Welcome to Cape Town luxury accommodation at the Winchester Mansions Hotel - where guests are a pleasure and a privilege! The Winchester Mansions Hotel, an exclusive, privately-owned 4 star luxury boutique hotel, is situated along the Atlantic Seaboard's famous Platinum mile, only 5 minutes from the well-known V&A Waterfront. Built in the mid-1920's in Herbert Baker style, the Winchester Mansions Hotel embodies the charm and gracious hospitality of a bygone era. Recalling a genteel age, when courtesy and personal attention was paramount, the Winchester has earned a reputation among Cape Town luxury accommodation for delighting its guests with personalised service and genuine care for their every need.

As a regular winner of the "Best Luxury Hotel" category at the annual South African AA Guide Travel Awards, it sets itself apart from other hotels in and around Cape Town, with its spectacular location, as well as its stylish elegance and renowned personalised service.

The Winchester Mansions has a variety of rooms and suites, all epitomising Cape Town luxury accommodation with spectacular mountain or sea views. Whether you're a family or a couple in Cape Town for a week or a month, the Winchester is the perfect place to unwind in style, luxury and old-world elegance.

Winchester Mansions is Cape Town luxury accommodation at its best. Seventy-six rooms and suites offer the kind of comfort you've come to expect of a top international 4 star hotel in Cape Town. Harvey's at the Mansions' restaurant, bar, courtyard & terraces will keep its promise of a unique guest experience. Our cuisine will tantalise your taste buds while caring staff will look after your every need. You'll want to return time and time again, and the best part is - you can!

All 51 luxurious rooms and 25 lavishly furnished suites are styled by one of Cape Town's top designers and include the exclusive "Top of the Mansions" - the contemporary loft style rooms, as well as the two newly refurbished floors that boast a more classic and traditional feel. All rooms have satellite TV with international channels, telephone, electronic safe, mini bar, tea & coffee-making facilities, separate walk in showers in all bathrooms and air conditioning. All rooms have double-glazed windows, air conditioning and digital safes.

Classics at the mansions - 33 Classic rooms, non-sea facing standard bedroom with an en-suite bathroom
Winchester suites - 12 Sea or non-sea facing large bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom and a separate lounge area
Colonial suites - 5 Sea or non-sea facing suites, with two bedrooms and a spacious separate lounge.
Harvey suite - A sea facing presidential suite, two en-suite double bedrooms of which the master bedroom has a walk in closet. A very spacious exquisitely designed lounge includes a dining room area seating up to twelve guests. All rooms have TV's. This Suite also has a kitchenette that allows for private catering.
Top of the mansions - 15 Modern classic rooms, non-sea facing modern bedroom with an en-suite bathroom
Superior classic rooms - 3 non-sea facing large modern bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom, each with its unique feature
Modern Winchester suites - 3 sea facing open plan bedrooms with lounge and en-suite bathroom
Arcadia suite - An individually decorated suite, featuring a large bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a large separate lounge. An optional second bedroom could make this an ideal room for a family.
Balcony suites - 2 sea facing larger open plan bedroom and lounge area with a large en-suite bathroom and a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
Robben Island suite - a sea facing presidential suite, which consists of an en-suite double bedroom with a large lounge area and a guest rest room. This suite overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the historic Robben Island. An optional second bedroom could make this an ideal room for a family.

Harvey's Bar- Hard to find among Cape Town restaurants today, Harvey's offers discerning diners an appetising taste of traditional Cape cuisine. In keeping with the hotel's emphasis on personalised service, diners are welcome to request special dishes. The Harvey's Bar, adjoining the restaurant, allows you to enjoy arguably Cape Town's best view - the sun slipping into the Atlantic - while sipping a long cocktail on the terrace. From happy hour to after dinner drinks, Harvey's bar awaits you as a prelude or prologue to dinner.

Courtyard -The beautiful colonnaded Courtyard, reminiscent of an Italian piazza, is a tranquil oasis from the pace of city life and the modern face of most Cape Town restaurants today. Encircled by palm trees and fountains, the Courtyard makes the perfect setting for a romantic dinner under the stars.

