The Silo
Cape Town

Modern, cool and luxurious, The Silo sits atop the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront. In its former glory the grain silo, at 57 metres was the tallest building in Sub-Saharan Africa when it opened in 1924. After nearly 80 years of being at the centre of South Africa’s industrial development it closed in 2001. The Silo hotel is located in the elevator tower on the corner of the building which transported grain to the top of the building to be prepared for distribution.

The most visible change to The Silo was the addition of the convex glass panels that allow light to stream into the rooms, bar and the restaurant, whilst maximising the views of the Mother City and Table Mountain. They also give the hotel a very cool vibe, aptly matching its funky interiors.

With just 28 rooms The Silo is extremely popular. Its location means that guests can easily explore the delights of Cape Town and then return to the uber-cool Willaston Bar or rooftop in the evenings. After day of exploring, non-residents can enjoy the hotel too, and sip a Kalahari Safari cocktail made from rooibos syrup and gin. The Granary Café has a London bistro pub vibe to it with a chequered floor and green velvet chairs. Breakfast is only open for residents but the famed Sunday Roast and The Royal Tea Experience which require booking in advance are open to all, and the perfect way to spend an afternoon. The Silo Spa offers a range of treatments, but the real excitement is the use of the much-coveted Ling products – The Silo is the only spa in Africa to use them.

A stay at The Silo would not be complete without venturing six floors down to the museum itself. The multi-award winning Zeitz MOCAA houses an amazing collection of African modern art and is the largest of its kind in Africa. This makes it a must visit on any Cape Town tailor-made itinerary. Even if modern art doesn’t tempt you, the lobby itself its worth a visit. The grain towers have been hollowed out to create a megalithic, cathedral like space and on a bright day the sun beams down into the space – it really is a sight to behold!

The Silo is a super cool, luxurious hotel and a fantastic addition to any bespoke itinerary to South Africa.

You either get the point of Africa or you don’t. What draws me backyear after year is that it is like the world with the lid off.
AA Gill