The Winchester Hotel, which overlooks Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade, has announced several new developments in time for the festive season this December.
An in-house spa and a new suite are opening and Harvey’s Bar and the hotel’s well-known Shoreditch restaurant are also relaunching following a refurbishment.
CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves, Neil Markovitz, said the hotel had undergone a R90 million (€4.4m) refurbishment in 2021 that coincided with Newmark Hotels & Reserves taking over the management of the property. The refurbishment focused on modernising the hotel and its rooms.
“Now, two years later, the finishing touches have been added to complete The Winchester Hotel’s transformation. During both this and the 2021 refurbishment, much care has been taken to honour the history and nostalgia of this 100-year-old property. We are incredibly pleased with the results, which have created elegant new spaces for guests to enjoy while retaining the innate charm of this beautiful property.”
The new Sanctuary Spa
The new Sanctuary Spa – built in the Arcadia heritage building that was once the home of the family that own The Winchester Hotel – offers three treatment rooms (individual or couple treatment configuration options) that combine classical style with modern wellness treatments.
These include touch therapies such as reflexology, CBD sports massages and cupping ceremonies. A range of massages include the hot lava shell massage for deep tension relief or the jet-lag massage designed for guests arriving from overseas.
Skincare treatments include collagen renewal treatments and neo-tissuedermie treatments focusing on facial areas prone to elasticity loss. The spa also offers pedicures, manicures, tints, wax treatments, and body wraps.
The Arcadia Suite
The first floor of the building is now home to the luxurious new Arcadia Suite. Two en-suite bedrooms open on to a plantation-style balcony, with room features such as couches, bookcases, reading lamps and occasional chairs.
Shoreditch Restaurant
The interior of the Shoreditch Restaurant has been refurbished, with French doors opening on to the balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
A marble bar opens from the restaurant on to the hotel’s courtyard, which is one of Cape Town’s most Instagramable dining spaces.
The restaurant’s new menu will continue to have dishes using the open-flame and coal style cooking that it is known for.
“The new menu includes a variety of small plate dishes and enticing main courses such as wagyu beef burgers and seared tuna steaks. Communal plate sharing is encouraged so that guests can sample a variety of different flavours.
“Our signature dishes include unique meat cuts, such as our dirty rib-eye steak cooked directly on the coal beds for an intensely smokey taste. Our 1.2kg Florentine steak is served sliced for a family to share together with complementary sides such as pit-roasted sweet potatoes,” said Shoreditch Restaurant’s Owner-operator, Rory Jossel.
Harvey’s Bar
Harvey’s Bar’s refurbished venue features an art deco bar, ochre stools, leather-upholstered booths, green marble terrazzo tables and hand-painted canvas ceiling murals.
“We’ve always been the home of the Gin & Tonic in Cape Town and have designed a refreshing new cocktail menu for our relaunch. We serve an excellent variety of wines from several different areas in South Africa. Last but not least, we boast a proudly South African Cap Classique menu for stylish celebratory occasions. This summer guests can also enjoy sunset DJ sets on the terrace and Sunday afternoon jazz sessions,” added Jossel.
“Our team is excited about the significant refurbishments that have taken place at the hotel. We are confident that our guests will appreciate the improvements and have an event better stay with us,” said Walda Lloyd, GM of The Winchester Hotel.
