While looking for somewhere to stay in De Waterkant recently there were a lot of boxes we needed to tick to find the perfect match: we wanted to be in the centre of the gay-village so we could walk to and from places but didn't want to be so near as to hear the thump-thumb of music and the loud goodbyes typical after a night out drinking. At first I thought staying at Village & Life's De Waterkant House would be too noisy given its proximity to Manhattan Restaurant but it wasn't. In fact the only noise I was aware of came from late-nighters buzzing the front gate to rouse other guests.
De Waterkant is steeped in colourful history. In the recent past the Loader-street area was popular with Bohemian-types and I knew artists and journalists who lived there. Today, following its gentrification brought to a head by the Cape Quarter development, properties here are so expensive that renting a night or few in a Village & Life property is about the only way to stay here.
It is the most charming place to be early on a Sunday morning - the streets are all but empty of the cars that jam into the area on weekdays and at nights and it is possible to walk the cobbles and take in the beauty of the historic houses and enjoy the many pastel-painted facades and flower-rich gardens behind the broekie-lace iron fretwork fences.
De Waterkant House is a 9-roomed Cape Georgian Manor House but has been altered inside while the historic facade remains. We were in one of two Premier Rooms that have a queen-sized bed while Standard rooms are smaller and have double beds. All have en-suite bathrooms, mini fridges (there is a brilliant Spar within easy walking distance and there is a microwave in the shared kitchen you can use. TV's come with DVD players and selected satellite stations, a safe, hairdryer and a mist-fan - the rooms are not air-conditioned, are in each room.
They provide two brown-paper bags with tea and instant coffee in the one and soap etc in the other. Check in is down the road at The Charles, also part of the properties that Village & Life manage while an excellent breakfast is available via vouchers at the café nearby.
For reservations please call +27 (0) 21 437 9706 or toll free from the UK on 0808 238 0055. You can email az.oc.efilv@esuohtnakretawed and visit www.villageandlife.com.
