Upper East Side... with a 'touch of funk'

The lounge area, a place to relax.

Certainly our loft suite met with five-star standards but as the hotel is making much of its value-for-money credentials from a marketing perspective, a four-star rating is better. Rooms are quoted from R550, which makes them extremely competitive and I think more than makes up for the hotel's semi-industrial location in Woodstock.

The redevelopment of Woodstock is sure to continue to attract hot creatives like Ogilvy and The Old Biscuit Mill precinct, which now also draws people after dark with Luke Dale-Robert's sensational The Test Kitchen restaurant. However, this part of Woodstock isn't the sort of place that makes me want to go for a walk alone, despite the fact that it is a mixed-use development and people are living in apartments there.

Major plusses

For life on the high side, try one of the loft suites.

Major plusses include conferencing for up to 350 and parking for 1000 cars. There's all-day dining at Liberty Restaurant which also has a focus on trying to keep prices sharp. While we had a good breakfast and excellent samplers from the kitchen, our dinner disappointed. I'm confident that the kitchen is now in better shape.

From a guest perspective free Wi-Fi is very appealing. There isn't a lot more you need in a city hotel and the fact that the loft suites are fitted for self-catering (and with natty espresso machines) it makes a weekend stay with a young child in tow that much more affordable.

Meet strangers, make new friends.

There are 145 Superior Rooms with showers only, 22 Executive Rooms with baths and showers and 16 Loft Suites with kitchens. Two are disabled-person friendly rooms.

Although not cheap, (R220 million went into the project), I don't like the style of the interior which fits in a similar space with The Rosebank Crowne Plaza in Johannesburg and The Crystal Towers in Century City.

Described in the media handout as "'glam-with-a-touch-of-funk', interiors contrast with the industrial vibe of the area. Hotel interior specialists, DIAD, created the stylish public areas - cascading chandeliers and clean-lined furniture in splashes of bold colour are set against a monochromatic backdrop of back-lit art glass, laser cut screens, mirrored stainless steel and polished techni-stone.

And at the end of the day, time for a lie-down.

Interior and architectural designers, Design-360, were responsible for the fresh, modern look of the hotel's 183 rooms."

Upper Eastside Hotel, Brickfield Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa | Tel: +27 (0)21 404 0570. www.uppereastsidehotel.co.za.