• For food and wine aplenty, set to an incredible backdrop, there’s no need to travel any further than our own backyard.

    By Dominique Brown

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    With our Thompsons package deal itinerary in hand, a friend and I dashed into Lanseria International Airport outside Joburg just in time to catch our flight to Cape Town. We headed straight to Avis, collected our hire car and made our way to the first stop on our list – the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, situated in the heart of the Cape Town city bowl. Announced by twinkling fairy lights, the hotel is modern with quirky design elements.

    DESIGNER DINER

    Settling into our magnificent loft-style executive suite, which boasts flatscreen TVs, enormous beds and plush furnishings, we were soon tucking into burgers chosen from the vast array on offer. A beef burger draped in Lindt chilli chocolate sauce hit the spot. The hotel is also known for its gourmet milkshakes.

    INNER-CITY LUX

    We moved on to 15 on Orange, a luxury hotel featuring vast glass windows that offer an amazing view of Cape Town’s treasured Table Mountain, with spacious rooms that are contemporary and light. The hotel is open and bright, and its monochrome colour scheme is injected with flashes of orange, purple and red. Cinnamon Coffee Shop, a restaurant and two bars cater to every culinary desire.

    A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

    Both hotels offer superb accommodation and are centrally located. The V&A Waterfront, with its plethora of restaurants and shops, is a stone’s throw away. Close by is the bustling hub of Long Street and the historic and picturesque Bo-Kaap. Across the road from 15 on Orange is the Labia Theatre, an independent art theatre complex offering delicious slushies laced with vodka.

    Call Thompsons on 0861 84 66 77.