Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: Why Cape Cadogan Was Named No. 1 City Hotel in Africa
July 7, 2026
Cape Town, Experienced Differently.
Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel has been named the No. 1 City Hotel in Africa and the No. 35 Hotel in the World in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. It's a significant recognition, not only because of the award itself, but because of what it reflects: a city hotel that consistently changes the way guests experience Cape Town.
The answer lies in the way Cape Cadogan changes the experience of staying in Cape Town. It gives guests immediate access to one of the city’s most characterful neighbourhoods, along with a calm, considered place to return to at the end of the day.
That balance is what gives Cape Cadogan its distinction. It’s a city hotel with a residential feeling, shaped by personal hospitality, local knowledge, contemporary South African art, thoughtful food and beverage, and the quiet confidence of a hotel that continues to refine the guest experience while remaining true to its character.
A boutique hotel with a residential heart
Cape Cadogan's recognition reflects a style of hospitality that feels personal without needing to announce itself. With just 29 rooms, suites and a private villa, the hotel offers the intimacy of a boutique property while delivering the consistency and confidence expected of Africa's No. 1 City Hotel.
Kloof Street energy, Cape Cadogan calm
Cape Cadogan's location is central to the experience. Its greatest strength lies in the contrast between neighbourhood energy and hotel calm. Situated in the heart of Kloof Street Neighbourhood, guests are surrounded by restaurants, cafés, galleries, independent shops and the everyday rhythm of one of Cape Town's most vibrant areas.
There's no need to set off in search of Cape Town's character - it begins the moment guests step outside. Whether wandering into a favourite café, discovering a local gallery or lingering over dinner just around the corner, the city unfolds naturally, allowing guests to experience it at their own pace rather than moving from one landmark to the next.
When guests do venture further afield, Cape Cadogan gives them a calm and considered place to return to. After a day spent exploring the mountain, the city, the coast or the Winelands, they come back to a quieter setting that feels composed, personal and deeply comfortable.
The result is Cape Town, experienced differently.
Local knowledge for thoughtful Cape Town encounters
A comfortable city hotel gives guests a base. A thoughtful one helps them understand where they are, and what to explore next.
At Cape Cadogan, the team’s local knowledge helps shape the stay around the guest. For one traveller, that may mean a restaurant within walking distance after a long travel day. For another, it may mean a gallery visit, sightseeing on foot, a quieter lunch spot, or a more considered approach to Cape Town’s well-known landmarks.
The value lies in relevance. A recommendation is most useful when it feels considered rather than generic, and Cape Town becomes easier to enter when it is introduced by people who know it well and take pleasure in sharing it.
That, too, is reflected in the Travel + Leisure recognition. Guests remember not only the places they visited, but the confidence that came from exploring Cape Town with guidance from people who know and love it.
Considered improvements that leave lasting impressions
One reason Cape Cadogan continues to resonate with guests is its commitment to continual refinement. The hotel's evolution has been careful rather than dramatic, with every improvement designed to strengthen the guest experience while remaining true to its character.
The new reception bar gives guests a welcoming space to return to after time in the city. It's a small addition, but a thoughtful one: a place to pause and settle, or ease into the evening.
The Conservatory carries the same thinking. Its upgrades have created another calm space for afternoon tea, reading, or a moment to simply breathe between exhilarating city experiences. In a destination as active as Cape Town, spaces like these give guests a restful place to return to and support the natural flow of an exciting itinerary.
Art adds another layer to the experience. Through Cape Cadogan's partnership with Everard Read, contemporary South African works form part of the hotel environment. This brings creativity into the spaces guests use every day, giving them another quiet point of connection with Cape Town's creative identity.
Together, these thoughtful refinements reflect a hotel that continually looks for ways to improve the guest experience while remaining true to its character. It's this balance that allows guests to experience Cape Town with confidence, comfort and a genuine sense of belonging.
Years in the Making
Being named the No. 1 City Hotel in Africa and the No. 35 Hotel in the World in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards is a proud moment for Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel. More importantly, it reflects years of consistently thoughtful hospitality delivered by people who know Cape Town intimately and take genuine pleasure in sharing it.
More than recognising a beautiful hotel, the award recognises a different way of experiencing Cape Town - one shaped by neighbourhood connection, thoughtful hospitality and continual refinement. It reinforces Cape Cadogan's commitment to helping every guest experience the city with the confidence, comfort and sense of belonging that have always defined the hotel.
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