Everything about this hotel was first rate. It is a fabulous property beautifully maintained. The service, food and ambience were perfect.

Nothing we can say will give justice to just how fantastic a place that is Ellerman House.

Location, Location, Location: The aspect is fabulous, perched on a hill overlooking Bantry Bay - the view is breathtaking. It is easy to head south out of Cape Town toward Clifton Beaches and Twelve Apostle Mountain on your way to Cape Point, or head into the waterfront area with the great food and lovely shopping. Everything is within reach. But the view, simply stunning!

Service is everything: The second you arrive, you feel a sense of security and tranquillity as they greet you and wipe away all your weariness and fatigue as they envelop you with the most wonderful welcome that is not only a feature of Cape Town, but a Hallmark of Ellerman House. Tim Cumming, the General Manager, is such a gracious host, and he makes sure everything is inviting and warm and courteous. He enfranchises his team to excel in hospitality in a way that we could only wish was possible in Europe – they all seek to make your stay a calming, wonderful experience – and it does feel that way all the time.

Stuart, the head of catering and the resident wine expert overseeing their 15,000 bottles of vintage South African wine, is a majesty of hospitality – he knows his stuff, shares his vast experience liberally, and goes out of his way to make you feel at home. When they pick a wine for you, it is fabulous! If there is one not to your liking, let them know and they whisk it away and move on to suggest another. Nothing is a bother and everything is possible. We found the food to be delightful and fish is cooked delicately, and is brilliantly presented.

The new spa: The ambiance alone will have you begging to stay there all the time. It is so inviting and tranquil, sharing the wonderful views of the main house. The team is charming, accomplished, enthusiastic, and yet professional in all respects. They are fabulous and their touch is magical.

The inside of the house is filled with wonderful sculpture and painting by South African artists, collected over the years by the owners and it gives off a rich tapestry of colour and refinement, touched off by the most beautiful flower arrangements you can imagine, adorning every centre and corner of the room, complementing the art brilliantly.

All we can say is that it is a wonderful place – the aspect gives it great promise, but it is the leadership and the superb team that make it a little piece of heaven perched innocently on a hill overlooking Cape Town.

It's tough to say enough great things about our stay at the Ellerman House!

The view, the room, the service, the cuisine, and, most importantly, the staff all contributed to an extraordinary experience. I've stayed in some great places over the last few years, but the congeniality, professionalness, and extraordinary performance (particularly when challenged by circumstances beyond their control) set Ellerman House apart from anywhere else I've stayed.

I went half-way around the world to, in part, stay at the Ellerman House. And, I would do so again without hesitation.

Visited Ellerman House March 19-20, 2004. From the second we stepped out of the taxi, we were made to feel like the only two people at the resort. The manager greeted us on the drive, gave us a short overview of the property, and showed us to our room. No credit cards were produced, no identification requested. A skeleton key with a tassel tag was given to us, and the room door was closed. As we looked out the floor to ceiling windows that covered the wall opposite the bed, the view was breathtaking, encompassing the hill below, the ocean beyond, and Robben Island in the distance. Fresh flowers in the room, a bar, with decanters, was built into a sideboard. The balcony was our haven in the mornings, lounging, using binoculars to do some bird-watching, reading, making plans for day trips. At night we left the balcony doors open so we could fall asleep to the sound of waves splashing on the rocky shore below. The tile floor in the bath was heated, as was the towel rack, and the shower was large enough for... We dined on the patio for breakfast and lunch, and had dinner in the dining room - we were greeted us by name, seated, a menu was produced, and we ate with soft music in the background. The only unfortunate thing about the trip is that we didn't book longer - we had reservations at Lanzarec Manor in the wine country the following day.