Amongst street-side cafés and museums-a-plenty, Taj Cape Town crowns heritage charm with a glistening, contemporary top hat.
A hotel of two disciplines, Taj Cape Town is rooted in a historic structure, but expands out. Way out. The rooms erupt from the heritage building in the form of minimalist new floors and wings. Looking out to Table Mountain, and down to the famous pedestrian haven of St. George's Mall, rooms range in design from classic to contemporary, but share all the technological comforts you'd expect.
With a name like Taj, you'd be right to expect some no-nonsense Indian food. The Bombay Brasserie simmers the rich and complex flavors of the east to create dishes like Paneer Tikka, Line Fish in Spiced Coconut Curry, and Lentil Dumplings in Yoghurt. For a bit of change, try the international favorites at Mint, or seafood and cocktails at the playfully named Twankey.
Once you've gawked, shopped, and eaten your way through Cape Town, stop in at the Jiva Grande Spa for some ancient Indian relaxation and healing techniques that work just as well as they did back when the Rajputs ran the homeland.