Property

Inside South Africa’s most expensive hotel where a one-night stay can cost up to R268,500

Kirsten Minnaar • 10 July 2026

A night at South Africa’s most expensive hotel, The Silo, can cost as much as R268,500, making it one of the country’s most exclusive luxury destinations.

Located above Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, The Silo Hotel has become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

The building features distinctive pillowed-glass windows and is located atop the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA).

The five-star boutique hotel occupies six floors of the historic grain silo complex, which London-based Heatherwick Studio transformed into a mixed-use development.

This building now combines luxury accommodation with one of Africa’s leading contemporary art museums.

The hotel forms part of The Royal Portfolio collection and has just 28 individually designed rooms and suites, each featuring a unique interior curated by founder Liz Biden.

Contemporary African art is displayed throughout the hotel alongside European and Asian antiques, colourful fabrics, and custom furnishings.

Guests staying at The Silo can choose from a number of different suites. Accommodation ranges from Silo Rooms and Duplex Suites to Family Duplex Suites and Royal Suites.

Staying in these rooms will set guests back a pretty penny, with the most affordable suite starting at R34,500 per night for off-peak periods.

Room rates include breakfast, complimentary Wi-Fi, secure parking, and a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival. However, it excludes the R230 “Conservation and Community Levy”, which is charged per person per night.

At the top of the building sits the Penthouse, the hotel’s flagship suite and the most expensive room, with rates reaching R268,500 per night during peak season.

The Penthouse spans approximately 187 m² and features two marble bathrooms, a private study, panoramic views of Cape Town, and dedicated butler service.

One of the hotel’s defining features is its floor-to-ceiling geometric windows, which offer views of Table Mountain, Table Bay Harbour, Robben Island, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The unusual windows were designed to resemble the bulging shape of grain pressing against the original silo structure.

Amenities at The Silo

Guests at the hotel have access to a rooftop pool overlooking the city, a full-service spa, fitness centre, and several dining venues, including the Granary Café and the Willaston Bar.

Executive chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert leads the hotel’s culinary offering, with menus focused on seasonal ingredients and Cape Town flavours.

A stay at The Silo also includes access to Zeitz MOCAA, which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art. Guests can arrange private museum tours via a dedicated entrance from the hotel.

The Silo Spa offers a range of luxury treatments and is the only spa in Africa to use Ling skincare products. Among its signature offerings is the 24-Karat Luminescence Ritual, a two-hour facial and body treatment.

The hotel has earned international recognition since opening in 2017, and has even been featured on Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List and Readers’ Choice Awards.

It has also received acclaim from Forbes Travel Guide, the MICHELIN Guide and Architectural Digest, which have all praised its architecture, design, and location.

Condé Nast Traveller described the property as “living in a modern art museum,” praising its position above Zeitz MOCAA and its dramatic interiors.

The publication also noted that every room is different, with industrial architecture blended with eclectic décor and oversized bathrooms positioned to maximise the panoramic views.

Architectural Digest, meanwhile, highlighted the building’s iconic windows, noting that the 56 locally manufactured glass panels were designed as a visual interpretation of the pressure once exerted by grain stored inside the silos.

The hotel has also become a destination in its own right for visitors exploring Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, with attractions such as the Robben Island ferry, Table Mountain, and the city’s beaches all located nearby.