There was a time when the bottom end of Buitengracht Street in Cape Town could possibly have been described as not the most salubrious of places. But the years rolled by, and a piece of Cape Town real estate that was previously a little down at heel, hemmed in by freeways and too far from the trendy restaurants of Sea Point, suddenly found it had a new neighbour: The V&A Waterfront.
This dazzlingly successful redevelopment of unused space in Cape Town’s working harbour has grown over the years to include restaurants, a huge shopping mall, hotels and attractions including a huge aquarium. Southern Sun The Cullinan is part of the Tsogo Sun Group which encompasses over 90 hotels and 14 casinos in South Africa, Africa and the Seychelles.
The hotel opened in the 1990s and was extensively refurbished in 2011-2013. With just shy of 400 rooms, the Cullinan boasts an outdoor lap pool, an a-la carte restaurant (Kelsey' Grill House), a fitness centre, cocktail bar, beauty, shuttle service, business centre and conference facilities.
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
First Impressions and Accommodation
After a quick and efficient check-in process we were shown to our room which was one of the six newly created suites on the 10th and 11th floors. I have to admit that the last time I was this quite impressed with the dimensions of a room was when I stayed at the super-opulent Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. The first sign that this was a room to be reckoned with was the guest bathroom leading off the lobby (its always fun to stay in a hotel that has as may bathrooms as your house!).
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The lobby opens into a spacious living area featuring the best stocked mini-bat I have ever seen as well as a coffee machine, kettle, full-size dining table, lounge area and a TV. Double sliding doors led from the living area to the generously proportioned bedroom featuring a queen/king sized bed, second TV, chaise longue, writing desk and more cupboard space than I have in my own home.
There is no denying it - these suites are glamorous with a capital G. What I loved about the room was that the decor managed to achieve a feeling of glamour without seeming excessive or gaudy. The serene colour palette of taupe and antique gold was accented with shades of dusky purple, and beautiful framed photos of old South African cityscapes and large framed mirrors add to the feeling of opulence.
A luxurious suite at Southern Sun The Cullinan.
I also marvelled at the breadth of the mini-bar’s contents: at least half a dozen premier whiskies, and a drawer filled with miniatures of every branded spirit you care to mention. Another drawer revealed six glasses set into black felt-lined moulded indentations; and yet another drawer revealed snacks like pistachios, Astros and jelly beans, removed from any gaudy packaging and re-packaged in cute glass jars.
All rooms have coffee/tea making facilities, an electronic safe, hair dryers, air conditioning, 24-hour room service and WiFI - although you pay for it. Underground parking is available (also at additional cost) and there is a valet service to drop off and fetch your car from the garage and bring it to the front door.
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Views and Location
For me, the other major plus of our room was its view. All rooms have a view either over Table Mountain or towards the Waterfront, which is what we had. The fan walk, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, runs right past the hotel towards the Cape Town Stadium and as luck would have it we had arrived on a night when Bafana Bafana (our national football team) were playing a match.
This means that as dusk gathered, you could see the constant stream of people heading past the hotel and hear the vuvuzelas, and if you closed your eyes you could almost imagine what the spirit must have been like in 2010 - it was the best welcome home present I could have asked for.
Cape Town Stadium during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Southern Sun The Cullinan is located at 1 Cullinan Street in City Centre, 1.3 miles from the center of Cape Town. Cape Town International Convention Centre is the closest landmark to Southern Sun The Cullinan. The hotel enjoys a prime location, allowing guests easy access to a range of popular sights and attractions. It is also within walking distance of Mutual Building, Koopmans-de Wet House and Greenmarket Square.
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Dining Experience
Sadly, we had a dinner engagement and did not have a chance to try out the hotel restaurant, but the following morning we headed down to the Peach Tree restaurant for a spot of breakfast. I suggest that if you do the same, you should go hungry!
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There is a massive hot selection - eggs, bacon, beans, hash browns, excellent mushrooms and the like, as well as an extensive array of cold things such as breads, excellent pastries, cheeses, cold meats, smoked salmon, cereals, dried and fresh fruit - and a fine selection of teas. My personal favourite was the special table of vegetarian and gluten-free goodies (which included hummus, a couple of fantastic pestos as well as glorious little cherry tomatoes) and a jug of the best cranberry ginger juice I have ever had - made me feel instantly healthier.
I particularly loved the way the comb honey was served, suspended in a frame that appeared to have been taken straight from the hive.
Breakfast at Peach Tree Restaurant.
Value for Money
Does all this luxury come cheap? Of course not. The suite we had is about R4,800 (about £350) per night - but standard rooms in the hotel start at just R1,400 (about £100) per night, depending on the season, which I think is very reasonable especially if paying in foreign currency.
If you’re after a cheap room at Southern Sun The Cullinan, then you should consider staying during the low season. The cheapest deals can generally be found in May and August. Prices can also vary depending on which day of the week you stay. For the best room deals at Southern Sun The Cullinan, plan to stay on a Friday or Wednesday. The most expensive day is usually Sunday.
The cheapest price a room at Southern Sun The Cullinan was booked for on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks was $284, while the most expensive was $284. KAYAK users usually book their rooms here for 3 days.
Here's a summary of average prices based on the provided data:
| Month | Average Price (Weeknight) | Average Price (Weekend Night) |
|---|---|---|
| May | $280 | - |
| February | - | $218 |
Overall Experience
Overall, I loved my stay. I thought the room was glamorous yet tasteful; I adored the views and location; thought the breakfast was outstanding; and I found the staff to be efficient and friendly to a fault. I only wish we had had a little time to lounge by the pool and play spot-the-Brumbie (the entire team was staying in the hotel the night we visited!).
My only minor complaint is that I do not think a hotel that already charges a fairly high price for its rooms should be making guests pay extra per minute of WiFi. I understand that if the entire hotel started streaming videos at once, it might have an impact on the hotel’s network, but surely giving each guest one free hour per day would not be the end of the world?
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