Even during Cape Town’s current stint as World Design Capital 2014, the natural charms of the city beneath Table Mountain are more prominent than its urban appeal. However, Africa’s southernmost metropolis has much to satisfy city-slickers on its central streets – and Mandela Rhodes Place is an excellent spot to enjoy this urban buzz. Located just off Green Market Square, with its Art Deco buildings and African market, the hotel rises a dozen stories into the skyline, rubbing shoulders with roof gardens and penthouse apartments. Rooms have views of Table Mountain or a jumble of skyscrapers and steeples, and the eighth-floor pool gazes at the bronze and stone reliefs topping the Waalburg Building.

The slick rooms were initially intended to be residential apartments, resulting in plenty of facilities and space to relax. My platinum suite had two en-suite bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen and lounge, with microwave, built-in stove, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. In the lounge were creamy contemporary furniture, dining table, flat-screen TV with a limited DSTV package, and a balcony. Only a minibar was lacking.

The glassy lobby also bristles with amenities, featuring a spa, travel agent, souvenir shops, Motherland cafe and a branch of the Doppio Zero Mediterranean-food chain. The hotel’s great namesake is currently being celebrated in a display covering Mandela’s life and wise utterances. One criticism is that the lobby feels more like a shopping arcade than a hotel reception, and there is a general lack of public spaces such as a bar for socializing. However, the immediate surroundings offer many options; the hotel opens onto the pedestrianized St George’s Mall and Long Street is one block away. St George’s Cathedral is close enough to hear its quarter-hourly bell, with the Company’s Garden and Houses of Parliament beyond. Offering a fusion of hotel luxuries and self-catering privacy, Mandela Rhodes Place is ideal for business travellers and couples seeking a city break.