I’ve stayed in many hotels, but this is the first time I’ve been charged such an excessive amount to add a second guest to a room designed to accommodate two people. Although the reservation was made under one person’s name (because, at the time of reservation, I didn't have my friend's passport info), in my experience, hotels usually only charge extra for the second guest’s breakfast in this situation, if they charge extra at all, since the room reserved was a two-person room. Furthermore, when I checked the website I used for booking in the first place, I saw no price difference when I selected two guests instead of one for the same room. To make matters worse, the hotel quoted the additional charge by email, only to further increase that amount by 50% at check-in. This inconsistency made me question whether they had a clear pricing policy at all and left me feeling that they were taking advantage of the situation to charge us more. You should also note that they charge an extra daily fee to use the parking lot, which is not uncommon, but given our experience with the room, makes me feel like the hotel's general policy is to charge extra whenever they can, and however much they can. Though the location was great, the rooms were nice, clean, and nicely decorated, and the breakfast buffet was always stacked with a lot of options to choose from, honestly, at this price point, I think there are other options in Cape Town in similarly central locations where they closely match the quality of service we received from this hotel at lower price points and with a more accommodative approach to guests. This hotel may be better suited to solo travellers visiting Cape Town for the first time, who are understandably more cautious about where they stay and willing to pay more for the comfort of knowing that they are in a safe location. It could also appeal to guests looking for amenities such as a pool or a gym, couples celebrating a special occasion who would enjoy a room with a view, and people who are visiting Cape Town for a business meeting. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for a short holiday with friends or family if you plan to spend most of your time exploring the city. If all you need is a clean room with a comfortable bed to rest and a decent breakfast the next day before heading out again, the price rate of this hotel may be difficult to justify. I only tried this hotel because my friend wanted to be closer to V&A. But I'll probably be sticking with my previous picks for my next trip to Cape Town.
The Rockefeller Hotel By Newmark
Address: 12 Christiaan Barnard StAvailability
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Facilities
Reviews
An Absolutely Exceptional Stay — The Rockefeller Sets the Standard! My husband and I recently had the pleasure of staying at The Rockefeller Hotel in Cape Town, and it truly exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this is a hotel that takes pride in everything it does. Our room was beautiful — spacious, immaculately presented, and incredibly comfortable. The attention to detail was impressive, and we felt completely at home from the start. The food was simply outstanding. Every meal was a highlight of our stay — exceptional quality, beautifully prepared, and full of flavour. The dining experience alone is worth a visit. What truly set this stay apart, however, was the staff. Warm, friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful — every single interaction left us smiling. A very special mention must go to Morné Visser and his team, who delivered customer service at its absolute finest. Morné's professionalism and personal touch made all the difference. It is rare to encounter a team that goes so consistently above and beyond, and they deserve every bit of recognition. The Rockefeller Hotel is a gem in the heart of Cape Town, and we will most certainly be back. Highly recommended — without reservation!
Recently wrapped up a stay at Rockefeller Hotel in Cape Town and it exceeded every expectation. Check-in was seamless from the moment I arrived, and the attention to detail throughout the property was obvious - nothing felt like an afterthought. The hotel itself is stunning, and the amenities covered every base without feeling excessive. What really stood out was the staff - genuinely professional, attentive without hovering, and clearly proud of where they work. It's rare to find a property that delivers on both luxury and convenience so consistently. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Cape Town who wants a properly polished stay.
I had a wonderful experience from the day that I checked in. The restaurant staff [6/28, 9:34 Ayabonga and Lloyd are the best in their team. They deliver an unforgettable service professionally with a smile, always ready to help. The ladies in their team need to learn more from them concerning customer service. The food was good. However the view from my room wasn't pleasing at all. The room was ever clean well done house keeping team!
We recently held our wedding reception at this hotel and, unfortunately, our experience did not meet the expectations set during the planning process. Several arrangements that had been discussed and agreed upon beforehand were not carried out on the day. Our seating plan was changed upon arrival, and we were informed that a table for 16 guests could not be accommodated despite prior discussions. What made this even more disappointing was that four of our guests did not attend, meaning there was additional space available, yet the seating arrangement was still not set up correctly according to our plans. In addition, a separate table that had been requested for the ceremony was not set up, and my husband had to arrange this himself before guests arrived. The buffet was another disappointment. Many guests commented that the curry was extremely strong and the fish was overly salty. We were also informed that the buffet food would not be replenished. As the bride and groom, we were busy greeting guests and taking photographs, so by the time we were able to eat, there was very little available. We were later told that the buffet would be shared with a second group, but by then many of our guests had already left and those remaining had little appetite. We were also disappointed with the dessert offering. We had been advised that mini desserts would be provided; however, what was served were mini cakes, which is not what had been communicated to us during the planning process. In addition, the quantity provided was not sufficient for the number of guests in attendance. What has added to our frustration is the lack of follow-up after the event. On two separate occasions, we raised these concerns with hotel staff and were assured that someone would get back to us. Unfortunately, despite these promises, we have never received any response or feedback regarding our concerns. While we appreciate the effort of the staff on the day, these issues had a significant impact on our wedding reception and did not reflect the arrangements that had been agreed upon. We hope management will take these concerns seriously, improve communication and service standards, and provide future couples with the experience they have been promised.
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