Victoria Boutique Villa
The Victoria Boutique Villa lives up to its claim of providing a personalised service to guests. Lou-Ann, their friendly manager, had invited us to have breakfast at the Villa and take some photos...we got the time wrong...but this was no trouble for them...and they accommodated our late arrival with a warm mid-morning breakfast.
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7 rooms with a history
The Victoria Boutique Villa is a small venue, with 7 unique rooms. It was originally built in 1902 as a residential house, and in 2000 was purchased by a German couple, who ran it as the "Lady Victoria". In February 2008 Ian Gale and Kees Moonen (from Australia and Holland) fell in love with Cape Town and also fell in love with the Lady Victoria. They bought the Lady Victoria, took occupancy in July 2008 and spent 6 weeks renovating before opening to the public in the second week of September 2008. During renovations they installed air conditioning in each room, DSTV in each room (about 16 channels), flat screen TVs, new beds, robes & slippers and brand new built in cupboards. Lou-Ann has been managing the guest house since its Lady Victoria days, and Kees & Ian live in nearby Camps Bay.
Personalised service
Some of the services which the Victoria Boutique Villa offers are airport transfers, car rentals arriving at the hotel on your arrival, cellphones (mobile phones), wireless internet, electronic safes and afternoon cake & tea (and if you're not keen on their cake and tea, the Mount Nelson is nearby, and is said to offer the best afternoon tea in the world!). Kees and Ian regularly go on the wine route and personally select wines, they also visit restaurants throughout Cape Town and pass on advice to guests about where to lunch or have supper. A mobile spa treatment is available, with Mystique from Tranquility available to soothe those muscles.
Guest comments
The Victoria Boutique Villa is rated number one on Tripadvisor for speciality lodging in Cape Town. Of the 27 people who had commented on Tripadvisor, 24 gave 5/5! The only complaint on Tripadvisor was that the room was too small (all the rooms are different, so when you book we advise you to discuss your requirements).
Guestbook
Up until the end of 2008, the Victoria Boutique Villa kept the conventional paper guestbook (they removed it thereafter, to eliminate clutter, and because guests could leave comments on Tripadvisor). Click on the miniatures below, to see comments written into the guestbook:
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Here's a selection of guest comments:
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"Excellent trendy villas, with lovely staff. Thanks especially to Lou-Ann for her advice and bookings. A great stay."
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"Great breakfast and very friendly people".
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"Nice area. Good breakfast. Nice rooms. Great stay."
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"Beautiful house, fantastic people & nothing but smiles"
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"Loved this Inn. Staff are wonderful."
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"Beautiful room. Lovely staff. And very nice Landlord".
Soccer World Cup 2010
Lou-Ann tells me they still have some space available for the Soccer World Cup 2010, and even some tickets (jip, that's the customised service they provide!). During the Cup, they offer guests transport to and from the Green Point Stadium.
Street address |
1 Kelvin Street |
Location & details
The Victoria Boutique Villa in Cape Town is a 4 star luxury guesthouse in Upper Gardens. The Villa is located a short distance from Table Mountain , Cape Town's City centre, Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront. Their rooms are equipped with modern en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, satellite TV, mini bar, robes/slippers. They provide guests with a courtesy cellphone and a local SA number to find their way around Cape Town and its surrounds. They also provide airport transfers and any other form of transportation wished for by their guests.
Breakfast
Guests can enjoy breakfast in their dining room or outside on the veranda overlooking their garden and pool.
Reservations
Make your reservations on the booking engine above, or at Victoria Boutique Villa (bookings@victoria-villa.co.za).
Related accommodation option
Kees & Ian also own a 2 bed roomed Higgovale apartment which has amazing views of Table Mountain. The Villa has a friendly arrangement with nearby Derwent House boutique hotel, whereby they pass on overflow of clients.
My photos
Here's some photos I took on the 16th June 2009:
Artwork from the dining room in the Victoria Villa. |
View of Devil's Peak from a room. |
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A bedroom in Victoria Boutique Villa. |
Entrance hallway in Victoria Boutique Villa |
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the front of Victoria Boutique Villa. |
the street entrance of Victoria Boutique Villa |
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Victoria Villa with cableway station in background. |
Cosy fireplace in the lounge. |
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I was pleased to see the transparency with which the food is cooked at Victoria Boutique Villa. |
A bed at Victoria Boutique Villa |
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The lounge, with magaines to read and fireplace. |
A toilet and shower from the Villa. |
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A lounge in the largest bedroom. |
Also from the main bedroom. |
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The front patio where one can eat. |
Interesting roof patterns (enlarge to see). |
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Bedroom with window. |
Victoria Villa with Table Mountain in background. |
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Photos by professional photographer
Here are some photos which the Victoria Boutique Villa had taken by a professional photogragher:
Final comments
I like the fact that the owners don't actually live on the premises - this is vital to seperating it from that Bed & Breakfast feel of intruding on somebody else's home. I like the proximity to the Waterfront, Camps Bay, Cape Town City & Table Mountain. The largest room is a definite step up from the others, but each of them has something special (e.g. one has its own private garden). Breakfasts are delicious and Lou-Ann is an absolute treasure. I haven't actually spent a night at the Victoria Boutique Villa, but from what I've seen I can recommend it to anybody looking for a more personalised experience than a hotel, but a step up from a traditional Bed and Breakfast.
Nearby accommodation
See Gardens Hotels and Cadogan Cape Town.