Jazz at the Mansions -Brunch and live jazz can be enjoyed every Sunday from 11am to 2pm. Upon arrival at the Mansions, you'll receive a complimentary Sunday Newspaper to catch up on Cape Town's weekly happenings, as well as a glass of bubbly to start off the morning. Brunch offers everything from eggs to cakes in our buffet restaurant selection. Enjoy all this while a live Cape Town Jazz band creates the atmosphere and mood to start the new week in an upbeat way.

Whether attending our world renown Sunday Jazz brunch, monthly Grapes, Gourmet & Gallery evenings or simply a sun downer cocktail on our terraces ... your experience at Harvey's at The Mansions, will be a memorable one for all the right reasons.

Health Spa

A World-Class Hotel needs a World-Class Spa Facility. The standards set, are to be compatible with the Hotel, it is luxurious in decor and service with attention to detail, pampering and friendly hospitality. The service offering is uniquely personal and prides itself in offering treatments that are based on the traditional hands-on touch therapy principles within intimate and discreetly private surroundings. The foundation of its therapy regime is a holistic approach to all treatments. Only highly specialized and trained personnel with CIDESCO qualifications are employed. This ensures that the highest standards set are met and maintained consistently.

The Spa's comprehensive menu of treatment offering represents a blend of traditional, Asian and global accents. Many of the therapies are based on the ancient beauty, healing, and rejuvenation secrets of the Asian cultures. These ancient traditions focus on both the inner and outer self, with the skin nourished, muscle soothed and the mind calmed. Every detail is an important part of the experience and every sense indulged, from the rituals that accompany each treatment to the exclusive products by using the finest ingredients that are available.

Each treatment begins with a footbath - a symbolic ritual representing a cleansing of life's stresses and tensions and to prepare for total relaxation the water is sprinkled with fresh flower petals and a choice of aromatherapy essential oils. Each treatment culminates with a tea service featuring a selection of herbal infusions to relax or invigorate - enjoyed in the comfort of the spas lounge area.

Special health menus will be compiled with the Head Chef to enhance the service offering. Spa cuisine is becoming more and more popular as guests experience a new sense of well being brought on by a holistic approach to correct nutrition. Recapturing the forgotten sense of well being ... A experience at 'The Mansions' is not complete without a taste of The Ginkgo spa. Enjoy the uniquely sensual experience and personal attention of that only found in a boutique wellness environment.

You want to carry on your sports routine? All first class facilities are available nearby. Golf, gym, horse riding, paragliding or sailing, whatever you desire is only a short drive away.

Conference rooms

Tailor-made conferences and functions with a difference, together with our personalised service, will not only make your event a success, but will produce results too. Our conference and boardroom facilities are not to be overlooked. Adjoining conference rooms, both with their own reception areas. They are peacefully situated away from the main hotel. Executive boardroom with a view of the ocean

Winchester staff are always on hand assisting you with secretarial services, e-mail & internet, as well as your air and ground travel plans including the arrangement of scenic tours of the Cape Peninsula and beyond.

Conference facilities are Inclusive of the following:
• Welcome Drink on Arrival
• Luxury Four Star accommodation
• Full South African Breakfast
• Full day Conference package inclusive of:
• Tea and coffee on arrival
• Tea, coffee and sandwiches at mid morning break
• Two course lunch
• Tea, coffee and scones at mid afternoon break
• Standard equipment (screen, flip chart, markers, pens and paper)
• Three Course Dinner

Street Smart

Harvey's has in the first three weeks of running with the StreetSmart idea collected more than R1,000.00. StreetSmart is an initiative which aims to contribute directly towards enabling street children to live a viable life in society. StreetSmart is a conduit fundraising organization that distributes funds to existing charities working with street children; namely The Homestead, Ons Plek and Learn to live. The funds are raised through participating restaurants. StreetSmart is a new income stream for these three beneficiaries. The charities receive some funding from government. It is the intention of StreetSmart South Africa to generate funds for projects that support the greater process of social normalization. StreetSmart South Africa has been launched in Cape Town in 2005.

