La Splendida

I travel frequently, and this was, without exaggeration, one of the worst hotel stays I’ve experienced anywhere in the world. The problems started at check-in. The front desk staff were constantly engaged in loud personal conversations or scrolling on their phones. Not the kind of welcome you expect at any hotel, let alone one that markets itself as boutique or premium. When I arrived at my first room, I was immediately hit with a damp, mouldy smell. The towels were frayed, and the amenities provided were minimal and disappointing — particularly because they consisted of small, single-use plastic items. In a city like Cape Town, which positions itself as environmentally conscious, this felt not only outdated but out of step with sustainability practices. It was surprising and disheartening to see such disregard for eco-friendly standards. Worse still, a constant knocking noise echoed through the room. When I reported it, I was casually told it was “just the ice machine.” Bizarre and unacceptable. I was moved to a second room — and things didn’t improve. Room 2 had only one usable plug point, and it wasn’t even a standard South African outlet. It required a special adapter, which most travelers wouldn’t carry. The plug was also located far from the bed, meaning I couldn’t charge my phone overnight within reach — something quite basic and expected in any modern room. That room was also directly above reception and partially over the restaurant. Loud conversations from guests and staff kept me awake well into the night, and at 6 a.m. I was jolted awake by staff dragging tables and chairs outside for breakfast service. Speaking of breakfast: the service was abrupt and unprofessional. The waitress barked “What’s your room number?” before I could even greet her. Several tables were permanently marked “reserved” for guests who never arrived — observed at both breakfast and lunch. I was allowed one coffee and one breakfast item, and any extras (like a second cup of coffee) had to be paid for at exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, staff members were laughing and shouting so loudly it felt more like a staff party than a hotel restaurant — while the rest of the guests sat quietly. Later, I returned to find the entrance to my room covered in hanging electrical cables. Maintenance was installing an aircon in the room next to mine, hammering and drilling nonstop until 5 p.m. I was offered another room (the third!) but by then, the construction noise had spread through the entire wing, so it was pointless. Because I had an exam the next morning, I took my breakfast back to the room to eat later. When I opened it, I found the fridge had frozen the entire plate solid. Their idea of “compensating” was to offer me a lunch plate — delivered with the air of doing me a personal favour. It still didn’t end there. The aircon in my room stopped working, likely due to the installation next door. I was then moved to a third room — at this point, completely exhausted and disillusioned. What made this worse is that I’ve worked in customer service myself. I understand that small issues happen. But the combination of repeated failures — noise, rudeness, faulty facilities, environmental insensitivity, and lack of basic hospitality — point to deeper systemic problems with how this hotel is run. Had I not prepaid, I would’ve left. I felt trapped by my booking, and it ruined what should’ve been a peaceful, restorative stay. Avoid this hotel if you value sleep, service, or sustainability. Read less

We had a wonderful stay at La Splendida Hotel in Mouille Point. The bedroom was comfortable with a stunning view of the bay. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the breakfast was excellent with a good variety. Our only concern was that the pillows were too hard and high for our comfort; no choice between a hard and softer option. Otherwise, a great spot for a relaxing visit to Cape Town. Read less

This review is meant to be constructive, for the owners. I wouldn't write so much if I didn't care deeply. For visitors, the place is acceptable. For the owners, I often have a problem with the wasteful use of good material. This hotel has the makings of 5-star hotel, but carelessness in the use of material, including the location and building itself, renders the place to be a 3-start hotel. I expected better, you definitely could do way much better. I stayed in room 102, the basis of my assessment. Some areas dark outside the room. The lights were not on at dusk since I saw them in the morning when I checked out. Attention to detail is poor, e.g. lift lighting is poor, lift panels are missing parts making them flimsy, buttons not in good condition. These are signs of poor maintenance processes as well as well some lack of attention to detail. The facilities outside the rooms look shoddy and shady, like the door latches used. There's a lot to give one a cringy feeling when they step outside the room. There was no kettle in the room, yet a tea/coffe-making set is there. I eventually got the kettle, but where do I plug it? The plug is almost at the floor level. The colourful bathroom tiles are not retro, it's more of a cheap old school vibe which just doesn't go with the look of the room. Plain white tiles, perhaps with a tint of a light colour would've worked just fine. Room space big, spacious wonderful. Excellent. Couch, looks great but terrible to sit on. Uncomfortable. A working bar fridge was provided, but had no bottled water. Aircon was not working at all. There was no remote as well in the room. I felt cold the nights I slept there. Bed was big, king sized but it was certainly not nice at all The wall painting was excellent. Perfectly done and clean. Good set up in terms of room furniture. There is no bedside phone charging, unless you unplug bedside lamps. Reception staff are nice people, more especially the restaurant team. The hotel staff do not seem like they got formal hospitality training when you compare them to other proper hotels. This team seem to be operating a family business ran by their father. They just do the bare minimum for their existence and the hotel's existence. Compare these to the restaurant team, the restaurant team understands their business with an excellent mix of professionalism and friendliness. The light/plug fittings on the wall are not modern and neither go with the look of the room. It's as though they were kept the same from the previous owners of the flats. Modern fittings ones are not expensive and are quick to install. Flooring was great, except for the part where the floor meets the pillars. It could've been done better. The sliding door wheels are broken. You can barely open it. There's a good chance it can fall downstairs and injure/kill someone. So the 3 things i hated about this place. Broken sliding door. What's the point of sea views if you can't enjoy them with an open door? No aircon - major turn off! Having to call reception to ask for this and that. Things that ought to be in the room, like the aircon remote/kettle! What i loved the most, the room and sea facing view. A fully provisioned tea/coffee station (pity there were no biscuits). Would I book it again with my employer's money? No Could I recommend it to my colleagues? No Would I book it with my own money? Probably not, unless the price is really low My suggestion: Invest a bit of money in a good internal decor professional, make minor changes here and there, and you could be well on your way to a 5-star hotel at a fraction of major renovations. Pay attention to details. Read less