Our recent visit proved something I've always suspected - that it is service and not amenities that define an experience as a luxurious one. We received the rock-star welcome with uber-general manager Jeff Rosenberg waiting at the door. Another warm introduction was made as hands are pumped and over-night bags propped onto a gleaming brass luggage carrier. Are we at Cape Town's best boutique hotel where one feels that the entire staff is at one's beck and call? No, we're at the four-star Southern Sun Waterfront. It is always good to be expected.
To their credit, TripAdvisor reviews also focus on the excellent service the hotel delivers so while I'm not naïve to think that we weren't given an inordinate amount of attention because of this review, many other guests also experience the quality service as the defining aspect of their visit.
We were in one of the 14th floor King suites which have front and side windows. The suite is probably 50% larger than a standard room and missed nothing that I'd expect from a 5-star property. Not all the rooms have fridges so if that matters to you, be sure that your room does. In addition, some other negatives raised on TripAdvisor are a curtain screening the shower from the room rather than a lockable door. The hotel says that all their toilets are separated from the room by doors but again, if this is likely to bother you, check first.
I liked that even the security staff seemed committed to contributing to excellent service. A small thing, but something I appreciated, was having the lift called as soon as the security staff spied me approaching.
This hotel is direct neighbour to The Southern Sun Cullinan Hotel and, similarly when staying in Sandton, Gauteng when a number of Southern Sun hotels are in close proximity to Sandton City, it is easy to be confused as to where you are staying. I wrongly arrived at The Cullinan and was nonplussed when the receptionist had no record of my visit. I'm guessing that the confusion happens frequently as she offered to call the Southern Sun Waterfront to see if we were booked there.
Another confusion arising from the nomenclature is that this Waterfront hotel is adjacent to rather than inside the V&A Waterfront. And, while it is easy enough to walk across the foot bridge to the entrance to the V&A, it takes at least 10 minutes to briskly walk to the Victoria Wharf arcade which is where many people want to be. The hotel does offer a shuttle.
I was super impressed by the dinner buffet at Yizani Restaurant. When we dined there previously late last year we ordered a la carte and found things satisfactory at best. What impressed me most about the buffet was the variety of well-made dishes. Despite following a very restricted diet I was able to find things that I could eat with ease. I couldn't resist tasting the ox tail and samp and beans and just a tiny amount of it confirmed how delicious it was and how much I missed such comforting fare. JP wasn't restricted by what he could order and was as impressed as I was by his meal. And, the breakfast buffet is substantial and set out in such a way that even when the hotel is busy, I didn't have to queue much.
There is a substantial difference in price between the Southern Sun Waterfront's top suite and a standard room in a top five-star hotel but not a substantial difference in experience. That is reason alone to recommend this hotel.
For more information: www.tsogosunhotels.com and for reservations: moc.nusogost@snoitavreser.tnorfretawss or call +27 (0) 21 409 4000.
