2014-06-13

When the opportunity to visit the One&Only arose, I couldn’t wait to make the lavish, yet unpretentious resort my home for a few days. Located in a fashionable and central part of the Mother City, a stone’s throw from the V&A Waterfront, the hotel’s about as good as it gets.

As I walked through the foyer, the first thing that struck me was the modern, crisp design with African nuances and the sunlight radiating through the giant windows. While I was absorbed in the beauty of the calm waterways and tall palm trees, the friendly staff took my bags. I was then ushered to the massive Marina Table Mountain Room, complete with oversized bath and shower, as well as a marble-top vanity area fit for royalty. However, the best thing about it is the bed. You’re treated to a comprehensive “pillow menu”, so you can choose as many as you need and then sink into their luxurious softness.

A nice touch was the Nespresso machine in the room – perfect for making the coffee I leisurely sipped while savouring the breathtaking view from my balcony. Facing Table Mountain, I could watch the “tablecloth” descend over its flat crown each morning.

Up next was a trip to the One&Only Spa, which recently scooped top honours as the “Spa of the Year: Africa” at the global World Spa & Wellness awards – with good reason. The personalised service and professional staff make you feel ultra-comfortable and the treatments are heavenly.

…the best thing about it is the bed. You’re treated to a comprehensive “pillow menu”, so you can choose as many as you need and then sink into their luxurious softness.

The warming Ginger Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage was so good that it put me to sleep and I could genuinely see my skin glowing after the Brightening Boutique Facial. I also tried a Bastien Gonzalez pedicure, which was developed by the French podiatrist. It’s rather unorthodox, as no water or creams are used, but only machines. This made it feel somewhat surgical, but the equipment isn’t noisy and my feet felt super-smooth afterwards. It’s a must for those cracked heels that inevitably come with winter!

The biggest treat of all, though, was dining at Nobu. Part of the chain of master chef Nobuyaki “Nobu” Matsuhisa’s exclusive restaurants dotted all over the world, it’s made the One&Only its South African home.

Serving Japanese-style food with elements of local produce, the food’s minimalist, but the flavour packs a punch. Even though the restaurant oozes unmistakable opulence, the atmosphere’s relaxed enough not to make you feel stiff.

As part of a series of Vertical Masterclasses hosted by Nobu this winter, where local wineries and winemakers pair their wines from several harvests with sumptuous cuisine, we were treated to an exciting Vertical Masterclass with Stellenbosch’s Kleine Zalze. It was a wonderful showcase of the estate’s premier wines, particularly its Chenin Blanc.

The tiger shrimps, served rock shrimp-style with ponzu, meshed so well with the Kleine Zalze 2013 Vineyard Selection that I still crave their tangy crunch. Our MC for the evening was the One&Only’s ambassador, Aubrey Ngcungama (of Come Dine With Me: South Africa fame), whose anecdotes had us roaring with laughter.

Another restaurant on the One&Only premises is Reuben’s, opened by legendary South African chef Reuben Riffel, who’ll be hosting a series of inventive dinners there with acclaimed winelands chefs this winter. Among them are Margot Janse of The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français and Ryan Shell of the Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant. The dinners will be interactive, as Riffel and each celebrity chef share stories about their foray into food and collaborate on a themed menu.

I didn’t get a chance to experience one of these dinners, but I did eat at Reuben’s – and it was every bit as great as I’d imagined it would be. I feasted on fresh grilled Mozambican prawns splashed with a garlic, lemon and parsley vinaigrette, unlike anything I’ve tasted in a long time.

* Visit: www.oneandonlycapetown.com for the hotel’s winter specials.



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