Anxious about driving in Cape Town? This hotel's location on its own quay at the V&A Waterfront means guests have pedestrian access to the shops and restaurants there; in addition, a complimentary chauffeur service covers a five-mile radius—which will get you to the beach. Even better, request a packed picnic and get dropped at Clifton Beach in the morning. The 121-room hotel got a major refurb in 2008, with the rooms redecorated and the bathrooms updated. The Grace has a somewhat younger clientele than its main luxury competitor, the Mount Nelson, and prides itself on extremely personalized service. Hotel staff try to accommodate every request, so if you're keen on wine, the resident sommelier can accompany you to the winelands, for instance. Complimentary "Café Complet" (tea, coffee, juice, water, and pastries in the morning) as well as port and sherry in the evening are available to all guests in the library. The best views of the water are had from the fourth-floor terrace suites, also the location of the spa. Bascule, the hotel's happening bar, has the largest single-malt whiskey collection in the Southern Hemisphere, and is a great spot for a quayside drink.

It's location, location, location at this smart city inn overlooking the vibrant Victoria & Alfred waterfront. Excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment options are all within strolling distance, yet the city's famous natural beauty—Table Mountain and the Clifton beach scene—is equally accessible. Local interior guru François du Plessis retained the Victorian architectural features of what was the harbor engineer's residence in the mid-1800s, then added a cosseted, contemporary feel by using natural tones and sensuous fabrics. There are five guest rooms—three with balconies overlooking Table Bay—and a suite that opens onto its own private garden; and all have complimentary minibars. There is an elegant morning room for breakfast and lunch, but if bacon-and-eggs in close proximity to fellow guests sounds too cozy, staff will arrange to serve breakfast in your room or next to the pool. Guests have access to OneWellness, a top-notch gym and spa facility next door.

Backed by the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountain range, Ezard House offers 11 suites, all with terraces and views of either the ocean or the lovely garden, complete with koi ponds. The interiors are spare, stylish, and soothing. The hotel also has a roof terrace with a hot tub, and a small pool. The pleasant restaurant is open only to residents and their guests; every table affords a fantastic view of the bay. Airport transfers and shopping trips can be arranged.

"One of the most romantic hotels in the world," this property secures a perfect location score for its mountain backdrop in the Western Cape wine region. The restored eighteenth-century estate has perfect-scoring "stunningly appointed suites," which are decorated in Cape Dutch style. Housed in the T-shaped manor house, Bosman's serves seared foie gras and pan-fried white stumpnose—"the food is so good and so unique." Hot-air ballooning and horseback riding are available nearby. "Sunsets over the vineyards hypnotize your soul and demand that you return to this magical retreat."

(34 rooms)

The 63-room Franschhoek is an impressive renovation of one of this wine-growing valley's original country retreats. Not only is it a desirable base for vineyard touring but there are plenty of on-the-premises pastimes: wine-tastings, tennis, and unwinding in the big pool. Interiors are sophisticated and uncluttered, with an all-white palette accented by metallic shades—a bit monotonous but the perfect foil to the dramatic mountain scenery. The grand main restaurant is reminiscent of a silver-service hotel dining room, and the outdoor restaurant, Le Verger, is enchantingly set amid lemon, apple, and pear trees.

A short drive from both the city center and the beaches, this stylish guest house is located in the chic residential area of Bantry Bay, on the Atlantic. There are rooms in two buildings: six in the main lodge and four in the villa just down the hill. Three gorgeous, black-slate swimming pools are built on different levels between the two houses. The interiors have recently been updated, doing away with the colonial teak furniture for a more modern, European look. The hotel's chauffeured BMW is available for airport pickup, taxi service, and guided day tours.

This 11-year-old hotel blends Victorian and contemporary design and has "a magnificent presence on the wharf." Rooms have contemporary art and large windows with harbor or ocean views, and the "service is exceptional throughout." The Atlantic Restaurant's breakfast buffet "has everything you can imagine." French treatments are available at the Camelot Spa.

(329 rooms)

Perched on stilts between ancient milkwood trees, the ten wood-and-glass suites and two-bedroom presidential suite are so close to the pounding waves that it's possible to toss pebbles into the rock pools from your private deck. Each room is inspired by an island around the world; yet given the breathtaking views, themed rooms seem like an unnecessary distraction. Beds are vast, and sea-view tubs and huge showers provide an illusion of spaciousness. Although there isn't a pool big enough to swim in or a private beach directly below the lodge, guests will enjoy whale watching, romantic dinners, and outdoor massages. If you tire of that, a complimentary car service can whisk you to Cape Town.

This smart hotel is poised above the Atlantic rollers on the beach road between Camps Bay and Llandudno. The rooms, a modern take on colonial decor done in earth tones, are in four low-slung wings, two on each side of the main house. The 24-hour café dishes up a light California-influenced menu around the clock (so jet-lagged new arrivals can enjoy breakfast any time). The Azure Restaurant serves excellent food using local organic ingredients, and the spa has state-of-the-art treatment rooms. The hotel's 16-seat cinema shows movies five times a day, and you can access nature trails around the base of Table Mountain and picnic spots from the hotel grounds. Complimentary shuttle service is available from the airport.

The hotel's former incarnation as a warehouse is evident in the brickwork and iron support beams visible at this waterfront property "a few steps from shops and restaurants galore." Guest rooms with orange and red accents have bay windows overlooking Table Mountain, the harbor, or a piazza frequented by street performers. OYO Restaurant pairs "absolutely first-rate seafood with fine views." "It's fun to watch the boats as you eat breakfast."

(94 rooms)

The tower opened next to the International Convention Center in 2003, allowing "easy access to the city, waterfront, and airport." The aluminum-and-glass exterior allows floor-to-ceiling views of Table Mountain and the harbor. Local art in the lobby and common areas "adds warmth and character to an otherwise standard interior." Rooms are "contemporary, uncluttered, and quite masculine," with neutral colors. The brasserie-style Thirty7 has a show kitchen.

(483 rooms)