Ellerman House

"Built for the shipping magnate Sir John Ellerman in 1906, this is one of the most splendid Edwardian mansions on one of Cape Town’s most beautiful coastal sites, with prime views of the boulder-strewn swimming coves below and of sunsets. In the exclusive Bantry Bay area, Ellerman House has 11 rooms, two suites, two villas, and one-and-a-half-acre hillside gardens, all verdant lawns, waving palm trees, and aromatic Cape fynbos beds."

"Ellerman House in Cape Town grants guests free tours of its private collections of South African art, which detail more than 100 years of South African history." - Cat Sposato

"Ellerman House offers a rotating selection of cheesecakes, savory quiches, cold-pressed juices, and a gingerbread house at Christmastime." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Start us off with an overview.From the road, Ellerman House looks like a grand, private residence (of which there are plenty in upscale Bantry Bay). Where many historic properties were demolished to make way for architecturally daring concrete-and-glass show homes, Ellerman House is an original Cape Edwardian mansion that dates back to 1906. Provenance and history is what sets it apart from other boutique hotels on the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years, owner Paul Harris has restored the old lady extensively, and transformed the one-and-a-half acre garden into an indigenous showpiece—like a little slice of Kirstenbosch botanical gardens by the sea. Once through the security controlled front door of the main house, you descend the art-lined wooden staircase to the lower floor which leads through a series of elegant lounges to a deep, shaded veranda. This gives way to terraced lawns, a swimming pool and a sea view that you won’t easily forget. What’s the crowd like?Many guests are regulars, many are British, especially those who return annually in the summer months. In winter, American and other foreign globetrotters, fresh from a five-star safari. Now, onto the good stuff: Tell us about your room.I have stayed in one of the rooms at the top of the house with a balcony and a magnificent sea view. To fall asleep at night with the balcony doors wide open, listening to the crash of the surf on the shore far below, was sheer bliss. While the hotel bar is a glamorous spot for a sundowner drink, all I wanted to do was pour a glass of wine and watch the sun sink into the ocean in delicious solitude (Bantry Bay sunsets are epic, especially in winter). The room had the feel of a private guest bedroom with deep-pile carpets, antique furniture, books, compelling original artworks and expensive fabrics and crisp bedlinen. The en suite bathroom was spacious and bright. Each of the 13 rooms is completely different in character, but all are classically decorated in comparison to the two exclusive-use villas which have minimalist interiors in keeping with the contemporary design. How about the little things, like the mini bar, or the shower goodies? Anything you'd like to shout out?There are so many ‘wow’ factors here, but the extensive collection of original South African art dating back to the 19th century is unique. You could call this an art gallery with a hotel attached, as every room and all available wall space is hung with original and rare art from the Harris family’s private collection. The garden is a gallery for sculptures, and there’s even a contemporary art gallery below the swimming pool where an eclectic, thought-provoking collection is exhibited on a rotational basis throughout the year. I also loved the walk-in ‘pantry’, stocked with sweet and savory treats and homemade snacks, including sweets, cookies, cakes, granola bars, roasted nuts and sandwiches. All drinks are included, except for wine and Champagne. How about the food. Worth it?Food and wine are taken very seriously here. It’s all overseen by newly appointed food director Peter Templehoff, a Relais & Chateaux grand chef who also heads up his own restaurant, Fyn, in the city center. A new focus on wellness means that healthy, nourishing food is the rule, rather than the exception. That said, you can eat whatever you want. The chefs dream up seasonal menus of modern classics for lunch and dinner every day, always including healthy, plant-based options, because that’s how the owners like to eat, but you can also ask the chefs to prepare whatever you feel like eating. Wine pairings are considered suggestions by resident sommelier, Wayve, who oversees the impressive wine gallery, with temperature-controlled white, red and sparkling wine storage for 7,500 bottles. Don’t miss a private tasting in this subterranean space with its packed-earth terroir wall and inviting bar. Note that dining here is only for in-house guests, as the hotel is private and the restaurant is not open to the general public. Was there any member of the staff that stood out in your mind, and if so, why? I’m not sure what the guest-to-staff ratio is here, but it feels as if you have your own member of staff personally taking care of you from the moment you arrive. GM Paul Bruce-Brand is a gracious host with a great sense of humor and an obvious love for South Africa. Tell us what we missed. It’s worth taking a tour of the substantial art collection with in-house art guide Talita Swarts, who brings the paintings and sculptures to life with her quirky, often humorous details about the artists, their personal lives and the social contexts in which they lived and experienced life. Bottom line: Worth it, and why? You’ll experience the very best of everything South Africa has to offer, from food and wine to art and the staggering natural beauty of mountain and ocean. It’s not hard to believe that some guests never leave the property." - Jane Broughton

"Lucky guests staying at Ellerman House between July and September may spot southern right whales swimming off the sparkling coast from the pink and white terrace of Ellerman House. Inside this Edwardian mansion, tucked behind an unassuming wall on a busy road along the city’s Atlantic Seaboard, lies another wonderful surprise: The property houses one of the country’s largest private collections of art with pieces by South African artists like William Kentridge and Sam Nhlengethwa. There’s also a wine cellar with more than 9,500 South African wines to try. The 13 rooms and suites all have wingback chairs and chandeliers; the two modern-feeling villas feature private pools. While each space is different, there’s one thing they all have in common: a brilliant vantage point from which to watch the sun sink." - Mary Holland