Environmental Awareness

The Winchester Mansions Hotel was proud to be part of the South African Cleaner Production pilot project in the hospitality and tourism sector, initiated by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The project involved 9 hotels of various sizes, who all agreed to being audited over a one month period with regard to their energy and water usage as well as their refuse output. After completion of the audit, the Sustainable Energy Africa Consortium provided each establishment with recommendations and interventions to help improve their results on all levels. Each hotel was then given time to implement the recommendations feasible in their establishment, and after doing so, began comparing the initial audit results with the results achieved through implementation of the environmentally friendly recommendations.

The end results for the hotels were twofold, on the one hand substantial savings could be measured, and on the other, the environment benefited through recycling and efficient usage of natural resources.Changes implemented by the Winchester Mansions Hotel included fitting water saving mechanisms in all toilets, requesting our guests to use their towels more than once, fitting energy saving lighting wherever possible and last but not least the separation of waste for recycling and the donation thereof to various organizations, including the Oasis Association, an association dedicated to enabling persons with intellectual disability to realise their fullest potential and thereby become as independent and productive as possible within their community. The Winchester Mansions Hotel is proud to have been part of this very important project to ensure the lasting beauty and sustainability of our beautiful Cape Region not only for our children, but also for our visitors from across the globe.

Hotels Housing Trust

Winchester Mansions supports the Hotels Housing Trust. The Hotels Housing Trust was started in 1998. Visitors from the UK, with connections to the Gatsby Family Charitable Trust, wanted to do something to help provide housing for destitute shack dwellers that live near the airport and the outskirts of the City of Cape Town.

A brown paper brochure is put into hotel bedrooms in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It offers guests an opportunity to contribute towards housing for the poor and needy. Every cent of the donation goes towards building houses as Gatsby pays for all the administration costs of the Hotels Housing Trust. For more information please go to www.hotelshousingtrust.com.

When ex-President Clinton visited a site where groups of women were building he said that their savings/building scheme should be copied worldwide - the poor helping each other to build houses for themselves.

Recommended Destinations

Butterfly World (Klapmuts) - Located at Klapmuts, a few kilometres further along the N1 highway from the zoo is the butterfly park at Butterfly World. The park is located on over 1000 m2 of covered garden and boasts one of the largest live butterfly displays in the world with specimens from over 3 continents. Phone: 021 875 5628

Monkey Town (Somerset West) - http://www.monkeys.co.za A memorable interaction with exotic monkeys from the rain forests of Africa and the Amazons awaits you at Monkey Town. As a primate sanctuary, tourism destination and wildlife conservation centre, it is one family outing that you will not forget.

Two Oceans Aquarium (Waterfront) - This is the largest aquarium in South Africa, housing more than 300 marine species in impressive and informative displays. Watch seals playing underwater or the calm swaying of kelp forests filled with fish. Shark feeding time is 3:30pm daily, and the best day to go is on a Sunday when large ragged-toothed sharks are fed. Phone: +27 21 418 3823; www.aquarium.co.za; Open: 9:30am-6pm daily

Canal Walk Shopping Mall (Century City) - With more than 400 shops to choose from, Canal Walk is Africa's largest and most exciting retail and entertainment centre, offering the most compelling, comparative shopping experience under one roof on the continent. It has however been designed to offer more than just an unbeatable shopping experience. From its breath-taking architecture, to the live events and promotions staged regularly in its state-of-the-art promotions court which also boasts its own television station to its 40 restaurants, coffee shops and pubs, Canal Walk has been designed to entertain. www.canalwalk.co.za

Children's Garden at Spier - Spier, on the R310 on the way to Stellenbosch from Cape Town, offers beautifully manicured grounds around a lake: you can picnic here, buying your food and wine from the classy deli on the estate. A great lunch option. There's also a Cheetah sanctuary on the estate (free admission). www.spier.co.za/children.asp

