Once

Once
the private home of the owners, this beachside boutique
stay is nestled along the sugar-white sands of Cape Town’s longest
beach – aptly named Long Beach – in the quiet coastal suburb of
Kommetjie. The favoured hangout for Cape Town’s active types, the
area is an ideal spot for a weekend away from the busy urban sprawl
– think rolling surf, mountain views and sleepy, boho-chic
cafés.

Nodding to its coastal location, the intimate lounge area is all
whitewashed with a home-away-from-home feel and marine-inspired
decor. Grab a pair of binoculars and keep an eye out for whales
frollicking in the bay, book yourself a surfing lesson at reception
or simply curl up on an outdoor deckchair and watch the world go by
– this is go-slow living at its finest.

Rooms

All six rooms look out onto the sparkling Atlantic Coast, with
slide and fold doors that open out into either sea-facing patios or
the garden and pool area. Dressed in cool, calming whites, with
paired-back interiors and huge, marshmallow-soft beds, the rooms
are generously sized and offer all you need for a comfortable
night’s sleep.

We stayed in one of two Elegant Suites upstairs – a ginormous
bedroom complete with a lounge area and open-plan bathroom. Healing
Earth bathroom products are all eco-friendly and kept in large
glass jars.

Food and Drink

One of the biggest drawcards of Last Word Long Beach is its
staff, who are all effervescently friendly and welcome guests to
the dinner table as if they were old friends. For breakfast, expect
continental-style platters of cold meats and cheeses, plus
croissants, granola and made-to-order hot options including eggs
royal and mushrooms on toast.

A three-course dinner is included in the price of your room,
ordered at breakfast and served between 7-9pm. On the menu you’ll
find fresh-as-it-comes seafood, summer salads and creamy,
home-cooked curries with a small but impressive wine list. A
help-yourself drinks hatch at reception provides sundowners and
after-dinner drinks.

Is there anything else I should know?

You’re a fifteen-minute drive from Noorhoek (where most shops
and restaurants are) and 20 minutes from Simonstown (where you’ll
find Cape Town’s infamous penguins on Boulders Beach), so you might
want to hire a car. Otherwise, bikes can be hired from
reception.

As is the case across South Africa, load shedding is common.
Prepare for the occasional power cut, although wifi continued to
work across the hotel during blackouts.