Envisioned by the late, and beloved hotelier Gail Behr, Onderdorp is the newly added wing of iconic Cape Town favourite, Dorp Hotel. Perched above the city bowl in the historic Bo Kaap, it’s become an outpost for good food and great views, its homey, eclectic interiors a large part of the appeal.
Onderdorp takes this a step further with 25 rooms (in five categories, ranging from entry level ‘Dinky’ to ‘Stoep/Verandah’), designed for home-style stays. All have a kitchenette or kitchen. Staying true to Dorp’s low-tech, very personal touch and reassuring sense of home, comfort can be found in abundance. Two shared communal spaces or ‘Venues’ offer spaces to relax outside of your room.
The Games Room features a long dining or meeting table seating up to 30 (with a big-screen TV concealed behind cupboard doors) and a fire replace, leading onto a courtyard with another, outdoor, fireplace. The Palm House, with its well-equipped demonstration kitchen and comfortable seating nooks, and Dorp’s signature eclectic selection of well-loved books and art also has a fireplace and makes for a great space to take five.
Adjacent is a comfortably furnished verandah leading to the pool (one of three to keep you cool in the Mother City summers). The addition is geared towards self-catering, and as such, dates don’t include meals but you can dine at the hotel too if you choose. There is also a pizza oven and outdoor dining tables as an alternative and someone on dedicated welcome/coffee-making duty from 8am to 6pm to see to your caffeine and check-in needs.