World of Birds - The World of Birds, in Hout Bay, was founded over 25 years ago, initially as a commercial breeding venture but it soon became a haven for for sick and injured birds. Over 3000 bird species can be viewed in landscaped, walk through aviaries. A gift shop and restaurant are available. Tel 021 790 2730; www.worldofbirds.org.za

Drakenstein Lion Park - The Lion Park acts as a sanctuary for captive born lions that cannot be reintroduced into the wild. The lions all come from captive environments where they were kept in small zoo type cages. It is the Lion Park's mission to provide these animals with a safe haven and ensure that they never end up on hunting farms or in circuses. Our lions are housed in large sprawling camps with plenty of natural vegetation in as natural conditions as is practically possible. The lions can be viewed from our open air viewing deck or from the 150m catwalk that extends over the lion camps. Here you can wonder above these magnificent beasts in complete safety. We are open daily from 09H30 to 17H00.

MTN Science Centre (Century City) - www.mtnsciencentre.org.za

Beaches - Boulders Beach (Simons Town), Clifton and Camps Bay Beach - Camps Bay Beach is a broad stretch of palm tree-lined white sand bordering the bracing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Set at the foot of a spectacular series of mountain peaks, the Twelve Apostles, yet only 10 minutes from the city centre by car, it is one of Cape Town's most popular beaches. It is not a sheltered beach, so if the wind is blowing it is advisable to head for Clifton, another breath-taking and more secluded beach just around the corner. The beachside road has a festive atmosphere with a good variety of cafes and restaurants affording great sea views.

Groot Constantia (Constantia) - The historical wine estate of Groot Constantia has two restaurants. I wouldn't recommend the pricier of the two, the 'Jonkershuis' (mediocre, non wine-friendly food), but the 'Tavern' has very good Austrian-pub-style food and an attractive children's play area.
www.grootconstantia.co.za

Ratanga Junction (Century City) - Ratanga is a fantastic playground with something exciting for everyone. Experience the great selection of rides for adults and children. Thrill seekers will love the hair-raising Cobra roller coaster or the 18,5 metre drop down Monkey Falls. A rider ticket allows unlimited access on all of the 30 rides. The evening entertainment includes spectacular laser shows and live performances from comedy to cabaret and dance parties. There are also a variety of restaurants, shops, pubs and the Casablanca MegaVu cinema, which features 3D movies on a giant screen. Be prepared for a full, fun day. Phone: +27 861 200 300; www.ratanga.co.za; Open Hours: 10am-5pm Wed-Sun & all public holidays

West Coast Ostrich Show Ranch - For a unique experience only 20 minutes from Cape Town's City Centre, visit an ostrich farm offering informative tours. Also on-site is a high quality, great value leather and curio shop, and an ostrich meat restaurant. A major attraction is the tour around the well-equipped education centre. Phone: +27 21 972 1955; Open Hours: 09h00 to 17h00 every day

Lazerquest - The largest indoor survival game centre in South Africa, Lazerquest, offers excitement and a challenge to children over the age of eight. 1.5 kilometres wide, three storeys high, a smoke machine and some of the best club music in town makes for action-packed entertainment. Shoot, or be shot, by your fellow teammates as you enter this adventure fantasy. Phone: +27 21 930 2214; Email: lqx@mweb.co.za
Open Hours: midday-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-10pm Sun; 10am-11pm

Indoor Grand Prix - Get the adrenaline pumping in this thrilling and competitive indoor sport. It just takes one warm up lap to release your demon driver and then the race is on. A large electronic display board keeps drivers and spectators posted on positions, speeds and lap times as up to six go-kart's race round in a deafening roar. Phone: +27 21 419 5465; www.indoorkarting.co.za; Open Hours: 10.30am-11.30pm Mon-Thu; 10.30am-midnight Fri-Sun

Circle Launches - What better way to spend your Saturday afternoon than to hop on a boat at Hout Bay harbour and enjoy a trip out to sea? If you're lucky, and visiting in season, you'll cruise past whales frolicking in the bay before heading out to Duiker Island, where a huge seal colony awaits you. Phone: +27 21 790 1040; Open Hours: Daily depending on weather and season

