New hotel with three restaurants and two bars opens at South Africa’s oldest working harbour

Property • 27 October 2026 • Bianke Neethling

EDITION has marked its African debut with the opening of the Cape Town EDITION hotel at the V&A Waterfront.

This Cape Town location joins EDITION’s global portfolio of hotels in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, including Lake Como, Tokyo, London, New York, and Riviera Maya.

EDITION’s first hotel in Africa was opened at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront on Tuesday, 27 October.

“Cape Town has a distinctive energy shaped by extraordinary landscapes, diverse influences and an exceptional culinary scene,” said EDITION Senior Vice President George Fleck.

“This opening marks an important milestone for the brand as we continue to grow in destinations that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity and global influence.”

The Cape Town EDITION occupies a coveted position within Cape Town’s historic working harbour.

It overlooks the V&A Waterfront’s new superyacht marina and faces Table Mountain.

“The opening of The Cape Town EDITION is an important milestone in the V&A Waterfront’s continued evolution,” V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood said.

Wood added that this opening represents a strong expression of confidence in Cape Town as a globally competitive tourism and investment destination,

“At Quay 7, the EDITION brings an exceptional international hospitality brand into a working harbour and connects it to the wider Waterfront neighbourhood,” he said.

The hotel offers new dining, cultural, and public-facing experiences at the V&A Waterfront.

It was designed by Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects and professional firms. The design draws on the industrial maritime character of Quay 7.

The architecture references the warehouse structures that previously occupied the site through a long, low-slung form, pitched rooflines and a material language inspired by the working harbour.

Six million bricks were laid by hand in shifting patterns that bring texture to the façade, creating a distinctive architectural identity.

The Drum, a soaring cylindrical space open to the elements above, stands at the centre of the hotel.

The hotel offers 142 guestrooms and suites, decorated with bespoke furniture, natural finishes, and integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks.

In addition, the 240 m² Penthouse and 112 m² Harbour Suite crown the hotel, featuring generous living spaces and panoramic outlooks.

New restaurants and bars at the hotel

Executive Chef Phil Carmichael and award-winning South African beverage partner George Hunter lead the hotel’s food and beverage programme.

The hotel offers a collection of distinct restaurants and bars, including its signature restaurant, Shale.

Shale intends to bring the Cape to the table through a seasonal menu, drawing on farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers, and independent producers.

The restaurant’s meat is dry-aged in-house, and it offers a predominantly South African wine list.

Some of the dishes featured on the menu include Saldanha Bay mussels in a curry velouté with seaweed salad and braised black rice.

Another restaurant, EAVE, is located on the hotel’s rooftop and offers a relaxed, refined setting with broad views.

Set beside a heated pool, the indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar offers sundowners, dinner, and curated music programming after dark.

The menu features cocktails and a wine list with small plates that showcase the flavours of the Winelands and the surrounding coastline.

On the ground floor, Cape Town EDITION has a signature Lobby Bar anchored by a bar and pool table.

Another bar, the Punch Room, revives a centuries-old drinking ritual once carried along the trade routes that passed through the Cape.

“Wood panelling, velvet banquettes and low lighting create an intimate, opulent retreat, where punches are served in generous bowls for sharing,” the company said.

One of the punches featured at the bar is Brandewijn, which combines brandy, Pinotage, rooibos, pineapple, lemon, and winter spice.