In Cape Town sea views are everything, and they simply don’t get much better than at the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. I’ve stayed here four or five times over the past few years and the combination of superb accommodation, good food and an unbeatable location keep me coming back.

Set on the borders of the Table Mountain National Park, just a short drive from the glamorous beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, the ‘12A’ as it’s known locally occupies a unique vantage point. The towering sandstone massifs of Table Mountain lie just out the back door, while in front of the sea-view rooms the Atlantic Ocean disappears to the horizon.

The hotel is regularly voted among the best in Africa by the likes of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, and with good reason. Apart from its convenient location 10 minutes from the city centre, the 55 rooms and 15 suites offer a healthy dollop of luxury in a classic sea-inspired setting.

Accommodation aside, you’ll be more than happy with the on-site facilities here. The spa is a particular pleasure, offering everything from a Rasul chamber to mani-pedi rooms, and treatments are also offered in two private outdoor gazebos with mountain views.

For more Bacchanalian pleasures, you have a choice of two restaurants. The casual Café Grill is best for light meals in the daytime, while Azure offers two fine-dining menus and a remarkable sea view. The view only gets better from the top-floor Leopard Bar, which is perhaps my favourite sundowner spot in Cape Town.

Capetonians come from across the city to toast the evening or enjoy a nightcap here, but for lucky guests like yourself it’s just a few short steps to your room. As I say, it’s all about location.