The Windermere Hotel

Rooms

After all that activity you’ll need a good night’s rest, and the 9 spacious suites at The Windermere deliver the goods. A soothing décor of muted browns, creams and greys relax sun-dazzled eyes, while air-conditioning and thick sliding windows keep the rooms cool and quiet. To revive your weary limbs, there’s a large bathroom with a bathtub, a separate power-shower and all kinds of cosmetic goodies; plus there's a sitting area with a sofa. Room #3 has a balcony with ocean views, though all guests have access to the starry cocktail deck. When you’re ready for bed, kingsize doubles (or twins) and soft percale linen cosset you to sleep.

The beds, like almost all of the hotel furniture, are custom-made by Haldene Martin, local ‘decorator of the year’, and installed under the eye of designer-owner Anne Read and her husband Clive. Their brief to architect Johan Lochner, who designed the 2-storey concrete-and-glass building from scratch, was to create one of the top boutique hotels in the area; and it appears to be achieving that, alongside more established names such as Kensington Place in Cape Town.