In short… Part of South Africa’s Royal Portfolio hotel group (Birkenhead House, La Residence, Royal Malewane), this former corn silo was reimagined as a hotel by British starchitect Thomas Heatherwick in 2017. The 28-room hotel occupies six floors on top of MOCAA, Museum of Contemporary African Art, which holds one of the most important collections on the continent. With its dramatic architecture, world class art and convenient location on the waterfront, the Silo is an ideal perch for exploring the city for a few days.
The surroundings… The Victoria & Albert waterfront, the oldest working harbor in the Southern Hemisphere, has been revitalized with the former marine terminals now housing boutiques, elegant restaurants and the Time Out Market, a food hall with a surprising amount of excellent culinary options. (It was perfect for a casual dinner on our first jet-lagged night.) The area is slightly touristy, but it’s a convenient (and safe) place to get your bearings and do a little sightseeing with the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, and the Cape Wheel for panoramic views.
The back story… Once the city’s tallest structure, the building served as a grain silo starting in 1924, supplying corn to most of the country as well as to Europe. After being decommissioned in the late nineties, the site lay fallow until London-based architect Thomas Heatherwick transformed the base of the concrete structure into a museum and the top grain elevator into a six-story hotel. Perhaps the building’s most striking element is the faceted window bays, which create a shimmering jewel-like effect on the top floors.
The vibe… The property is chock-a-block with art—there’s even the Vault, a small gallery showing emerging artists located in the hotel garage. Royal Portfolio owner Liz Biden has curated a bold mix of African art from Frances Goodman’s “Blue Velvet,” a large-scale work made up of colorful sequins that greets visitors on the ground floor, to photographer Pieter Hugo’s haunting “Hyena and Other Men” photos in the guest library of the mezzanine.
The decor is eclectic: industrial-style chandeliers hang above the concierge desk, blue tufted leather bar stools surround the Willaston Bar and bright velvet couches and banquettes are scattered about— Biden sources a lot of vibrant textiles from local designers. The lobby shop sells art books, painted masks, beaded jewelry and colorful scarves made by regional artisans.
An industrial staircase connected the floors of our two bedroom suite. The rooms feature a cheerful mix of antiques, modern pieces (pops of ‘90s lucite!) and Persian rugs. My primary bathroom was quite glamorous with a black-and-white art deco floor and a soaking tub smack in the center. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer 360 views of Capetown’s Table Mountain as well as the giant freight ships sailing out to sea. There was a fishbowl feel to the suite but at night it made it all quite glamorous. You really feel like you’re on top of the city.
The food & drink… There are two restaurants on the lobby floor as well as a rooftop cafe. Granary Cafe’s wide-ranging menu reflects the city’s diverse population. Choose from pot stickers, prawn chili pasta, kimchi pancakes, duck, lamb chops and Malaysian chicken. The wine list features a nice selection from nearby wine making regions like Stellanbosch and Franschoeken. Stop by in the late afternoon to enjoy the Royal Tea and watch the sun dip below Table Mountain. Willaston Bar offers a curated wine list and innovative cocktails as well as elevated bar snacks like truffle parmesan popcorn, a smashed burger and a delicious club sandwich. There’s also a small cafe on the rooftop— perfect for golden hour cocktails.
The wellness… There’s an infinity pool on the rooftop for those who want to get some laps in while taking in some of the most sweeping views of the city. There’s also a gym and sauna. For those who want to venture further out, the concierge team can help coordinate longer trail runs, hiking and biking paths and golf outings around the region. There is also a spa if you want to relax with a deep tissue massage or facial.
Kid-friendly factor… The marina is a safe, welcoming place to walk around with children. You may even spot seals lying around on the nearby docks. The museum is filled with crowd-pleasing, eye-popping works as well as educational exhibits, including a current show on the art and life of Albie Sachs, the late South African activist.
Be sure to… Just a few steps from the hotel is Southern Guild, a blue chip design gallery which showcases African artists and artisans as well as the motifs and traditions of their work. Book an art tour with Michael Jacobs, Silo’s in-house curator. His friendly approach to the art in both the hotel and museum makes for a delightful afternoon.
Dates of stay… August 20-21, 2025
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