By invitation of Manley Communications, and in true Manley style, I was invited a few weeks back to a sneak peek of the reimagined Marly Boutique Hotel & Spa, followed by an indulgent overnight at the charming Alphen Boutique Hotel in Constantia.
Collected by chauffeur driven luxury vehicle and transferred to Camps Bay, the afternoon started with French Champagne and canapés as we enjoyed a site inspection of the Marly development site with Paul Kovensky, MD of The Kove Collection. From there we headed to The Alphen, where we checked in for the night. Drinks were enjoyed at Incognito, followed by a gorgeous meal at Blanko’s – before retiring for a snug night in my beautiful plush room.
I’ve always loved The Alphen Boutique Hotel, which offers a combination of world-class service, romantic nostalgia and a touch of modern flavour in its three classical heritage manor houses with 19 somewhat avant-garde luxury suites, complete with all amenities and high-tech facilities. The hotel is ideal for a night, after work drinks, a gourmet dinner, or extended stay in the gorgeous rooms. The service is exceptional and warm, and the setting charming.
My room was decorated in shades of mauve and plush purple, and I was welcomed to a handwritten welcome letter from Hannalie Greyling, the hotel’s dedicated general manager, who joined us for dinner. A group of us started the next day with a walk on the green belt, joining doge walkers, runners and even horse riders on the gorgeous route. After breakfast at La Belle Bistro & Bakery, it was back to work in style with my lovely private chauffeur.
My most beautiful room at The Alphen.
The Marly Boutique Hotel & Spa
The Marly Boutique Hotel & Spa’s chic expansion into a 38-suite bespoke offering will now include a world-class spa, gym, and a simply stunning 1000 square foot rooftop arena sporting a pool, bar and lounge. With a platinum seafront position within one of the city’s most sought after neighbourhoods, The Marly takes its name from Chateau de Marly, built in the 17th Century for the leisure activities of Louis XIV and his family. Adding to its legacy of fine service and classic style, The Marly’s contemporary fresh look will carry across its 11 existing suites and 27 newest suites that launch on 1 December, presented against a Table Mountain backdrop with expansive seascapes reaching to a sunset horizon. I cannot wait to see the end product.
The Kove Collection Winter Specials
Known for outstanding hospitality wherever you see the K symbol signature, The Kove Collection continues to consistently deliver that ‘something special’. This winter sees eight of its premium dining destinations around Cape Town – under the watchful eye of Chef Amber-May Deetlefs, offering a variety of unique winter dishes as well as two and three-course menus from now until 31 August, ensuring that you celebrate the chill with a vibrant choice of sensational taste experiences.
About Chef Amber-May Deetlefs
Executive Chef for The Kove Collection’s group of distinguished hotels, restaurants and bars, Amber-May Deetlefs is a model entrepreneur who set fire to her career at just 19 years of age when she opened the first South African restaurant and wine bar in the suburbs of Beijing, China. Backed with just a Diploma in Chinese Mandarin from the Beijing Language and Culture University, Deetlefs embraced her formative years with determined ambition working as a novice wine exporter and distributor and rookie restaurant owner serving 7 years of hard-won working experience which gave flight to her culinary career path.
With a Cordon Bleu Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts from the UK’s Tante Marie with Director Gordon Ramsay, today the competent, no-nonsense custodian of Cape Town’s celebrated Kove Collection brand, brings her own style of fresh food and wine concepts to Cape Town’s leisure lifestyles celebrated with tailor-made culinary dishes for each of the Kove Collection’s distinctive hotel and restaurant brands. Dynamic and hyper-focused on raising the bar on Cape Town cuisine offering, Deetlefs motto is: “The best food not only has to taste good; it should be something sincere and uncomplicated.”
Find your Kove eatery of choice or discover all eight menus on a classic dining journey.
Classic Constantia’s Blanko
Located at the iconic Alphen Hotel in Constantia, Blanko’s all-white, gallery-style space and vibrant “all day” atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop for locals to relax. Enjoy a curated menu of contemporary Italian cuisine, surrounded by a private collection of some of South Africa’s greatest contemporary artists. Blanko’s warm ambience and inviting restaurant, bar and lounge set in lush wine territory brings people together in its gallery-style restaurant perfect for that special wine-paired family gathering or intimate occasion in one of its four private dining rooms where culinary delights will have you coming back for more.
