The Grand Daddy
“Up on the roof”
We just got back from Cape Town’s central business district (CBD)
We stayed at The Grand Daddy Hotel. It’s been a pending staycation for many years.
We were warmly welcomed at reception and ushered into the elevator, Cape Town’s oldest working lift. Everywhere we looked there were colourful walls and fabrics, beautifully styled and proudly South African. There’s so much attention to detail. But the coolest feature is up at the top. Up on the roof they offer accommodation in seven, artistically designed airstream trailers, the only designer Rooftop Airstream Trailer Park in the world. And it’s in the centre of Cape Town.
We were lucky. We booked a special rate. We got very special service from Lamees and the team. We had wondered which trailer we would be given. Would it be the Karoo one? Or maybe the safari one? We were given the largest of the seven trailers, the Winelands one. How appropriate for us, two Cape wine lovers.
Staying at the Grand Daddy gave us the opportunity to wander in the CBD, revisiting places we’ve liked before in Loop and Long streets and splurging on afternoon tea at ‘The Nellie’ (Mount Nelson Hotel) But after ‘gadding about’ we were happy to retreat to our trailer. We had pre-ordered an amazing cheese and charcuterie box, enough for four. We feasted on Western Cape treats, washed down with Mojitos and Cape ales.
We were the only people there, up on the roof, just us two, ‘socially distanced’ from the whole of Cape Town. We watched as the sky changed colour, a dramatic Mother City skyline, and looked down on Long Street’s nightlife.
Eventually we turned in, enjoying hot showers before reclining, to watch our wall mounted T.V. Every area in the spacious trailer has been used well. We enjoyed a very comfortable night in the double bed. And the next day we found fresh coffee in a little cupboard for the cafetière, which we promptly took back to bed. Everything was better than expected.
It’s a truly unique place to stay. And highly recommended. We will return.
Have you stayed somewhere truly unique, that you would recommend to other travellers?
© Maggie M / Mother City Time
