The Last Word Long Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

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.