Inside the new luxury hotel for the wealthy with its own mega-yacht harbour

Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront has opened Africa’s first EDITION hotel, a luxury development overlooking Table Mountain and a new marina designed to accommodate superyachts of up to 90 metres.

The Cape Town EDITION opened at Quay 7 on 27 October 2026, marking the brand’s African debut.

It forms part of a broader expansion of the V&A Waterfront’s marine precinct, which includes a new eight-berth superyacht marina.

The hotel joins EDITION’s international portfolio, which includes properties in destinations such as London, New York, Tokyo and Lake Como.

The development brings together luxury accommodation, restaurants, bars and wellness facilities in one of Cape Town’s most prominent tourism destinations.

The hotel has 142 rooms and 27 suites, including a 240 m² Penthouse and a 112 m² Harbour Suite.

Its rooms feature bespoke furniture, natural finishes and integrated joinery inspired by 19th-century travel trunks. Some also have private balconies overlooking the harbour, marina and superyachts.

Designed by Shanghai-based architecture firm Neri&Hu in collaboration with Cape Town-based architects, the building draws on the industrial maritime character of the historic working harbour.

Its design references the warehouse structures that previously occupied the site, with a long, low-slung form and pitched rooflines.

Six million bricks were laid by hand in shifting patterns across the façade. A sculptural cylindrical space known as The Drum stands at the centre of the hotel and is open to the elements above.

The hotel also offers a signature spa, fitness centre, rooftop pool, event spaces and concierge services.

Its food and beverage offering includes four restaurants and bars, led by executive chef Phil Carmichael and South African beverage partner George Hunter.

The signature restaurant, Shale, focuses on seasonal dishes inspired by the Cape’s coastline and Winelands. It works with local farmers, coastal fisheries, winemakers and independent producers.

The rooftop EAVE Bar & Lounge combines indoor and outdoor dining with a heated pool, cocktails, and city views.

Other venues include the Lobby Bar and Punch Room, an intimate cocktail bar inspired by a centuries-old drinking tradition.

A new superyacht harbour

The hotel overlooks the V&A Waterfront’s new Quay 7 Superyacht Marina, which was developed alongside it. The marina officially opened in November 2026.

The marina is designed to accommodate eight superyachts of up to 90 metres during the peak season.

It is being built by Damen Shipyards Cape Town and consists of six floating pontoons, each measuring 30 metres.

There were 120 people working on the project as of July 2026, including employees from nine local subcontractors. The V&A Waterfront said 76% of procurement spending had gone to local suppliers.

The facility is designed to support more than visiting superyachts. During quieter periods, it will also be used for commissioning and export staging by Cape Town catamaran manufacturers.

These include Robertson and Caine, Two Oceans Marine and Balance Catamarans.

This dual-purpose approach is intended to create demand for local marine businesses throughout the year, rather than relying only on seasonal superyacht visits.

V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood said the marina would help position Cape Town on the global superyacht circuit.

The Waterfront recorded 35 superyacht visits during the 2024/2025 season. Each visit can generate demand for fuel, provisioning, marine engineering, logistics, hospitality and other services.

The marina is also expected to include a new public promenade along the water’s edge, connecting the hotel and marine facilities to the wider Waterfront.

The Cape Town EDITION and Quay 7 marina form part of the V&A Waterfront’s continued development as a mixed-use destination.

The precinct combines tourism, retail, restaurants, offices, residential properties and marine facilities.

The hotel adds another international hospitality brand to the Waterfront, and the marina strengthens its role as a destination for larger vessels and marine businesses.

The development also includes six private residences, offering buyers the opportunity to own property within the EDITION development and access the wider Waterfront.

V&A Waterfront CEO Graham Wood described the hotel opening as an important milestone in the precinct’s evolution.

“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.

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Photos of the Cape Town EDITION hotel

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