Consistently voted as one of the best travel destinations in the world, Cape Town is an engaging and vibrant city, for every type of traveller. Whether a city break, an adventure, a romantic getaway or a family vacation, Cape Town has an abundance to offer throughout the year.
One&Only Cape Town prides itself on personalised service, where guests see and experience only the best of what is important to them. Specialists at the resort have the know-how to open doors to places, people and memories not always accessible to, or known by, other visitors to the city. The resort has now conceptualised and curated a number of these experiences and is available exclusively to its guests from the GCC region. Here is our selection of some of the best ones for those looking to explore Cape Town’s culinary and outdoor adventures, and a couple for the kids.
Wine And Dine the South African way
Sip And Savour – A Taste Of Cape Town
Cape Town is considered one of the best wine-producing regions in the world. For those wanting to enjoy and explore the wines on offer, One&Only Cape Town’s Head Sommelier, Luvo Ntezo will host guests to an enticing introduction. Following a brief tour of the reimagined Wine Studio, guests will be presented with a decadent South African cheese and wine tasting experience, highlighting three prestigious vintages from the Cape’s most noteworthy wine farms.
With almost 700 references, the resort features one of the most balanced and diverse wine collections on the continent. The new Wine Studio is a sleek and sophisticated space showcasing a sampling of the resort’s impressive offering. An informal and stylish location for private dining or intimate tasting event, the Wine Studio is a place where guests can truly immerse themselves in the world of South African wine.
A South African Wine Blending Experience
For any wine lover, the opportunity to blend their own wine is one not to be missed. This exceptional experience takes place inside the resort’s elegant Wine Studio. After learning about the wine landscape in South Africa and some of the popular varietals, guests can begin to create their very own signature blend. The resulting creation can be savoured over a delicious meal at the resort, or packaged and taken home for the perfect gift or memento of the stay. Guests also have the option of visiting a wine farm, where, together with the resort’s sommelier and local winemaker, they will be expertly guided to producing their ideal blend.
Exploring The Winelands
Guests can discover the Cape Winelands – a vast, lush green area in which many of the world’s top wines are produced. There are several areas that make up the Cape Winelands, most notably Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and together they are home to hundreds of exceptional wine farms – making it a challenge for visitors to know which to visit in a potentially limited amount of time. One&Only Cape Town’s expert Sommelier Team can lead guests on a premier wine tasting experience to remember. Each excursion is completely bespoke – according to personal preferences, and with the freedom to visit choice wine farms for the ideal day tasting, interacting with winemakers and learning the unique histories of the individual farms. The experience also includes luxury transport services and a spectacular lunch at the winelands.
Experience Wine Harvesting (January to March)
This trip to the Cape Winelands begins with a stop at the beautiful Simonsig Wine Estate, for a trip behind-the-scenes of this working wine farm. Only available during harvest season (January-March), guests can experience first-hand the process involved in producing the ‘champagne of South Africa’ – known as Methodé Cap Classique, or MCC. This was the first estate to bottle MCC in South Africa, and an exclusive supplier to One&Only Cape Town.
A visit to Simonsig Wine Estate makes for a superb day out, picking grapes, experimenting in viniculture and enjoying a leisurely lunch at the estate restaurant, Cuvée. Simonsig. It boasts lush outdoor spaces, large enough for children to run around and even offers a special grape juice tasting for younger guests. This fun and interactive day in the winelands also includes luxury transportation, a delicious winelands lunch, as well as a winemaker certificate to remember the experience.
Cooking Cultures
South Africa is often described as a Rainbow Nation, being home to many diverse cultures. As a result, there is a variety of influences to every aspect of South African life, including its cooking. One&Only Cape Town offers its guests a ‘Cooking Tale of Two Sisters’. These ‘sisters’ are in fact edible delights, loved by locals, both of them made from the same ingredients, sweet and fried, however looking and tasting distinctly different because of their method, and who traditionally made them – their names are Koeksister and Koe’sister.
The resort’s pastry team lead this hands-on session in the resort pastry kitchen as guests learn the secrets to making these ‘sisters’. Ideal for families, everyone will receive the chef’s tried and tested personal recipes in a souvenir pack, as well as a One&Only apron.
The Epicurist
The Epicurist is a new ‘home cooking’ experience for resort guests who want to enjoy developing their own culinary skills in the privacy of their own in-suite kitchen. All necessary equipment, specially prepared ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe, designed by the expert culinary team at One&Only Cape Town, will be delivered directly to the guests’ suite. Dishes include a traditional South African bobotie, a Tuna Poke Bowl or Chalmar beef fillet, delivered in market boxes containing the freshest, ethically sourced ingredients. Developed to suit all cooking abilities, The Epicurist is the ideal experience for budding chefs and those looking for an innovative take on the usual room service dining.
Nobu Sushi Masterclass
One&Only Cape Town is home to the only Nobu Restaurant in Africa – part of the renowned group headed by World-class master chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa. Nobu gives classical Japanese cuisine a contemporary twist with a Peruvian influence. Nikkei is the name for this culinary trend: combining Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.
