Taj Cape Town, South Africa

I currently hold two confirmed reservations at Taj Cape Town. While the property itself looks impressive, the pre-arrival communication has been disappointing. Three weeks before arrival I received an email with questions about my stay, and when I did not respond within two working days, I was told my reservation would “need to be released”, if I don’t provide my stay preferences. This wording felt like a cancellation threat, inconsistent with the clear policy I booked under (free cancellation until 2PM one day prior to arrival). It undermined my confidence in the service quality I could expect on property. Luxury hospitality is about clarity and respect in communication, and unfortunately this experience has left me considering cancelling both stays before even arriving. EDIT: Following my original review, I also noticed that my confirmed rate plan had been changed without any communication. The booking was switched from the “Member Special Rate” to a “Declared Published Tariff” showing a placeholder price of ZAR 0.02, and all included benefits (breakfast, lounge access, early/late check-in) disappeared from the reservation. The cancellation policy displayed in the system also shifted from one day to two days. These uncommunicated changes further confirmed my decision to cancel both stays and rather look elsewhere. EDIT 2: I sent the hotel a clear email explaining my reasons for cancelling both stays so they could learn from the experience. The hotel chose not to respond. I am sure the property delivers very well whenever everything runs smoothly, but the difference between good and excellent service is how a hotel acts when things might go wrong or how it responds to direct feedback. Ignoring it is not a good sign.

Following a three week cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town we booked the Taj Cape Town having stayed in Taj hotels in Mumbai, Jodhpur, Varanasi and Udaipur in India, we were not disappointed. The hotel was an oasis of calm on arrival and our room spectacular. We had booked a room with Table Mountain views and were delighted to enter a beautifully appointed and spacious room with a private balcony on the eleventh floor with magnificent views of the mountain and city. Rooms have everything needed for a relaxing stay and an extensive in room dining menu. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel was excellent. Our room rate was B&B and we had no complaints about the choice and range of both hot and cold food available at breakfast and the very efficient service. We also had dinner in the Bombay Brasserie during our stay. As expected, the food was delicious, the service exceptional and the Pinotage most enjoyable. Following advice not to wander around the streets at night, we found the Uber service to be incredibly quick and cheap for trips to the V&A. On our last day we were able to stay in our room for a reasonable price allowing us to relax through to our evening pick up and flight. We would most definitely use this hotel again, a Mountain View high floor room would be a must have.

We had a lovely suite on the 11th floor overlooking Table Mountain. The room was large, well finished, and extremely comfortable. The breakfast buffet was extensive and delicious and all the staff were genuinely friendly and a pleasure to interact with. |The highlight was the club lounge which we had access to. The host, Christopher, was excellent. He was both friendly and professional and facilitated a high quality and enjoyable ambiance.

the rooms are good, spacious, good coffee machine in the room. beds and especially the pillows are unfortunately very uncomfortable. overall room felt overpriced (although i understand this was high season). we had a few things broken here and there (one of the keys didn’t work, then the second key also stopped working, there was an issue with the bath sink as well), all small things but didn’t overall feel like a 5 star hotel. we had two different rooms booked and the process to move rooms wasn’t as smooth as i was hoping for, there were really annoying text messages from random number about my reservation which is unacceptable.

It really felt like we were leaving friends and family on our departure from Taj Cape Town. |As a result of the great hospitality and care we received, I’d love to book another stay as soon as possible.|It’s not often I’m so quick with feedback but I am eager to say how wonderful our time was at The Taj.||We booked our suite with booking.com and as a result of a mixup through that platform our check-in took quite a long time. However, because of this we managed to develop a bond and rapport with the staff that was both genuine and appreciated.|We felt everyone genuinely cared and wanted to do their best to sort our issue. |Jade (Manager) and Zim (reception) were instrumental in helping us get the suite we had thought we had booked on Booking.com and Taariq (concierge) ensured all communications with booking.com were as easy and efficient as possible.|In fact all staff throughout our stay were fantastic: always warm and friendly and eager to chat. It was refreshing to see how each staff member had a positive attitude and genuine smile whenever they saw us.|The suite itself was luxurious and large. |We felt we could be completely relaxed and comfortable there. With a well-equipped kitchen and dining area, breakfast bar and lounge space, as well as the king size bed, we had a huge space to relax and enjoy our short 4 night stay.|The gym is always a must for us during a hotel stay and the one in Taj had all the cardio and weight equipment we needed. We enjoyed use of the indoor pool and sauna too.|Overall our stay in Taj Cape Town was excellent. We didn’t dine in the hotel this time but it was lovely to have a cocktail in the opulent bar and enjoy a wine on the outside terrace.|Next time we will book with Taj direct as we have lost confidence with booking.com and we now know the service we’ll receive from the hotel will be excellent!

We spent a single night at the Taj and it lived up to my previous excellent experience with the brand.||Our room was luxurious with period features and had been part of the original building. The fixtures and fittings were high quality and the room very much had a 5 star feel.||The hotel is located at one end of St George’s Mall which is a busy shopping street in daylight hours. There’s plenty to do nearby, but the tourist hotspot of the V&A is better reached in a taxi/Uber. The Taj is near to a Hop On Hop Off bus stop which is useful if you want to explore Cape Town but don’t have your own transport.||We didn’t have access to the Club Lounge, but instead ate at Bombay Brasserie which was very good. Breakfast was also excellent and my wife enjoyed the offerings from the Indian continent.||I would certainly consider The Taj if we pass through Cape Town again.

Excellent service, great rooms , good location. If you like Indian food, Buffett and the fine dining restaurant are great. The Chef went out the way to make special breakfast items for us. They were also very helpful in arranging tours and transportation. Thank you Taj for making very memorable vacation!

I’ve stayed at Taj Cape Town several times over the years, and it’s always been one of my favourite hotels in the city. The location is good — right in the heart of Cape Town, close to the Company’s Garden and many of the city’s main attractions. The staff are truly wonderful — warm, attentive, and genuinely caring. Their professionalism and friendliness create a welcoming atmosphere that makes every stay pleasant. That said, compared to how the property felt two or three years ago, the hotel now feels a little tired and would really benefit from a light renovation or refresh. It’s still elegant and comfortable, but it has lost a bit of its sparkle. Unfortunately, during this stay, my travel companions experienced an unpleasant situation: a portion of their cash went missing from their belongings. Not the entire amount, but enough to be noticed. Thankfully, the hotel management handled it professionally and provided compensation, which was appreciated — but still, it’s a reminder to keep valuables very secure and to be cautious even with the in-room safe. Overall, Taj Cape Town remains a charming and well-located hotel with excellent service and kind people. With some renovation and tighter security measures, it could easily return to being one of the best hotels in the city.