Ursula Rohlwink
Google
I had the delight of spending a weekend in the gorgeous English Suite of Colona Castle. I travel frequently across the globe for work, staying in high-end conference hotels, and waking up in a formulaic room that looks the same no matter the city or country. For this weekend away I was looking for something very different - a place that offered something unique, something with taste and refinement, something with a story and a soul. I had often seen the beautiful Colona Castle rising up against the backdrop of Muizenberg Mountain and having seen their excellent website it was an easy choice to book with them. We were warmly welcomed by the owners, Nicole and Michael, who found that perfect balance between professionalism and open hearted hospitality that is so rarely found in accommodation establishments today. Colona Castle was every inch as splendid as I had imagined, with a magnificent double volume ceiling, handsome rooms and an artful arrangement of finely selected furniture, tapestries and screens.
Our room, the English Suite, was without a doubt one of the most beautiful rooms I have had the pleasure to stay in. It is decorated in luxurious creamy tones, offers 2 bathrooms, one of which was open plan to the bedroom with a Victorian tub positioned beneath a silk drape – I just loved it! The bed was wonderfully enormous and utterly comfortable. From the tall the city lay stretched out at our feet. Truly Colona Castle has a magnificent view across Cape Town with Table Mountain on the left, the Hottentots Hollands ahead, and the vast False Bay coastline to the right. At night the city lights offer a different kind of magic.
However, our experience was not only made so memorable by the beautiful décor and view, but also by the excellent service offered. The focus of the owners and staff was directed at offering us the best possible experience, and the attention to detail was so refreshing! Each night we found delightful chocolates on our pillows, the mini bar was stocked with our list of favourite beverages, and in-house dining and spa treatments could be arranged at our request. Our delicious breakfasts were served with fine crockery and cutlery on crisp white linen table cloths, what a pleasant change from the hotel buffet and take-away coffee cup!
From our base at Colona Castle we explored the characterful False Bay coastline. We took a long walk on Muizenberg beach, browsed the quaint shops in Kalk Bay and drove round the peninsula to Scarborough and back through Simon’s Town. All in all we had a truly splendid weekend, and we thank Nicole and Michael for making this experience so memorable!