The Grand Daddy Cape Town review, Cape Town, South Africa

The Location

Situated in Cape Town's city centre, the hotel has a corner on lively Long Street which is also home to plenty of bars, restaurants, cafes and backpackers.

The Space

It's an old building - originally opening as the Hotel Metropole in 1895, it keeps much of its original facade and feel, such as the grand old staircase and its tiny escalator. Over five floors, the hotel contains three types of rooms from suites to standard, a restaurant downstairs, a rooftop bar and 'Airstream Trailer Park' on the roof which also has the tiny 'Pink Flamingo Rooftop Cinema'.

The Room

I spend the first two nights in one of the regular rooms on the third floor, which feels like a standard three or four star-hotel room. On the third night I shift to the trailer park on the rooftop, where seven airstreams reflect elements of a South African road trip. Lucky for me I get the Winelands trailer all to myself, a behemoth which has lounges, one which becomes a second bed; a kitchenette, as well as plenty of cupboard space to pack your gear away. The white framed bed sits against a backdrop of stars, like you're camping underneath them with two faux oil lamps on either side. There's even a faux wine rack (which was a bit of a let-down, TBH) while birds fly on one side of the trailer, the other is authentically wood-panelled. The trailers are self-contained and fully equipped with mod cons such as reverse cycle air conditioning, safes, and wi-fi (netter than in the rooms) and their own little garden with setting, with the rooftop bar only a couple of feet away.

The Food

Breakfast is included in the rate at modern cafe Thirty Ate Eatery which open early until late, and staple breakfast items from an a la carte menu are served until 3pm.