Property

The hotel named the best in South Africa

Kirsten Minnaar • 17 August 2026

One&Only Cape Town has been named South Africa’s leading eco-friendly hotel in the inaugural TourismX Eco-Friendly Hotels Index.

The hotel took the top position in the index, which ranks South African hotels based on guest satisfaction, media coverage, and industry recognition.

TourismX said its ranking uses verified Google guest ratings, earned editorial media mentions, and share of voice to assess hotels’ reputation and sustainability leadership.

One&Only Cape Town, a luxury hotel along the V&A Waterfront, was the only hotel to receive Platinum recognition in the inaugural rankings.

Mount Nelson, Cape Grace, the President Hotel, and Radisson RED Cape Town V&A Waterfront followed with Gold recognition.

The Peech Hotel, Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank, Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch, The Vineyard, and Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers received Bronze recognition.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Oude Werf Hotel, Ghost Mountain Inn & Safaris and other establishments received Silver recognition.

The TourismX index combines several measures rather than relying on guest reviews alone. One&Only Cape Town received a Google rating of 4.7, earning Bronze recognition in the individual category for Best Google Rating.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank both recorded ratings of 4.8, placing them ahead of One&Only in this category.

The media visibility category was led by Mount Nelson, which received 245 media mentions between July 2025 and June 2026. Cape Grace followed with 114 mentions, while The President Hotel recorded 112.

Mount Nelson also had the largest share of voice, accounting for 36.90% of media mentions. Cape Grace recorded 17.17%, followed by The President Hotel at 16.87%.

One&Only Cape Town’s overall position in the TourismX index therefore reflects its performance across the broader methodology, rather than simply its guest rating or media coverage.

The rise of eco-friendly hotels in South Africa

TourismX founder Gerrit Davids said the rankings show that South African hotels can combine guest experiences with sustainability and media recognition.

“The rankings demonstrate that South Africa’s leading eco-friendly hotels are combining exceptional guest experiences with strong editorial media visibility,” he explained.

According to Davids, the ranking is also reinforcing these hotels’ reputation as leaders in the sustainable hospitality sector.

He said the index is intended to give travellers, tourism organisations, investors and other industry stakeholders a way to compare hotel reputations.

“The TourismX Eco-Friendly Hotels Index provides travellers, tourism organisations, investors and industry stakeholders with an independent benchmark of hotel reputation,” he said.

Davids explained that the ranking does so by combining verified customer sentiment with earned media performance.

TourismX plans to expand future editions of the index to include more eco-certified accommodation establishments and to add rankings for additional tourism sectors.

The leader of the latest rankings, One&Only Cape Town, forms part of the One&Only Resorts and Private Homes group.

The brand operates resorts and private residences in destinations around the world. Its approach focuses on experiences shaped around each location, with an emphasis on personalised service and activities.

The group said its resorts are designed around their surroundings, including local culture, nature and the character of each destination.

For One&Only, the guest experience is also based on individual preferences. The company says each stay is designed around the guest’s pace, interests and requirements.

The group’s service model is centred on providing guests with a personal interaction rather than a standardised experience.

The brand describes this as creating stays that feel individual and allow guests to explore their destination through curated experiences. At One&Only Cape Town, this approach is combined with the hotel’s city location.

The hotel provides a base for visitors exploring Cape Town and its surrounding attractions, while also offering accommodation and on-site experiences.

One&Only Cape Town offers a range of facilities, including a heated infinity-edge pool, a fitness centre with personal training, yoga and Pilates

It also offers the One&Only Spa on its own private island. The spa includes treatment rooms, vitality pools, sauna and steam facilities.

The hotel also has several dining options, including Nobu Cape Town, the South African grill restaurant ROOI, the poolside restaurant Isola, and the Vista Bar & Lounge.

Guests can also take part in experiences such as guided hikes, wine tours and whale-watching trips.

For families, the hotel offers KidsOnly activities for children, while its event facilities cater for weddings, honeymoons, corporate functions and other private events.