An icon of the city’s skyline since the early 1970s, over the decades this once-stylish address slowly lost its lustre until, in 2016, the Ritz Hotel Management Company (RHMC) saw an opportunity to revitalise – and reimagine – this faded star of the Atlantic Seaboard.
"It's a beautiful piece of local architecture that desperately needed a new lease on life. We had a very clear vision of what we wanted to create, and what Cape Town needed," says, Lisa Carey, marketing and PR manager for The Ritz.
RHMC identified a gap in the market for an international-grade hotel that would marry a contemporary design aesthetic with world-class service:
"We are not creating a quirky boutique property or a stiff five-star hotel. We want to cater for that beautiful niche in the middle. We wanted to take luxury and design, and make it accessible,” Carey comments further.
That process began with a thorough refurbishment of the 23-story building, the age of the structure necessitating a complete overhaul of the insulation, plumbing and lift shafts. With the ‘bones’ of the building brought into the 21st-century, the transformation from faded star to contemporary glamour could begin.
The end result is a sleek porte-cochere of steel and glass, a glamorous lobby featuring golden palm trees and front desk of white marble. No mobile app check-in or anodyne staff here: rather, expect refined personalised service to become a hallmark of The Ritz.
Ensuring those world-class standards are maintained is general manager Johann du Plessis, who brings decades of hospitality expertise to the role.
“It’s so exciting for my seasoned hoteliers and I to be part of restoring The Ritz to its rightful position as one of the most sought-after hotels in Cape Town,” says Du Plessis, whose wealth of experience spans luxury resorts, lodges and hotels across southern Africa. “The iconic design-driven hotel is really going to set the bar for urban resorts, and we look forward to our first guests – and locals – discovering the understated luxury of The Ritz.”
The Ritz has long been famous for its revolving restaurant – the only one of its kind in the Western Cape – and 2017/2018 is set to restore its reputation as one of the most sought-after refined dining destinations in the city with Top of the Ritz located on the 23rd floor.
On the 22nd floor, the Dom Perignon Champagne Lounge, one of only a handful in the world, a sultry and seductive space ideal for pre-dinner bubbles and sundowner cocktails, with local DJs spinning laid-back beats from late-afternoon every day. And on the 21st floor, The Hennessy Cognac Cigar Lounge is similarly set to become an address for after-dinner digestifs and late-night cocktails.
Casa Restaurant and Cabanas brings a touch of Miami South Beach glamour to Sea Point, with all day al fresco dining that ranges from brasserie-classics to sushi and wood-fired pizza. Tables flow out to the pool deck, host to a Veuve Clicquot Bar.
“Just a few years ago, who would have believed that The Ritz would be home to a Veuve Clicquot bar,” enthuses Du Plessis, emphasising that Casa and the pool terrace is a space for both locals and hotels guests. “How do you create a buzz in a hotel? It's the locals. Local residents are essential for creating the soul of a hotel, and we can’t wait to welcome them to The Ritz.”
The Ritz re-opens on 15 December 2017.
