Boutique accommodations for corporates who like to work and play
Cape Town, a melting pot of art, culture, business and leisure. Steeped in history, here is a playground for both young and old to explore picturesque locations, savour award-winning restaurants, and discover all the hidden gems that lay buried beneath the iconic Table Mountain.
The Mother City is moreish. No one who has driven along the Atlantic Seaboard would deny an opportunity to return. It isn't just fellow South Africans that consider Western Cape's capital an enviable holiday destination, travelers from further afield flock to our blue flag beaches and wander along the hiking trails that weave within the city.
Imagine having all this at your doorstep?
Thanks to the Ideas Cartel Group, you don't have to. Cartel House Hotel on Waterkant is an inner city haven, wedged between Greenpoint and the CBD. It is slap bang in the middle of a culinary carousel that swings from the top of Kloof Street, bringing you past The Secret Gin Bar on Wale Street and VIXI Social House on Bree; making a turn at the award-winning Nobu near the V&A Waterfront, and GOLD Restarant on Bennett Street, before completing its lap at Hemelhuijs.
And these are just a few options you have if you're in the mood for a business brunch or a deal-closing dinner. Professional liaisons that require something more structured need only a look down the corridor of the multipurpose space you are staying in.
Uncapped internet, hotdesking facilities and access to boardrooms can all be organised through the Ideas Cartel mobile app. The interface is incredibly user friendly but if you are as purist as I am, a hospitable concierge or evening butler is always willing to make your experience more comfortable.
Speaking of comfort; each of the three themed rooms are tastefully decorated and fitted with amenities you didn't think you needed.
Picture peeling yourself from a needy bed after a successful dinner that was finished with a night cap. Though you really don't want to, you draw the blackout curtains and invite a little natural light in. As the sun traces its way from the hotel room floor to the corner wall, it illuminates a merciful sachet of REHIDRAT and a small manila envelope filled with headache tablets.
Thoughtful additions like this are what draw so many seasoned travelers to boutique hotels. The retro refrigerator sat next to a geometric shelf rail, where there are vintage prints on the wall and brown-stained chesterfield couches in the lobby are what set this quirky yet incredibly capable establishment apart.
My take: if you collect unique experiences like a philatelist does stamps, you'll want to check yourself in for at least three days.
Are you a corporate looking for convenience with a twist? Then Cartel House on Waterkant is a no-brainer. Not only will you get your money's worth making use of the state-of-the-art facilities, but you'll have a enviable anecdote, having stayed at a hotel that is definitely ahead of its time.
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