Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof evaluation

For a metropolis of its measurement, Cape City has a preponderance of factors motels — and an thrilling new one has simply joined the roster.

The Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof formally debuted in June after a number of months in soft-opening mode and presents company cheerful lodging — and even a restaurant that is a vacation spot in its personal proper — within the coronary heart of a brick, mixed-use improvement that anchors an up-and-coming a part of the town full of fashionable eating places, bars and boutiques. The property was featured on our checklist of essentially the most thrilling lodge openings for 2025, so we have been particularly excited to have a peek inside.

Lodging are available in a number of classes, together with comparatively cheap but expansive suites, so it is an amazing choice for vacationers on a finances who nonetheless need some creature comforts.

We popped by the lodge for an in a single day shortly after its official opening, and this is what you may count on from a keep.

Associated: The very best Hilton motels on this planet

First impressions

A genial doorman waves me over as I maneuver my automotive into the brick yard in entrance of the lodge. He directs me to the next-door parking storage, and by the point I pull into an area, he’s already standing beside my automotive, ready to take my baggage and escort me to the elevator that can carry me to the foyer. Even throughout our quick journey, he manages to convey a way of pleasure that the lodge is formally open, particularly as a result of Individuals like me are already among the many most frequent company.

As I arrive within the foyer, I take a second to acclimate to the energetic shade palette that surrounds me. The lodge’s inside design takes its inspiration from the flora, fauna and sea lifetime of South Africa, so I spy the whole lot from murals dotted with oversize protea blossoms to a life-size giraffe sculpture craning its neck by means of the middle of a grand staircase.

There are mild and artwork installations in every single place I look, plus knickknacks galore on the cabinets across the foyer and reception desk. Company lounge within the varied seating vignettes, although nobody has at present staked out a spot on the lengthy coworking desk within the parlor. As a substitute, everybody appears to be gravitating towards the lobby-level restaurant, Ongetem, for Friday night cocktails, although my very own dinner should wait.

Test-in takes a mere minute, and there’s a welcome shock that I’ve been upgraded to a nook suite because of my Hilton Honors Diamond elite standing. Alongside the way in which to my lodging, which features a jaunt by means of a glass-enclosed hallway etched with fowl shapes, the receptionist reveals me the water stations the place I can refill the offered in-room bottles, then leaves me to my very own units to discover my dwelling for the night time.

The rooms

The Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof has 154 rooms and suites. The plethora of lodging classes consists of rooms with king or queen beds, metropolis and mountain views, and even suites with their very own non-public outside terraces. Mine is among the latter, a King Premium Suite with Mountain View, although that view should wait until morning because it’s already darkish exterior.

The suite spans nicely over 600 sq. ft, with a capacious lounge and eating space the place I discover a welcome board of cheese, olives, fig jam and bread ready for me. The minibar holds much more native treats, like almonds from Babylonstoren within the Cape Winelands, plus a Nespresso machine that can turn out to be useful within the morning.

The bleached wood flooring and concrete ceilings give the house an industrial really feel that’s nonetheless warmed as much as a modicum of coziness by the pink, blue and peach tones of a round rug and a curving couch set between a floor-to-ceiling window and a door to the terrace.

Behind a big sliding door, the toilet is tiled in stark black and white, with twin stone-countered vanities and a glass-walled shower-bath suite stocked with Apotheke merchandise.

Throughout the lounge by means of one other barn-style sliding door, the bed room has an equally industrial really feel, although that’s softened by an overhang framing the white-sheeted mattress with whimsical depictions of flowers, birds and butterflies from the Cape area.

Subsequent to the mattress, an open rack and set of drawers represent the closet, whereas subsequent to one of many huge home windows, there’s a slender work desk and chair with a wall-mounted tv above them.

The next morning, I am tempted out onto the terrace for dawn views of Desk Mountain and settle into one of many deck chairs with my cup of espresso as I plan out my day. If solely I had one other night time right here.

Eating

The lodge’s sole restaurant is Ongetem, which implies “untamed” in Afrikaans. Effectively-known South African chef Bertus Basson is the person behind the idea, and on the Friday night time of my keep, the cavernous house is filled with fashionable Capetonians having fun with the whole lot from date night time and enterprise dinners to bigger gatherings of good friend teams.

