Acorn House: Our full report

Acorn House is a lovely old house, built in 1904, and situated at the foot of Table Mountain.

Its location in the Cape Town suburb of Oranjezicht is very convenient for many restaurants and cafés in nearby trendy Kloof Street. The city centre is only a short distance away and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront only ten minutes by car.

Steps lined with lavender and white rose bushes lead from the street to Acorn House. Immediately apparent are the polished wooden floors, original doors and high ceilings throughout the house, which is graded as a national monument by South Africa’s National Monuments Council.

In the lounge, comfortable sofas and armchairs are set around a fireplace, with Persian carpets on the polished wooden floor, and an honesty bar for guests at Acorn House. Beyond is the breakfast room, with doors opening to a patio where tables are laid for breakfast in warmer weather. Complimentary tea and coffee are available throughout the day at no extra charge, with Nespresso coffee available at R8 per cup (about 50p). Lunch and dinner are not served but there are lots of restaurants and cafés in the area, and a deli across the road where you can eat in or bring your meal back to the house.

From the main hall a wooden staircase leads up to the nine bedrooms at Acorn House. All are simply but comfortably furnished with either twin beds or a king-size, a writing desk, hairdryer, TV and electric heater. The en-suite bathrooms have a shower over the bath, washbasin and toilet, with toiletries are also provided. Some of the rooms have access to a private seating area in a courtyard at the back, while two at the front of the house have balconies overlooking the street. Some rooms can be converted into family rooms using a sofa bed.

In addition to the rooms in the main house, there is a cottage at the rear of the garden with an en-suite double bedroom and a separate lounge with television and a sleeper bed for children. It also has a private garden with outdoor table and chairs.

Acorn House has a small manicured garden where a few loungers are spread on the lawn around a swimming pool, where guests can relax in the sun.

Expect to be very welcome at Acorn House, where attentive staff with extensive knowledge of the city and its environs will help you to plan your time in Cape Town.

Our view

We liked Acorn House. It is simply furnished but very comfortable and the staff are very friendly. For an affordable guesthouse within easy reach of the city and the V&A Waterfront, Acorn House is a delightful place to spend a few days.

Lucy Copson

South Africa expert

Geographics

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Ideal length of stay: Allow 3–4 nights to explore all that Cape Town has to offer, or longer if time permits.
Directions: Located in the Oranjezicht district of Cape Town, at the foot of Table Mountain, at No. 1 Montrose Avenue.
Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: On our last visit in May 2014 we found the breakfast buffet well displayed and very appealing. Laid out on a table in the bay window was a selection of cold meats and cheeses, colourful platters of fresh fruit and fruit juice, a selection of jams and sauces, freshly baked breads, muffins and a choice of cereals. A cooked breakfast is also prepared to order. Breakfast is usually served from 8.00am until 11.00am.

Lunch and dinner are not served at Acorn House but there is a choice of restaurants nearby and the staff here are very happy to make reservations on your behalf.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room service is available. The guest house can arrange for take-away meals to be delivered for you.
Drinks included: Drinks are available at an additional cost. Soft drinks are priced from R10 (less than £1) per can, beers from R15 (£1) per bottle, spirits from R25 (£1.50) per measure and wines from R50 – R160 (£3 to £10) per bottle.

Children

Attitude towards children: Families with children are welcome at Acorn House
Property’s age restrictions: None
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: Cots and high chairs can be provided
Generally recommended for children: We think Acorn House is suitable for all ages, but adult supervision is needed around the pool area.

Communications

Communications: Free WiFi is available throughout the guest house. A computer and fax facilities are available at reception for use by guests.
TV & radio: Each room has a TV with local channels only.
Water supply: Mains

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: No
Medical care: There is a Medi Clinic about a 10 min drive from Acorn House.
Dangerous animals
Security measures: A staff member is always on duty until 11pm. After 11pm the front door is locked and guests returning after this time are given a key to let themselves in. There isn't a security guard on site but the area is generally patrolled by the police.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are placed around the building.

Activities

Birdwatching
Boat trip
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Dune-boarding
Fishing
Helicopter
Horse-riding
Hot air ballooning
Kayaking
Microlight
Mountain biking
Quad-biking
Scuba-diving
Self-guided walking
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: A laundry service is available at an extra charge. Prices vary from between R10 and R20 per piece. (50p to just over £1).
Money: There are no safes in the rooms, but the cottage has an electronic safe. A central safe at reception is available for guest to lock away valuables.

Currency exchange is not possible here but there are banks and cash machines in the area.

Currency exchange is not possible here however there are banks and cash point machines in the area.
Accepted payment on location: Visa and Mastercard are accepted as well as cash in South African rands.