The Ritz Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town, will reopen this month following a R120 million (€8,7m) refurbishment by hospitality services and investment company, Shimmy Luxury Collection (SLC).
“We have taken an icon in both Cape Town’s tourism history and landscape and created something that we believe is really special – timeless elegance supported by state-of-the-art amenities and facilities,” said Nicky van der Walt, SLC Group CEO and Co-Founder.
The opening comes at a time of high demand for Cape Town, with arrival statistics showing a big boost in tourism.
Rooms at the Ritz will feature upcycled wood and décor finishes, with white linen and smoky glass and brass fixtures. The hotel will accommodate guests in 212 luxury bedrooms – from high-end ultra-bespoke villas in the sky to city rooms for the discerning business traveller.
The Bertus Basson flagship restaurant at the top will again be a revolving restaurant. The eight-course menu for dinner includes a different take on Avocado Ritz. Other offerings include, ‘Karoo’ homage to Basson’s mother’s roots, and a dessert that is a play on tinned fruit and custard.
“We have access to a wealth of fresh produce and are sitting on a rich heritage of food,” said Bertus Basson. “We are in a city where we eat shedloads of international food and import loads of foreign ingredients, but we don’t really eat real South African food. It’s time for that to happen here – it will still be The Ritz, but it’s going to be very South African.”
The all-day CASA restaurant offers a blend of tropical charm and a resort feel. It is flanked by palm trees both indoors and outdoors and the 320-seat restaurant flows on to a pool deck with cabanas allowing guests to lounge at the poolside and order from the poolside menu. The dining menu will feature dishes such as Veal Milanese to truffle Mac & Cheese. The poolside menu offers wood-fired pizzas seasoned with the hotel’s on-site kitchen herb garden. CASA offers a Sunday brunch and a children’s area with child minders and their own pool. This offering will come just in time for summer 2017.
“We are very excited to open our doors to the public,” said Van der Walt. “We’ve consulted and planned to create something that we believe is extraordinary.”
The hotel has conference facilities able to accommodate 1,000 delegates, with five conference rooms. Breakaway options are available on a separate level within The Plaza Conference Centre. The Ritz’s lobby area offers fast, unlimited WiFi, printing facilities and working space to accommodate guests and business travellers.
