatment room and two balconies)

For couples, a Silo Room is a beautiful choice. If you want more space and the feeling of a small apartment above the city, the Duplex and Deluxe Superior Suites are worth the step up, and families have far more options here than you might expect from a hotel this size.

Those bathrooms

The Silo's bathrooms have become famous online, and for good reason. Floor-to-ceiling windows, chandeliers, brightly coloured chaise lounges and eclectic furniture make them some of the most photogenic bathrooms I have come across. They were easily my favourite design element of the whole hotel.

After a long day, I ended mine in the bath, looking out at the lights of Cape Town through those whimsical windows. My toughest decision of the night was whether to lower the blockout blinds beside the bed or leave them open so I could wake to the sun rising over Table Mountain. I left them open.

Eating and drinking at The Silo

The hotel currently lists four venues: The Granary Café, The Willaston Bar, The Silo Rooftop and The Wisdom Room, a glass-fronted private dining and meeting space.

The rooftop. The rooftop is split in two. One half, with the pool and its own bar and lounge area, is reserved for hotel guests. The other half is The Silo Rooftop, which outside guests can book for cocktails and light meals. When I stayed, I watched the sunset over Table Mountain wrapped in a blanket with a glass of red in hand, and I'll admit that seeing the looks on people's faces when they spotted the guests-only pool was almost worth the booking on its own.

The Willaston Bar. After sunset, I moved down to the Willaston Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. It now runs as an all-day venue for lunch, bar snacks, cocktails and dinner.

The Granary Café. The velvet couches, gold lamps and those 5.5-metre high pillowed windows carry through to The Granary Café, where I had dinner looking out over the Waterfront. I took the waiter's suggestion of mushroom and tofu pot stickers (despite some initial hesitation), alongside a beef tataki and tuna tartare that were incredibly fresh. It was one of my favourite meals of my whole time in South Africa. The Granary also serves lunch and a Royal Tea in the afternoon.

I also found the food and wine pricing surprisingly reasonable for a hotel of this calibre, which was something I noticed across South Africa generally. Prices have of course moved since my stay, so check current menus, but dining here still tends to feel like good value to Australian visitors.

Breakfast. Breakfast is served in The Granary Café. When I stayed, a personal spread arrived at the table with fruit salad, cold meats, cheeses, muesli, yoghurt and more pastries than anyone needs at 8am, with an à la carte menu to fill any gaps. I highly recommend the eggs Benedict.

The minibar. I have rarely seen a more thoughtful minibar. Mine had a snack box of house-made cookies, nuts, dates, biscuits, chips, dried fruit and pastries, plus a fridge of drinks, two bottles of wine from La Residence (The Royal Portfolio's Franschhoek property) and a bottle of bubbles on ice. Spirits were available at an extra charge for sundowners in your room.

Visiting without staying

If a night at The Silo isn't in your budget, you can still experience a good part of it. My suggestion is to book sunset cocktails on The Silo Rooftop, then dinner at The Granary Café. The hotel asks that dining is reserved ahead, so don't just turn up. Pair it with a few hours in Zeitz MOCAA downstairs and you have one of the best afternoons and evenings you can have in Cape Town.

Who The Silo suits

The Silo is a great fit for couples, honeymooners and anyone who loves art, design and a hotel with real personality. It works especially well as the city part of a South African trip that also includes the Winelands or a safari, because the Waterfront is an easy base and close to the airport.

It is less suited to travellers who want a beachfront setting or a big resort with lots of facilities. This is an intimate city hotel, and with only 28 rooms and suites it books out well ahead in the busy summer months.

Practical tips for planning your stay

• Getting there: The V&A Waterfront is roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive from Cape Town International Airport, depending on traffic. Most guests arrange a private transfer.

• Best time to go: Cape Town's summer (roughly November to March) brings long, dry days and the best rooftop weather, but also the highest demand. I stayed in November, at the start of summer. Shoulder months like April, May and October can be lovely and are often easier to book. Winter is cooler and wetter, though a cosy city hotel like this is a nice place to be on a rainy day.

• Book early: With so few rooms, peak dates and the larger suites go quickly, particularly over Christmas and New Year.

• Ask about inclusions: Rate inclusions and any additional levies can change, so confirm what is included at the time of booking.

• Combine it well: Two or three nights is a good amount of time to enjoy the hotel and explore the city, Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula before moving on.

Planning a South Africa trip

The Silo is one of The Royal Portfolio's properties, and it pairs naturally with the group's other lodges and hotels, including La Residence in Franschhoek and Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger. If you'd like help working out how The Silo fits into a wider South Africa itinerary, from Cape Town and the Winelands through to safari, I'd love to help you plan it at Prestige Travel & Events.

Frequently asked questions

How many rooms does The Silo Hotel have?

The Silo has 28 individually designed rooms and suites, ranging from Silo Rooms to two-bedroom suites and a Penthouse.

Is the rooftop pool at The Silo open to the public?

No. The rooftop pool is for hotel guests only. Non-guests can book The Silo Rooftop for cocktails and light meals by prior reservation.

Is Zeitz MOCAA in the same building as The Silo?

Yes. Zeitz MOCAA occupies the lower levels of the converted grain silo, and the hotel sits on the floors above.

Can you eat at The Silo if you aren't staying there?

Yes, The Granary Café, The Willaston Bar and The Silo Rooftop all take reservations, and booking ahead is required.