According to our butler, the ‘Camissa’ in Camissa House apparently means ‘the place of sweet waters’. And if you ask us, this secluded, private, LGBTQ-owned, eight-bedroom boutique hotel is as sweet as it gets.
Comfort is clearly key here at Camissa House, but that’s not to discredit the modern, clean and vibrant design of the place. Filled with light from large, well-placed windows, this spacious modernist mansion avoids feeling cold and is accented with colourful, contemporary and South African artworks as well as comfortable furnishings.
Staying here at Camissa House is a very sociable experience: the open-plan communal areas are designed with an ‘at home’ ethos providing great opportunities to meet other guests. On our first evening, exhausted from our long journey, we chilled on the oversized sofa and watched our favourite Netflix shows on the huge screen with other weary travellers. The next evening began with us taking up seats at the bar and enjoying the company and talents of the resident cocktail waiter who thrilled us with endless, delicious complimentary concoctions from the well-stocked collection of spirits. Continuing the indulgent theme (we’re on holiday, why not?) we opted into the hotel’s delicious – and again, complimentary – high tea served in the airy dining room, which gets four thumbs up from us.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Insider | CPT | GMT +2 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Although Camissa House doesn’t boast its own gym, we were welcome to use the fitness facilities – which also include a steam room – at sister hotel MannaBay just down the street. Otherwise, to balance out the indulgence, we recommend taking full advantage of the hiking trails that snake around Deer Park immediately behind the hotel, at the foot of Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. |
The location, the very last street before reaching the nature reserve at the foot of Table Mountain, at first glance seemed a little out of the way, but it is actually perfectly positioned to reach some of the city’s key spots. Camissa House is just five minutes by car from the CBD, 15 from the V&A Waterfront, and 10 from some of Cape Town’s stunning beaches. Getting around was made all the more convenient with a complimentary car service which dropped us off and collected us from anywhere we wanted to go, so long as it is within 10km of the hotel.
Our exquisitely designed suite was a substantial size, featuring a sumptuous king-sized bed and generous bathroom with a separate rain shower and roll-top bath. It also came with its own private sun deck with views down to the CBD, although you could always opt to relax on the communal terraces or by a pool to encourage more mingling. Very rarely do we feel completely at home on holiday, but here at Camissa House, it was rather hard not to.
Photography courtesy of Camissa House
