If you want old-world calm, an art collection to rival a museum and the best wine list in Cape Town, book Ellerman House. If you want to be in the middle of the action with the most dramatic hotel windows in Africa, book The Silo. They’re the two most talked-about luxury hotels in the city, and they couldn’t be more different.
Ellerman House is a grand Edwardian-era mansion in leafy Bantry Bay, with just a handful of rooms and a quiet, private-house feel. The Silo is a converted 1920s grain silo at the V&A Waterfront, sitting above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, with 28 rooms behind giant pillowed-glass windows. One is classic. The other is theatrical.
I’ve stayed at Ellerman House more than once (read my full review) and spent two nights at The Silo (read my Silo review). Here’s how they compare, honestly.
The quick verdict
- Book Ellerman House if you want peace, sea views and a hotel that feels like staying in a private mansion. It’s the better-value pick, and the more romantic one.
- Book The Silo if you want design, energy and to walk out the door to the Waterfront’s restaurants, shops and boats.
- Art lovers: a genuine tie. Ellerman has one of South Africa’s finest private collections; The Silo sits on top of Africa’s biggest contemporary art museum.
- Families: The Silo welcomes children of all ages.
Ellerman House vs The Silo at a glance
| Ellerman House | The Silo | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Bantry Bay, between Sea Point and Camps Bay | V&A Waterfront, above Zeitz MOCAA |
| Style | Edwardian-era mansion, classic and calm | Converted grain silo, bold and colourful |
| Rooms | 11 rooms and 2 suites, plus private villas | 28 rooms and suites |
| MICHELIN Keys | Two | One |
| Views | Atlantic Ocean | Table Mountain, the harbour and Robben Island |
| Food and drink | Fine dining and a dedicated wine gallery | Granary Café, Willaston Bar and the Silo Rooftop |
| Pool | Terrace pool plus a spa infinity pool | Rooftop pool |
| Kids | [CONFIRM] | All ages welcome |
| Rates from (per night) | About R24,000 in low season and R28,000 in peak summer (roughly US$1,350–1,600) | About R34,500 off-peak for the entry suite (roughly US$1,950); much higher in summer |
| Best for | Couples who want quiet, art and wine | Design lovers who want to be in the thick of it |
Location: residential calm vs Waterfront buzz
Ellerman House sits in the residential streets of Bantry Bay, just beyond Sea Point and before Camps Bay. It’s about ten minutes’ drive to the Waterfront and five to Clifton’s beaches, but at the hotel itself you hear nothing but the ocean.
The Silo is right in the V&A Waterfront. You can walk to the restaurants, the shops and the boats to Robben Island, and the views of Table Mountain from your room are extraordinary. The trade-off is that the Waterfront is busy, especially in summer and on weekends.
Winner: The Silo for convenience. Ellerman House for peace.
Rooms
Ellerman’s rooms are elegant and traditional, and no two are alike. Each is filled with South African art and looks out over the Atlantic. Book a sea-facing room; the sunset over Bantry Bay is the reason you’re here.
The Silo’s rooms are the opposite: eclectic, colourful and maximalist, with floor-to-ceiling bulging glass windows that make you feel like you’re floating above the harbour. Even the bathrooms have the view. I stayed in a split-level suite looking down over the harbour, and after a long flight in, it was the most spectacular place to wake up.
Winner: The Silo for wow factor. Ellerman House for calm, quiet and serene coastline views.
Food and drink
Ellerman House is a destination for wine lovers. Its wine gallery holds one of the best collections of South African wine anywhere, and its sommelier was named South Africa’s Best Young Sommelier 2026. Dinner here is a proper occasion.
The Silo is about the scene. Breakfast at the Granary Café (order the Harvest Breakfast, a tower of pastries, parfaits, fruit, meats and cheeses), a nightcap at the Willaston Bar, and above all, sunset on the Silo Rooftop, which has one of the best views in Cape Town back toward Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. Even if you stay at Ellerman, book a drink up here.
Winner: Ellerman House for dinner and wine. The Silo for sunset drinks.
Pool and spa
Ellerman House has a terrace pool looking out to sea and a spa with an infinity pool and sauna. The Silo’s rooftop pool is small but spectacular, with the city and mountain laid out around you, and there’s a spa and gym downstairs.
Winner: Ellerman House for space. The Silo for the view.
Art and atmosphere
Both hotels are built around art. Ellerman holds one of the most important private collections in South Africa, with works by William Kentridge and Irma Stern, and it feels like staying in a long-lost family friend’s mansion. The Silo sits directly above Zeitz MOCAA, with its own contemporary African art throughout the hotel.
The feel is where they split. Ellerman is discreet, quiet and polished. The Silo is glamorous and social, a place to see and be seen.
Winner: Ellerman House on polish and service, which is reflected in its two MICHELIN Keys to The Silo’s one.
So, which one should you book?
| You are… | Book |
|---|---|
| On your first trip to Cape Town | The Silo |
| On your honeymoon | Ellerman House |
| Here for the wine | Ellerman House |
| A design and architecture lover | The Silo |
| Travelling with young kids | The Silo |
| Ending a safari and wanting to unwind | Ellerman House |
Can’t choose? Stay at Ellerman House and book sunset drinks on the Silo Rooftop. You get the best of both.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more expensive, Ellerman House or The Silo?
The Silo. Its entry suites start at around R34,500 a night off-peak (roughly US$1,950), and the penthouse runs to more than R260,000 a night in peak season. Ellerman House’s entry rooms start at about R24,000 a night in low season and R28,000 in peak summer, roughly US$1,350 to US$1,600. Check the hotels’ own sites for your dates.
Can you visit The Silo without staying?
Yes. The Silo Rooftop is open to non-guests for drinks and dinner, and Zeitz MOCAA is directly below the hotel. Book ahead for sunset in summer.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
November to March for warm, dry summer weather. July to November if you want to see whales along the coast.
Which is better for families?
The Silo welcomes children of all ages whereas Ellerman is adults only. Ellerman’s private villas are a good option for families travelling together, but they’re expensive and there are many great private villas on offer in the surrounding neighbourhood if you’re travelling in a large group.
Keep planning
Both of my stays at Ellerman House and Silo Hotel were by invitation of the hotel. All opinions remain my own.
Brooke is a Tasmanian-born writer and professional baker who started World of Wanderlust in 2013 and has since travelled to 86 countries. These days her guides focus on what she knows best: the bakeries, hotels and places worth crossing the world for.
