I don’t really want to write this review. I don’t really want to give it 5 stars. Mainly because I want to keep my little secret. I didn’t want to leave this morning. We had a little glitch on checking in but the manager Petrus made good with dinner later. Narnia nestled in Camps Bay. Hidden from view to the extent we often pass this area by car or on foot and never knew about this amazing place It combines old world charm, elegance and a garden to get lost in. It’s built in a ravine with a small river of water cascading into a waterfall and a nature pool. It looks like a place that only royalty frequented in the 30’s and 40’s The property is a private nature reserve and a few neighbouring house have been bought and converted into upmarket rooms There is a spa on site and we made use of the brand new spa pods with hot tub experience - sublime From Andrew welcoming at the door, Benson and Sizwe the waiters, Shafeeka the housekeeping manager and Petrus the manager - everyone was amazing. Dinner was delicious and breakfast sumptuous- those croissants…..phew. The breeze free view over the gardens and the ocean added to the ambience A padel court has been added and marked routes for short hikes will get the pulse rate going I wonder who has stayed there before…… well now our names can be added to that illustrious list

We were completely shocked by how beautiful and relaxing this property was, especially given some of the reviews. We expect the guest experience may depend partly on where you stay - we had a room in the main house (Junior Suite with Sea View). This was probably the biggest and most breathtaking hotel room I have ever stayed in. The view was incredible and the room had an enormous bathroom, dressing area, two seating areas and three balconies. We were blown away. The gardens of the property are gorgeous and there is a lot to take in even just being there. Staff are friendly and helpful. Breakfast delicious and very generous. Free tea and scone between 4 and 5pm was a nice addition. There was an adorable and friendly dog on the property. It was an extremely memorable stay and we would certainly love to return. We would not stay anywhere else in Camps Bay if we visited again.

It is a little way back from the front. This was fine for us and meant it was much quieter and more relaxing, but just something to bear in mind.

The lobby and restaurant offer a magical view that truly enhances the experience. Staying here feels like residing in a beautiful old castle, where every detail reflects charm and elegance. It’s a wonderful escape that combines luxury with a touch of history. Highly recommended!

The accommodation is very nice, but there is a need for a deeper cleaning. The bathrooms had significant limescale buildup, and the grout requires attention. Given that this is a premium property with a premium price, we expect a higher standard of cleanliness.

The hotel and room #1 we stayed in was exceptional. The accommodations, the views and the grounds were incredible and charming. We actually extended our stay to come back and enjoy this hotel on our second leg of our travels.

Restaurant service could be a bit faster, sometimes it felt like we had to go to the bar to get service, but it was always nice and friendly.

The accommodation was exceptional. The layout of the room, the privacy and the view was amazing. I loved the complimentary mini bar snacks and the complimentary scones and tea/coffee at 16h00. The staff were super helpful and prompt. The what's app group made any request easier. The manor itself was breathtaking, from the decor to all the fire places. And lastly the grounds were splendid. It was like being in another country, the waterfall and mountain pools was so unexpected but such a treat. There were olive trees and blue berry bushes along the walk ways...

That I could find the switch for the outside light or that the outside lights did not come on... Made it difficult to move around on the balcony at night. Also the mattress in my room was too hard for my liking. I am accustomed to a more medium firm mattress.

The good was very good, but there were no vegan options on the menu — I had to specially ask them to prepare a vegan option at every meal. These days, given the big global shift to vegan, it surprises me that a premium location such as Camps Bay Retreat has no vegan options on the menu.

The shower door leaked badly, and could not be repaired even after several requests. It required catching the water with several big towels on the floor for each shower, to prevent the water from flooding the bedroom. Also, I asked for a wellness treatment slot immediately after my arrival, and kept asking for 4 days, and none of the staff members even bothered getting back to me. It took 4 entire days until I finally succeeded in getting someone to reserve a slot for me. This is not acceptable for a 5-star hotel.

The best hotel stay ever! We loved our stay, we had friends at The Bay. The Retreat is far more authentic, traditional and gorgeous. A very special location a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main drag. The room was incredible - up in the tree canopy! The food, drinks and service were off the scale - I’d rate this as an 11 if I could!

All absolutely fantastic!

The room was so beautiful with a conservatory overlooking the sea. The children's room was also gorgeous, very modern and well appointed. Given, on the front desk was amazing, so friendly, engaging and really made our holiday by suggesting the hottub in the jungle in the evening, showing the boys the swing and arranging an early takeaway breakfast for us. Great location for the hotel too. An easy walk through the garden to camps bay, but yet so quiet with its own little jungle attached. Free padel on certain days also a nice bonus. Thanks all, we had a great stay.

Great location and views. We had a room with outside space which wasn’t entirely private and a wood burning hot tub. Security, waiting and household staff were great and we made friends with the hotel’s dog. Good range of well priced drinks and food options including non-meat dishes which was really appreciated. We really liked the rope bridge connecting our party of the resort from the main house.

The on duty evening manager when we arrived was cold and off-hand, describing their plans to address load-shedding next year for our part of the resort as some kind of benefit to us. His manner didn’t improve at all during our stay including at check out when he would look straight at me. Without this we would have rated the hotel higher. Everyone else at the resort was lovely. Load- shedding a minor issue but the timings didn’t impact us hugely.

Beautiful hotel but a few things could have been done a little better in the interests of such high standards. Breakfast in a hotel of this standard and quality should not have been restricted (eg 2 drinks only...I think several cups of coffee and a glass or 2 of juice is not unreasonable). However the staff, the surroundings, the suite, the grounds were all fabulous.

Breakfast (see above).