What is it? A hotel on a private quay at the edge of Cape Town's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It was once voted the best in the world by readers of a certain upmarket travel magazine.
Luxurious or basic? Luxurious and tastefully so. It is a fairly new building but feels well established. The interiors are reminiscent of a Merchant Ivory costume-drama set but with a contemporary atmosphere. Imagine a morning-suited Anthony Hopkins at attention in the lobby holding a silver salver and a bottle of green chartreuse - but listening to an iPod. Front-of-house staff are friendly without being cloying.
Fancy rooms then? The decor is sumptuous and leans towards the traditional but inevitably plays second fiddle to the views of Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill. The waterfront vistas from the other side of the building are also impressive. Room amenities receive top marks, with plenty of good-quality snacks - helpfully divided into complimentary and non-complimentary categories.
Is there anything gratis? Private transfers to the beach and town, within a 10km radius, use of the mineral spa bath, sauna and steam room, a daily history and wine presentation with tastings, free port and sherry from 5pm to 11pm in the library and an exceptional breakfast, including plenty of a la carte offerings, in the one.waterfront restaurant (which also serves lunch and dinner).
What else is worth a try? The Bascule Whisky Bar and Wine Cellar stocks 460 whiskies, which can be sampled on the waterfront to the sounds of the rigging clanking against the masts of yachts in the adjacent marina. On the top floor of the hotel, The Spa offers plenty of international and African-inspired treatments plus a relaxation room with a Jacuzzi looking towards Table Mountain.
What's there to do? One of Cape Grace's selling points is its location, a two-minute walk from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The V&A is a working harbour, from which you can take sightseeing cruises, and it has good restaurants plus hundreds of shops and stalls.