Boutique hotels in Cape Town

For the sea and sunsets, the Atlantic seaboard. For walking to restaurants, the City Bowl. For a quieter stay among vineyards, Constantia. The distances between them are short, so choose by the mood you want rather than by what you plan to see.

December to February is peak season: hot, dry and busy, with the south easter wind blowing strongly on many afternoons. March to May is calmer and still warm. June to August brings rain and cooler days, fewer visitors and easier bookings.

Yes, but the Atlantic side is cold all year. The False Bay beaches, such as Muizenberg and St James, are noticeably warmer in summer and are where most locals swim.

Stellenbosch is under an hour away and Franschhoek a little over an hour, depending on traffic. Many guests split their stay between a Cape Town hotel and a few nights on a wine estate.