Wanderlust is most definitely the picturesque image posted to my Instagram last December, of this Giraffe standing tall on the balcony of a revamped boutique hotel in the Mother City – now glittering with even more luxurious appeal.
The worldwide hype of vibrant Camps Bay, as well as why Cape Town is lauded as a chilling & sporting playground, is easily justified when overlooking sand & sea from the comfort of my latest Fitcation destination.
Fire yourself up to book your next Fitcation, by reading all about this Giraffe in: The Marly.
The Marly is a five-star boutique hotel quite idyllic from any suite their guests choose to momentarily find home in.
Masterfully, the lap of luxury positioned itself without the burden of a bustling metropolis. The Marly is where the spell-binding slopes of the Twelve Apostles, sparkling blue Atlantic, and the shimmering golden sands of Camps Bay, lie spread out around you.
This boutique hotel forms an integral part of The Kove Collection, a striking portfolio of hotels, restaurants and bars that offer clients and guests, as their most central premise, the most outstanding kind of hospitality.
While The Marly’s clientele may be modern and cosmopolitan, this 38-suite boutique hotel takes its name from the Chateau de Marly – a 17th Century house near Versailles which was dedicated towards the leisure activities of Louis XIV and his family.
Just note: Staying here is intended to be a “royal spoil”; and the surroundings offer a plethora of both peaceful and fitness activities.
Once you’ve checked in, give due cognisance to the vistas below (which could take an enjoyable while) and cast your eyes over the gorgeous décor within your spacious suite (offering lounge area, en-suite bathroom with large bath and rain shower, as well as to the outside dining table and sun loungers).
Next up: you’ll want to know where to head, for cocktails & dinner – that’d be along Camps Bay’s trendy promenade.
The Inside Guide and TripAdvisor are great sources of information to help you make your dining decisions.
Being so close to the sea, we settled on The Surf Shack – a contemporary seaside diner on the beachfront, with a delicious and diverse seafood menu that you can check out here.
After drinks & dinner, comes more superlative views and the comforting lull of the sea. A return to our luxurious accommodation for one of the best sleeps of 2019, was in order.
As per usual, we were up before any deity or early bird – bound for Sparrows for our early morning cold-water swim – in a tidal pool conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from The Marly boutique hotel.
For those wishing to read more about the amazing health benefits of a regular cold-water swim, click here.
Why you should pay this property some attention
The Marly is best positioned to take the role of optimal fitcation destination for any local or global adventurer, because its doorstep lends itself to a range of neighborhood sports, which include:
- Stand Up Paddle boarding at Clifton Fourth (boards can be rented there)
- Sea Point promenade bicycling (bikes can be rented there)
- Swimming at the Camps Bay beach or in the tidal pool and
- any length of run or cycle your heart may desire – including out to the Twelve Apostles, the Sea Point promenade, or Chapman’s Peak drive.
In winter, when the sea looks stormy, The Marly guest can take advantage of the boutique hotels fully equipped gym to stay in shape; and thereafter, sneak up to the library for a touch of literary escapism.
And, in the afternoons?
We recommend chilling out on a lounger, or cooling off in the pool at the rooftop bar – essential when the Mother City’s inevitable summer wind makes the beach below a little bit less than hospitable.
We loved breakfast at Bilboa, where delicious early-morning refreshments and great coffee are the order of the day. Mike and I had just returned from our cold-water swim in the tidal pool, and were delighted by the hospitality, which included turning on the gas fireplaces to help us thaw out.
Truthfully, we relished the royal treatment that comes standard with a stay at The Marly, and can highly recommend it for Joburg visitors and tourists alike looking for a taste of the “St Tropez lifestyle” – even if just for a night or two.
