EDITION Opens Its First Hotel in Africa

With The Cape Town EDITION, the EDITION hotel brand—part of Marriott International—is making its debut on the African continent.

The Cape Town EDITION is situated within Cape Town’s historic harbor, commanding views of Table Mountain and the Waterfront’s new superyacht marina. The surrounding area features museums, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. Cape Town complements an international portfolio that includes properties on Lake Como, in Tokyo, London, New York, and on the Riviera Maya, among others. George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader at EDITION, describes the opening as an important milestone for the brand.

The hotel was designed by the design studio Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town architects and specialist planners. The elongated, low-rise structure with sloping roofs references the site’s former warehouses; more than six million bricks were laid by hand in varying patterns to create the façade. At its center is The Drum, an open-topped, cylindrical space. A spiral staircase ascends to an observation deck that is also accessible to visitors and locals.

142 Rooms and Suites

The 142 rooms and suites are appointed with custom-made furniture and natural materials; built-in elements evoke 19th-century suitcases. Furniture and rugs are supplied by Shuttleworth Weaving in KwaZulu-Natal. The largest units are the 240-square-meter penthouse and the 112-square-meter Harbor Suite. The art in the hotel was curated by Design Network Africa and the Cape Town gallery Southern Guild, including works by Zanele Muholi, Usha Seejarim, and Chuma Maweni.

Culinary Experience: Local Ingredients

Executive Chef Phil Carmichael—who previously worked at The London EDITION’s Berners Tavern, among other places—oversees the culinary operations alongside beverage expert George Hunter. The signature restaurant, Shale, sources ingredients from local farmers, fisheries, winemakers, and producers; the meat is dry-aged on-site, and the wine list features predominantly South African wines. On the rooftop terrace, EAVE offers a bar beside the heated pool, complemented by the Pool Terrace. On the ground floor, the Lobby Bar features a pool table, while the Punch Room serves punches in large bowls designed for sharing.



The spa, situated below sea level, features five treatment rooms, a suite for couples’ treatments, a sauna, and a steam room; products from Omorovicza, among others, are used. There is also a 24-hour fitness centre and a daily programme featuring yoga, breathing exercises, and sound baths. For meetings and events, the hotel offers a ballroom for up to 200 people, a boardroom, two meeting studios, and a private event terrace. There is also Vantage, the rooftop event space. According to General Manager Leonie Andereya, the hotel is designed to be just as welcoming to Cape Town locals as it is to first-time visitors to the city. The Cape Town EDITION