Basson’s menu highlights South Africa’s bounty and the varied flavors of Cape City’s many cultures, in keeping with his guiding philosophy of being a “Butcher, Baker, Cocktail Maker.” You would possibly begin, like I did, sipping a glass of Stellenbosch chenin blanc or a botanical-forward cocktail just like the Burnt Negroni with orange- and sage-infused gin, Wild Cape vermouth, and Campari ($5.60) to accompany regionally caught fish crudo with spiced palm sugar, guava, avocado and cucumber ($6.50).

Then, tuck into fall-off-the-bone confit beef ribs with soy jus ($10.60), or head straight to the part of the menu with aged wood-fired steaks, or maybe a hearty “cassoulet” with braised Karoo lamb shin, sausage and kidney with tangy gremolata ($16).

My solely remorse was eating alone so I could not strive extra of the dishes. That stated, I used to be hungry once more by the point I got here again down the next morning for breakfast, which I might get pleasure from without cost — together with the buffet and an a la carte sizzling entree — because of my Hilton Honors Diamond standing.

The buffet included house-baked candy and savory pastries, loads of recent fruit, chilly cuts, juices, cereals, and extra. For my essential, I had a slice of sourdough toast heaped with the biggest avocado I’ve ever seen and served with scrambled eggs, nori salt and miso cream (it will have value $8 usually). It was an attention-grabbing mixture of savory Japanese flavors with the just about buttery-sweet texture of the avocado.

Facilities and repair

• The bottom-floor fitness center is open 24/7 and is provided with loads of brand-new LifeFitness cardio and weight gear.
• There are a number of assembly rooms on the second ground in case you are on the town for enterprise.
• Parking is a breeze, and though the lodge lists it as 100 South African rand ($6) per day, we weren’t charged.
• Each employees member I met greeted us warmly, enquired about my keep and appeared keen to point out off the brand new lodge.

Location and logistics

The Cover by Hilton Cape City is in Longkloof, a historic district southeast of the extra touristy areas of the town middle, with loads of bars, cafes and retailers within the surrounding streets. The lodge is in a brand new improvement that features workplace areas, designer boutiques and galleries, that means you do not have to enterprise far to expertise the vibrancy of the world.

It takes about half-hour to get to the lodge from Cape City Worldwide Airport (CPT) by automotive and prices round $10-$18 in an Uber. The V&A Waterfront is a 20-minute, $4-$6 Uber experience, whereas Desk Mountain is a bit nearer and prices across the identical.

What it prices and the right way to e book

Charges on the Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof begin at round $120 or 34,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time. That equates to a price of round 0.35 cents per level, which is nicely under TPG’s August 2025 valuation, so you’ll want to do the maths in the event you’re contemplating a keep, as a result of it is likely to be higher to avoid wasting your factors for a greater redemption.

The night time I stayed there, I booked a room within the beginning King room class for $130, however because of my Hilton Diamond standing, I used to be upgraded a number of classes to a King Premium Suite with Mountain View that will have value $340.

When reserving the Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof, attempt to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Hilton stays, or one that gives computerized Hilton Honors elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels, computerized Gold elite standing and the power to improve to Diamond standing by means of the top of the subsequent calendar yr by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar yr.
• The Hilton Honors American Categorical Enterprise Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels, computerized Gold elite standing and the power to improve to Diamond standing by means of the top of the subsequent calendar yr by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar yr.
• Hilton Honors American Categorical Card: Earn 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels and computerized Silver elite standing (with an improve to Gold by means of the top of the subsequent calendar yr once you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar yr).
• Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card: Earn 14 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton motels and computerized Diamond elite standing.

The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Accessibility

Though a part of the constructing is historic, the Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof presents up-to-date accessibility options. These embody entry by way of elevator (from the parking storage) or ramp (from the road) and elevators to all flooring and public areas.

There are accessible rooms within the King class, and these provide 32-inch doorways for maneuverability, emergency pull cords, seize bars within the lavatory, a lowered peephole within the door, and audible and visible alarms for many who require them.

Backside line

Although not fancy, the Cover by Hilton Cape City Longkloof is an thrilling addition to Cape City’s lodge scene because of its reasonably priced charges, fashionable location and wonderful restaurant. For these looking for a substitute for the high-priced, touristy motels across the Metropolis Bowl, the Cover would possibly simply be the answer they’ve been on the lookout for.

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