How to Stay Hip in Cape Town – Hippo Hotel Review

Cape Town is a rad city. Sure it has boatloads of natural beauty and scenic shorelines and blah blah blah. Those are all great and were factors in why I decided to live in Cape Town, but what really sold me on it as a temporary home is the hipness it exudes. It has a young, fresh, feel that compares to New York, Reykjavík, and my hometown of Vancouver. I got a crash course on this with my 1st stay in the city at the Hippo hotel, Cape Town’s hippest boutique hotel. What makes Hippo hotel so great? Read on.

Hip Location

Located on Park Street, the Hippo Hotel is just off of a trendy strip of Kloof. This area includes plenty of great restaurants, bars, boutique shops, and awesome cafés where I spent most of my time in the city. There is a small mall around the corner that includes a health food store (think Whole Foods but smaller) and if you head the other way, you will reach Long Street, known for its nightlife and entertainment.

Stylish Rooms

The hip vibe that is found in Cape Town doesn’t end at Hippo Hotel’s front door. Inside you will find modern decor and a clean design. The lobby includes a free espresso machine and the walls are covered in artistic photography.

With loads of space and a kitchenette, our room was a great place to call home. The air conditioning was also welcomed with the Cape Town heat hitting a record high. On top of being incredibly spacious, our Hippo Hotel room was stylish with cool colour tones and a modern scheme. Our room also included a large patio which was the perfect place to unwind after a day of seeing Cape town’s sights.

Lots of Options

If choosing between the shocking amount of nearby eats for dinner is a struggle, the Hippo Hotel isn’t helping out with their included breakfast. This hip hotel has partnered up with five different restaurants within a couple of blocks and offers your choice of them for breakfast. This was a unique and fun touch as we got to check out a few different places. Our favourites were Chalk and Cork – a wine and tapas bar that serves up a great light breakfast, and Molten Toffee, a quaint fresh juice and coffee bar.

The Hippo Hotel is Getting Hipper?

With its awesome location, choosing the Hippo Hotel for your Cape Town stay is an easy choice. What may make it even easier is it is getting an upgrade. While sitting down with Sasha, the incredibly friendly and Cape Town passionate manager, she let me know that the Hippo hotel is getting a makeover. The upcoming renovations include new paint and updated bathrooms. Another reason to choose this hip hotel for your Cape Town stay.

What say you?
Thoughts on the Hippo Hotel in Cape Town?
Let’s hear it!

For more reviews from Africa and beyond see HERE.

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Although I was provided with a complimentary stay at the Hippo Hotel,
the experience, opinions, and tough choices on where to eat are my own.