Contemporary Chic at Bilboa
Where the only distraction from the food is the view. Breezing onto the Camps Bay strip, Bilboa brings with it its own brand of contemporary chic, exclusive location and enviable views across the Atlantic Ocean. Diners are offered a contemporary space, unlike any other along the beachfront. Coupled with an uninterrupted view, this lends Bilboa to an elevated level of sophistication accompanied by a Mediterranean seafood-inspired offering.
Cosy Intimacy at Paranga
The original Camps Bay experience. The birthplace of The Kove Collection, Paranga has become an icon for the quintessential Cape Town dining experience on the Camps Bay strip. With sophisticated styling and the finest culinary selections, every visit to Paranga feels like a mini vacation, even for the locals. Paranga’s luxurious interior set on Camps Bay’s platinum mile is matched by its culinary benchmark dishes.
Sizzling City-life Firefish
Seafood Grill Restaurant. Experience sensational seafood fresh from the ocean and hot off the grill at this sophisticated harbour-side eatery at Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront. All protein cuts are grilled on the state to the art Josper Charcoal Grill. This hybrid grill burns only top-quality charcoal and operates at an ultra-high temperature to allow us to grill and roast while preserving and enhancing the most delicate flavours. The chefs at Firefish’s sophisticated harbour-side eatery use state of the art grills at ultra-high temperatures that preserve and enhance the most delicate of flavours.
Italian Flair at Zenzero
Italian flair on the strip. Zenzero brings the spirit, energy and robust flavours of Italy with a fresh, zesty twist to the Camps Bay strip. Best enjoyed with a glass of white or red, a generous plate of authentic antipasti and the fresh sea breeze of the Atlantic. Zenzero spices up Cape Town’s Sunset Strip with Italian fare and flair to wrap you up in warmth and remind you why it’s good to be in the Mother City any time of the year. Paying homage to Italy, the popular seaside address captures all the flavours of the heart including beautiful Winter Specials.
French Continental at Bobo’s Brasserie
Indulge in a sensory exploration at Bobo’s Brasserie – the latest dining offering from The Kove Collection. Featuring a plush interior filled with whimsical touches reminiscent of the Continental bistros of yesteryear, Bobo’s has given a stylishly contemporary take on old world comfort. Bobo’s Brasserie is all about French bistro classics matched by plush interiors filled with whimsical touches. Soak up all the old-world comforts with stylish new contemporary dishes by Chef Amber May.
All-day Comfort Food at Lily’s
An all day Dining Sea-Side Eatery. Located on the Mouille Point ‘Golden Mile’, locals breeze into their new neighbourhood ‘happy place’ for coffee, breakfast or lunch, and come cocktail hour, the after-work drinks crowd settles in for sundowners and sumptuous sunset dinners overlooking the Atlantic. Lily’s all-day eatery in Mouille Point serves up inventive contemporary comfort food sure to become your new ‘happy place’ this winter for coffee, breakfast, lunch and relaxed easy dinners. Expect an eclectic menu offering a few quirky surprises.
Hearty Glow at The Bungalow
Set on Clifton’s most prime piece of coastline, it’s easy to come for lunch or a drink and end up staying for dinner at The Bungalow. Relax barefoot on a day bed or at your table with nothing to worry about but enjoying a cool drink, sublime seafood, plump sushi and the sun hovering high over the big blue. The Bungalow’s extraordinary setting invites you to get up close and personal with the elegant glow of Cape Town’s signature sunset over the sea with a splash of golden bubbly before tucking into a hearty selection of Winter Specials or the two and three courses set menus.
The Media Group gathered on the Marly reconstruction site.
** For press assistance contact Ian or Lise Manley of Manley Communications on 0861 MANLEY (626 539) or email them at premierbrands@manley-communications.com. Visit www.manley-communications.com for more information.
** To book a table visit http://www.kovecollection.co.za/book/table.
** Pro pics and Winter Special details supplied by the Manley’s.
Even through the building site, incredible views of the Twelve Apostles.
5 Responses
Beautiful
Thank you, gorgeous places I highly recommend.
Ohhh woow you have extremely very good standards, i will be happy to be one of your workers one day !!!
Ohhh woow you have extremely very good standards, i will be happy to be one of your workers one day . Keep up the good work !!!
Thank you so much, such special establishments!