Nobu Cape Town offers an exciting Masterclass where guests can learn how to prepare Nobu’s signature dishes, and enjoy sensational Sake pairings. This exceptional experience will include a Tempura or Toban Yaki cooking demonstration of cold dishes at the sushi bar and hot dishes in the main kitchen; a presentation of Sake and other beverages by Nobu’s Sommelier Team; a souvenir take-home recipe pack; and most importantly, guests will dine at the sushi bar, and have the hot dishes prepared and served family-style.
Mixology Masterclass
A fun and interactive mixology masterclass, this session takes place in the Nobu cocktail bar and showcases One&Only Cape Town’s Signature Nitrogen-infused cocktail, ‘Cape of Storms’. Following a shakedown with the resort’s master mixologist, guests will enjoy a craft gin and tonic experience featuring all three varieties of the premium, local gin brand, Inverroche. Inverroche Gin Distillery are the pioneers of craft gin in South Africa and use indigenous ‘fynbos’ botanicals to flavour their products. The experience comes paired with a delicious snack platter and includes a take-home gift of ‘The Inverroche Trilogy of Fynbos Gins’.
Barista Masterclass
This class blends the expert barista skills with the best coffee beans in town, provided by a local coffee house, Bootlegger Coffee Company. During this one-hour curated experience with one of the resort’s skilled baristas, guests will be guided step-by-step to produce the perfect cup of coffee. From frothing the milk to brewing the perfect cup, every step is demonstrated and perfected in this fun and interactive masterclass designed to take boost coffee making skills to the next level. Included in the experience is a personalised One&Only apron.
Explore Cape Town’s Nature
Yoga On The Mountain
Guests at One&Only Cape Town can practice yoga atop one of the most iconic landmarks, the ancient and majestic Table Mountain. The experience begins with a luxury transfer from the resort to the Table Mountain cableway, where guests will be lifted to the summit by cable car. Once at the top, the resort’s experienced and qualified yoga instructor will guide guests through a one-hour yoga practice, with sprawling views of Cape Town beneath and the richest floral kingdom on earth all around. This is the perfect excursion to restore balance and harmony, while enjoying the magnificent sites of South Africa’s Mother City.
Inveroche Tour And Helicopter Flight
This curated experience of a lifetime begins with a luxury helicopter ride from the V&A Waterfront to the beautiful Overberg region. The destination is Inverroche Distillery, pioneers of South African craft gin and a partner of One&Only Cape Town. The gins are particularly unique for their use of indigenous ‘fynbos’ botanicals – resulting in locally flavoured infusions. Upon arrival, guests are invited to enjoy a tour of the state-of-the-art distillery as well as a private tasting of all their premium products. This is to be followed by your choice of a sit-down lunch or picnic on their beautiful grounds, before returning to the resort via helicopter.
Canal Paddle – A Doorstep Adventure
Discover the mesmerising and private V&A Waterfront waterways by Water Bike or stand-up paddleboard, with historic landmarks and breath-taking views of Table Mountain along the way. Both activities provide an exhilarating and unique experience, suited for people of all athletic abilities. Guides are available to coach and assist, and ensure guests feel at ease throughout the experience.
Summit The City’s Iconic Mountains – Table Mountain & Lion’s Head
Conquer one of two iconic Cape Town mountain peaks, Table Mountain or Lion’s Head – both are conveniently situated near the city centre. Table Mountain, one of the 7 Wonders of the Natural World, offers hikers several routes in varying degrees of difficulty, and One&Only Cape Town’s qualified hiking guides will recommend the best route to match athletic and mountaineering ability. Lion’s Head, a hugely popular summit for locals and international visitors alike is another option, boasting incredible 360-degree views of the city and ample photo opportunities. Both are ideal for sunrise adventures, with less foot traffic and beautiful morning light. Luxury transfers, snacks and refreshments are included, with gourmet picnics also being available on request, at an additional charge, to be enjoyed along your hike.
For The Younger Adventurers
Kids Waterfront Walkabout
One&Only Cape Town’s qualified KidsOnly team will take the kids for an action-packed morning of fun and games at the V&A Waterfront. The adventure begins with a cupcake making class with the resort’s exceptional pastry team. After fuelling up on some delicious baked goods, it’s a short walk to the Scratch Patch Mineral World where kids can channel their inner prospector – “scratching” for their favourite tumble-polished gemstones from a selection of thousands, including some Southern African favourites such as Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz and Amethyst.
Next is a ride on the famous Cape Wheel, where little ones are encouraged to point out popular landmarks and attractions from the top of the wheel using the V&A Walkabout Book as their interactive guide. Finally, it’s a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium for some marine life fun and ocean exploration – complete with touch pool, predator and penguin exhibits.
Nobu “Little Chefs” Sushi Masterclass
Engage the little ones in an exciting new skill, taught by one of the best in the business, the friendly and charismatic sushi chefs at Nobu Cape Town. Little chefs will enjoy a fun and interactive session learning how to make one of the world’s most popular dishes – sushi. The masterclass continues with a delicious lunch and some etiquette tips from the professionals. The experience ensures younger guests look the part with the inclusion of a personalised One&Only apron and Chefs hat.
