In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- It’s hard to beat Room 3’s mountain views from the bath, but we were won over by serene Room 2, with its Victorian claw-footed bath tub and the secluded private deck area. Room 10 is the most isolated; under the shade of an old oak, it boasts its own hot tub on the deck. Derwent House classifies its rooms as either ‘Beautiful’ or ‘Fabulous’ depending on the size and quality of the view but, to be honest, we’d gladly bed down in either category.
- Packing tips
- As long as you have clothes to wear and a swimsuit to splash around in, Derwent House can take care of everything else – it can even loan you a laptop.
- Also
- If you’re staying a while or bringing a youngster, you should nab Room 9, the self-catering suite. The extra sofa bed and the small kitchen make it the most flexible option.
Current offers
- Smith card offer
- Tickets to Cape Town’s celebrated On Broadway cabaret club.
Derwent House
Cape Town, South Africa[view map]
- Style
- Bed, breakfast and bonhomie
- Setting
- Happening city-side suburb
When Jo and Carol first began planning Derwent House, they did so with the express intention of creating a boutique hotel they’d want to stay in, somewhere with a warm welcome, impeccable service and a sense of contemporary style that never slid into pretentiousness. Not only have they succeeded but, in a matter of months, they’ve also made the fabulously located Derwent House one of the most desirable destinations in Cape Town.
Need to know
- Rooms
- 10, including one self-catering suite.
- Rates
- Low season, R900–R1,200; high season, R1,250–R1,750. Includes breakfast, taxes, and tea, coffee and cake throughout the day.
- Check-out
- 11am, but later check-out is possible, subject to availability.
- Facilities
- Library, DVD selection, free WiFi throughout, wireless sound system. In rooms: plasma TV, DVD/CD player, natural Ecoco toiletries.
- Poolside
- The outdoor lap pool is one of Derwent House’s big assets. It’s much larger than you’d expect from a hotel this size and the sun-bleached raised verandah alongside is a fab spot to snooze on one of the crisp wooden loungers.
- Eco-friendly
- The hotel solar heats all its water and uses low-energy light fittings wherever it can. All chemicals used tick eco-boxes, too.
- Also
- Smoking is allowed on the decks and terraces. The hotel can get you temporary free passes to the local Virgin Active gym, and beauty treatments or massages at nearby spas.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- Although Derwent House doesn’t serve dinner, it pools all of its culinary energies into a mouthwatering breakfast, ranging from a cold Continental selection of meats, cheeses and fruits to full English fry-ups and smoked fish.
- Dress code
- Swimwear for staying in, eveningwear for going out.
- Top table
- The verandah’s a charming spot to enjoy a poolside alfresco breakfast.
- Room service
- The hotel is staffed 24 hours a day, but you can help yourself to drinks and snacks whenever you want.
- Hotel bar
- A well-stocked fridge in the lounge area makes up the honesty bar, so you can settle down with a nightcap (or a pick-me-up) whenever and wherever you like.
Other facilities
- Children
- This hotel is better suited to couples - leave the children at home!
Smith card offer
Tickets to Cape Town’s celebrated On Broadway cabaret club.
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member
Book this hotel
To book this hotel please click here, or contact our travel team on 0845 034 0700.
Derwent House
14 Derwent Road
Tamboerskloof