Gorgeous George hotel: Cape Town's newest design hotel

The recent Freedom Day 2019 marked 25 years of democracy in South Africa, with more festivities to come throughout the year. Add to that the naming of Wolfgat – a two-hour coastal drive from Cape Town – as the world's best restaurant for 2019, and Cape Town has plenty of reasons to celebrate.

The newest reason is the opening of Gorgeous George, set in two heritage buildings, one art deco and the other Edwardian. Linked together, they create a 32-room hotel on St Georges Mall, in the centre of the city.

Gorgeous George is Cape Town's first entrant in style-setter Design Hotel's portfolio, and Johannesburg designer Tristan du Plessis has tied together the historical architectural features – from the entrance's brass doors to its deep windows and high ceilings – with raw industrial concrete and steel beams.

Check the backdrop to the reception desk, where 1800 handpainted Delft tiles create a map of the city. Greenery weaves between vintage globes and lamps, gold-trimmed books and seashore finds, softening the rigidity of the Edwardian architecture.

The dark, moody palette provides a backdrop for a collection works by South African artists: designer Porky Hefer's swing chair in the shape of a crocodile's head should give social media a zing. In the guest rooms, find velvet couches and collections of curios; every room has city views and a different mural painted by multi-medium Cape Town artist David Brits, for "a touch of inner-city howzit".

Alight the original marble staircase to the sixth-floor roof and you'll find the sunny indoor-outdoor Gigi Rooftop. A glass-sided pool, restaurant and bar look out to the city. Chef Guy Bennett works on the motto "come for breakfast, stay all day". Breakslow is the order of the day. From SAR2529. See designhotels.com, gorgeousgeorge.co.za