Bo Kaap Museum - As a satellite of the South African Cultural Museum, this museum features exhibits on the Cape Town Muslim community and historical insight into the city's diverse inhabitants. The museum is situated in a restored home in the historic Bo Kaap style, surrounded by other Cape Dutch architecture painted a spectrum of colours. Exhibits feature educational explanations and artifacts from the 18th century.
Phone: +27 21 424 3846; www.museums.org.za/bokaap; Open Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm Mon-Sat

Waterfront Adventures - Fully qualified whale guides will take you on a boat trip to spot some of the oceans most graceful and majestic creatures, whales, in their natural environment off the South African coastline. They begin arriving around May and June each year and hang around in pairs and families along the Cape coastline's bays and inlets. Phone: +27 21 419 1780; www.robben-island.co.za; Open Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sun

Simon's Town Steam Train - The train trip out to Simon's Town is known for its beauty and stunning view of the coastline on one side and the mountains on the other. It's a comfortable ride with lounge areas, carpets, couches and a bar. This is a great outing for children. Pack a picnic and set off on a train trip, which lasts one and a half hours. Spend from 11.30am to 3pm looking around the historic and interesting village and enjoy your picnic on the beach there. The train leaves for Cape Town at 3pm. This trip only happens approximately once a month, so plan ahead.
Phone: +27 21 419 5222; Open Hours: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri

Robben Island - A leper colony, an asylum and a prison are some of Robben Island's incarnations during its turbulent history. It is located about 11km from Cape Town's harbour and is most famous as a penal institution that incarcerated many of South Africa's well-known political figures, including Nelson Mandela. It was opened to the public in January 1997 and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 1 December 1999. Tours of the island depart from the Clock Tower at the V&A Waterfront and cost R100 for scholars and R70 for students and pensioners. Each tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours (including the crossings) and consists of a bus trip around the island and a guided tour of the prison. The guides are all ex-inmates and provide personal accounts of prison life. Phone: +27 21 419 1300; www.robben-island.org.za; Open Hours: 8am-6pm daily (subject to change)

Tygerberg Zoo - Tygerberg Zoo is located in a rural area, 39 km from the city alongside the N1 highway near Paarl. The zoo is on 24 hectares and a large variety of wildlife, some of it rare and seldom seen can be viewed. The zoo is more of a wildlife park than a traditional zoo with the animals being free to roam about spacious enclosures rather than being confined to cages. On view are a large variety of animals including the big cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), numerous antelope, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees among others. Tel: 021 884 4494; www.tygerbergzoo.co.za

Scratch Patch - Children of all ages will have hours of fun searching for their favourite gemstones at the Scratch Patch in Simon's Town or the V&A Waterfront. South Africa is one of the leading producers of gemstones in the world and apart from being able to scratch through the thousands of polished stones that cover the floor, visitors can also take a guided tour through one of the largest gemstone factories in the world.
Tel: 021 786 2020 [Simon's Town]; Phone: 021 419 9429 [V&A Waterfront]

Planetarium - Sound and light are combined to reproduce the southern heavens on the domed ceiling of the Planetarium, alongside the SA Museum in the Gardens, Cape Town. The instruments used can reproduce the night sky at any point 13 000 years before modern times or the same period in the future. A state of the art audio system ensures a never to be forgotten educational experience. Tel: 021 424 3330; www.museums.org.za/planetarium

Websites of Interest

- Cape Town Tourism: www.cape-town.org
- Get Un-Board Cape Town: www.stufftodo.co.za
- Cape Town Events Calendar: www.capetownevents.co.za
- South African Weather Service: www.weathersa.co.za
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association: www.satsa.co.za
- Tourism Grading Council of South Africa: www.tourismgrading.co.za
- Table Mountain: www.tablemountain.net
- Weddings: www.capeweddings.co.za
- Cape Nature Conservation: www.cnc.org.za
- Robben Island: www.robben-island.org.za