The 10 best hotel pools in Cape Town

The Silo Rooftop is something of a hidden secret in the city; a seriously stylish cocktail bar and restaurant offering some of the best views in Cape Town from atop The Silo Hotel. And who hasn’t sat there sipping a G&T and dreamed of donning their cozzie and slipping into the sparkling waters of the fglass-walled pool? While those with vertigo may find the sky-high swim a little challenging, we’re up for this ultimate pool with a view. Sadly, it’s strictly for in-house guests.

Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Is there a more gorgeous setting in Cape Town than the pool terrace at Ellerman House? I doubt it. With manicured lawns, glorious sea views and waiters who come running at the wave of a flag, the Ellerman House pool is impressive. Rates here certainly don’t come cheap and, unsurprisingly, the pool (like most of the property) is only for in-house guests. Start saving…

180 Kloof Rd, Bantry Bay

Book-ending one end of the Sea Point strip, The President Hotel is one of Cape Town’s larger hotels, offering 349 luxury rooms, apartments and suites decorated in a bright and breezy contemporary style. The best rooms have a view of the Atlantic Ocean, and down to the wide pool terrace. The President’s pool is heavenly for families, with plenty of space for young ones to splash about and a separate play area. 

And, local tip: The President Hotel pool is one of the few that’s also open to day visitors. Their day package costs R300 per person and includes the use of the pool, sun loungers and pool towels. That fee even includes R200 credit towards food and drinks from the dedicated poolside menu 

4 Alexander Rd, Bantry Bay

Situated a short stroll from the V&A Waterfront – and the Time Out Market Cape Town – it’s hard to imagine a more perfect location for a hotel stay in the city than the One&Only Cape Town. This ‘urban resort’ ticks all the right boxes, from city views and stylish service to one of the more elegant bars in the city. And the views from the aptly-named Vista Bar, if you ignore the mountain, are across to the impressive hotel pool complex.

It’s a vast watery wonderland – the largest infinity pool in the city, at 350-square-metres – and is set on a separate island home to the charming Isola bar and restaurant. Framed by palm trees, and with no shortage of lounges and cabanas, it certainly sets the bar high for hotel pools. 

Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Perhaps remarkably, in a city almost surrounded by ocean, the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront is the only truly seafront hotel in Cape Town. Set right on the breakwater at Bantry Bay you certainly don’t get much closer to the sea than on the edge of their glorious rim-flow pool. Tobago’s Restaurant alongside does a great range of light bites and cocktails that will keep you at the pool for hours.

100 Beach Road, Granger Bay Boulevard

The ‘grande dame’ of Cape hotels is enjoying something of a renaissance right now, as art exhibitions, fashion shows and chic new restaurants re-establish ‘The Nellie’ as one of the hippest addresses in town. But amid the makeover of the Mount Nelson, the main ‘Oasis’ pool remains wonderfully old-school, from the scalloped umbrellas and candy-striped towels to the poolside waiter service in summer.

And when the weather cools, hotel guests can still enjoy a dip: the Oasis pool is one of the largest heated pools in South Africa. But here’s a tip: also seek out the ‘Cottage’ pool, hidden away in a secret garden behind the hotel. It’s a wonderful oasis of peace in the busy summer months.

76 Orange Street, Gardens

Set in the oh-so-chic seaside suburb of Camps Bay, The Marly is the Camps Bay address for those who enjoy a little late-night revelry with a side order of sea views and memorable sunsets across the Atlantic. Perhaps that’s no surprise, given that it’s named after the 17^th-century Chateau de Marly, the pleasure palace of France’s King Louis XIV.

There’s certainly plenty of pleasure to be had up on the roof at Baptiste bar where you’ll find an expansive menu of delicious dishes and bespoke cocktails, but also the exclusive – guests only – rooftop pool. It’s for splashing (and showing off) rather than swimming laps, but with one of the best locales in town you surely won’t mind. 

The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay

With a nod to the dialling code – 021 – for Cape Town, the O’Two Hotel is a deeply glamorous address on the city’s Atlantic Seaboard. The 34 rooms dish up impressive sea and mountain views… but none that compare to those on offer at the rooftop pool. Here you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds, with a glass-rimmed plunge pool – with private cabanas – dishing up 360-degree vistas of the city. Throw in a sleek cocktail bar and you have a fine way indeed to while away summer days in the city.

3 Surrey Place, Mouille Point

Set in the heart of the artsy Silo precinct, the RED Roof atop this millennial-focused hotel in the V&A Waterfront precinct draws in plenty of locals thanks to the fantastic Waterfront views and a food truck dishing up laid-back bites. But for those spending the night at the Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront you’ll love the sleek rooftop pool which offers the chance to do laps with a view of Lion’s Head.

Radisson RED, V&A Waterfront

The streets of Sea Point down below may be full of bustle, but atop The Hyde Hotel you’ll find The Skye Deck, where a sparkling splash pool dishes up superb views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. There are plenty of poolside sun loungers on offer, and an excellent restaurant and wine bar to keep you fed and watered.

13 London Road, Sea Point