Countdown begins for InterContinental Table Bay to open its doors

Renovations are nearly complete at the InterContinental Table Bay Hotel, with the doors of the hotel set to open on Monday, December 15. 

The Table Bay Hotel, as people knew it, closed its doors in February this year, marking the end of an era for previous Table Bay Hotel, which opened in May 1997 by late activist and former president Nelson Mandela, and has been home to guests from royalty to rock stars to world leaders and sports legends - including England’s famous Barmy Army, who once drank the bar dry in 2016.

The hotel will be opened under a new franchise agreement with Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) Hotels & Resorts, after the lease came to an end in 2022. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the lease was extended until the doors closed for renovations.

This hotel will be Cape Town’s first InterContinental hotel.

Sun International will continue to manage and operate the hotel on behalf of the V&A Waterfront.

The hotel will feature 306 rooms and suites, offering views of Table Mountain, the harbour, and the Atlantic Ocean. The pool deck, spa, and rooms have been refurbished, as have the suites, which now have baths and showers. 

During a walkabout of the almost-complete hotel on Thursday, November 28, contract workers could be seen hanging up lighting, installing furniture and giving the hotel a fresh lick of paint before its opening in 2 weeks.

The hotel's manager, Joanne Selby, stated that the contractors were diligently working to complete the public spaces and suites from the eighth floor down, aiming to welcome guests back in the next few weeks.

Finishing touches on the new dining and social experiences are also underway, with Michelin-star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen debuting his renowned French bistro concept, reimagined with South African flair, with the opening of Le Bistro de JAN. On the pool deck, Solange will be opening, offering a selection of pizza and cocktails, said Ms Selby. There will also be a kids' play area, in keeping with the hotel's and ocean theme. 

On the new 6th floor addition, the exclusive Club InterContinental Private Lounge, an exclusive space for members, offers premium harbour and Table Mountain views.

Ms Selby said the Table Bay Hotel's valuable artwork, furniture and some of the pieces were redistributed among Sun International's other properties, while the statue of Oscar the Seal, the hotel's mascot, has returned to its spot after being in safekeeping. 

The hotel's exterior also remained, with the walkway along the historic breakwater wall being preserved. 

Ms Selby said: “It may be a shiny new jewel, but key elements were preserved. The most precious of these is our team. All staff have been retained, and we look forward to delivering elevated hospitality with the familiar faces our guests know.”