City-living at Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel & Spa

On entry you might think you're in a classy office block, thanks to the luxury apartment block vibe rather than a traditional hotel setup. Even though I think it's ideal for business travellers, some people even make this a permanent home by renting apartments.

Since there was a bit of a blunder with my booking, I had to wait around for the general manager to be contacted to sort things out after being asked if I was sure I was at the right hotel...

Eventually I was chaperoned to my impressive two-bed platinum room (or shall I rather say small house) on the 17th floor with a magnificent view of the Table Bay Harbour and the landmark Ferris wheel at the V&A Waterfront - all earlier unpleasantness evaporating as I imagined how rad it would be to have this as my permanent apartment... A girl can dream!

My apartment had a modern, open-plan, fully equipped kitchen, a lounge with a TV with satellite channels, a dining room, private balcony and two bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. How sad to only stay here for one night?

Restaurants on offer at Mandela Rhodes Place are a selection of trendy eateries which are located in the atrium including Doppio Zero, Mint Restaurant, Twankey Bar, and Bombay Brasserie at the Taj Hotel closeby. Guests can charge their bills to their room accounts.

I had my dinner as well as my breakfast at Doppio Zero. For dinner I had the Braised Beef Short Rib Stufato - a beef short rib stew braised with onions and red wine and served with parmesan mash. I asked for some extra veggies on the side. It was a delicious, hearty meal, perfectly complemented with a glass of red. For dessert I opted for the awesome coffee/brownie special.

With a busy evening, the service was still very good with the manager constantly alert, topping up my wine glass and checking to see whether all the customers were happy and tended to. Even the next morning at breakfast, he remembered the meal I had ordered the night before! Now that's special customer service.

Bringing in some traditional hotel-style, Mandela Rhodes Place guests are served a buffet breakfast at Doppio where you can help yourself to coffee, tea, cereals, yoghurt, fruits and freshly baked treats. You can then select a warm breakfast off their special hotel guest menu (options are limited but still very nice). I chose the breakfast omelette with mozzarella, bacon and mushrooms which hit all the right spots.

Other facilities

There is a lovely pool and deck area located on the seventh floor with a great view of the city and perfect for some summer relaxation with a book and a cocktail in hand. On the eighth floor guests will also find a gym which can be accessed using your room key.

I, unfortunately, didn't have a chance to try out the Wellness spa, but if you have, please do leave a comment below sharing your experience and whether you would recommend it.

Mandela Rhodes Place is situated in Wale Street, Cape Town. For more, go to www.mandelarhodesplace.co.za