An ultimate guide to Cape Town’s hotels, beaches and wine

Here is MailOnline Travel’s tested-and-approved guide of experiences, from hotels and restaurants, to experiences including a hike up Lion’s Head (right)

Situated in Franschhoek, a wine region 90 minutes outside Cape Town’s city centre, this French-inspired retreat is the stuff dreams are made of

Its rooms rival those of a Parisian palace, peacocks strut around the courtyard, and the whole estate overlooks a pristine pond

Perhaps the most lavish and expansive retreat in the wine region of Stellenbosch (and beyond), with sculptures hidden at every turn – Delaire’s stellar reputation is well-deserved

It boasts extraordinary views over the mountains from each villa’s infinity pool (right) and serves up and earthy, colourful exotic food (left), with of course, a splendid wine selection

Colourful, characterful, with influences from all over the world, Manna Bay is famed for its daily-held high tea in the drawing room (pictured)

Each suite is themed differently – this (left) is the Flamingo Room, while the open-plan lounge area boasts an impressive library (right)

Packed with old-world charm, Ellerman House is always quoted when you ask a well-heeled local for recommendations. The service is solid, but they largely leave you alone

Its art collection is rumoured to be worth far more than the property itself, and its wine cellar (pictured) is un-rivaled for a hotel of this size

Nestled on the beach with unbeatable sunsets every evening, Tintswalo will leave you feeling worlds away from the city, despite being a mere 20 minutes out

Its terraced-villas are enormous, with cool blue hues throughout and its deep bath tubs (right) are something special, despite being a mere 20 minutes out

Run by a delightful couple who are always on hand for advice and direction, this is a great option for tighter budgets

The service really stood out here – it felt more like being the guest of a friend than just another hotel patron. Twentytwo is quirky, centrally located, with a great pool and the rooms are comfortable – all-in-all, a bargain

Cheap and cheerful, 61 Camps Bay offers sizable suites with kitchenettes costing from £62 (R 1,020) per night

Its situated in a smart residential area (left) within easy walking distance to the picturesque Camps Bay beach – another great place from which to watch the sun set (right)

Run by famed chef Luke Dale-Roberts, this meal will set you back £97 (R1,600), with an extra £40 (R650) for wine pairing – and it will be worth every bite. The culinary voyage begins in the bar, where guests are presented tiny morsels in a mini chest

Here you’ll enjoy 16 courses, each seemingly more magical than the last. Expect to leave very full, very drunk and very happy. The service was exceptional right up until the end, when a misunderstanding was badly handled by management, but was cleared up swiftly and politely the following day. This remains a dining experience not to be missed

Nestled in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, this makes for a great lunch spot – try and bag one of its outside wooden tables

The food is rustic, the wine predictably sublime – this being wine country – and the service is fast and friendly

It first threw open its doors in 1996, and since then Aubergine has amassed a loyal following both locally and abroad

Set in an early-1800s building in Cape Town’s Gardens region, its relatively pared down interiors belie the artful, inventive dishes it serves up

The white decor at Manna Epicure is lovely, with a stand-out chandelier crafted from a tangle of branches. Too bad this experience was tainted by a run-in with the rudest waiter this reviewer has ever encountered. The manager, however, was brilliant, and the waiter in question has since left the team, so it’s still well worth a visit

Its delicious food is French, South African, with an Argentinian twist and its presentation is smart but unfussy

Head the Urban Beauty Lounge (left) for waxing, brow shaping, spray tans, and the best eyelash extensions in town, and don’t leave without treating yourself to a gel manicure from Sorbet (right), the highest rated nail salon chain in the city. The service is fast and the polish lasts and lasts

Located in Cape Town’s Hout Bay lives a colony of wild seals (pictured) which spend much of their time on a small landmass called Duiker Island. Tourists, in limited numbers, can visit them by taking a short boat ride and snorkelling around the island

While the seals are incredibly playful and often swim in close proximity to snorkellers, touching them is forbidden. Afterwards – the sea being freezing – you are given this rather fetching towel-suit (right) to warm up in

More than ten years in the making, this is a showcase of larger-than-life bronze wildlife sculptures from one of the world’s most celebrated artists

The Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden sits among the rolling mountains of Stellenbosch. Prepare to stand in awe

Zoom up all the way to the top of Table Mountain, where your head will quite literally be in the clouds

The cable car ride (left) up takes only minutes, from where you can enjoy the most spectacular view over the city from Table Mountain’s flat top (right)

You can do this hike at any time of day (although avoid after dark) but the best time is just ahead of sunset

It provides a tough workout, in Annabel’s opinion (left) but you can go at your own pace. The views will be more than worth it

The Iziko Slave Lodge (pictured) is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town, set right in the centre of town

It houses a sobering exhibition which documents the Cape’s role in the Indian Ocean slave trade route, and the Apartheid era

Watch wild penguins leap and torpedo through the waves from the shore, or settle yourself on the rocks and observe them up-close as they waddle up to sunbathe next to you

The beach (right) which is absolutely littered with the aquatic birds, and there are plenty of stalls close by which sell souvenirs and knick-knacks (left)