Impressive Radisson Red Hotel, Cape Town

Our South African travel writer Brian Berkman says being in the RED is a good thing at the Radisson Red Hotel.

Although many hotels are now realising people want to travel with their pets whenever possible, the Radisson RED hotel at the V&A Waterfront in South Africa’s Mother City, Cape Town, decided this would be a singular part of their identity from the get-go.

While Baxter, the Boston Terrier who “signs” welcome letters and features in their corporate design, is no longer on the team (he and his owner moved to another property) the spirit of Baxter is very much alive and well at this high-energy property in the Silo area of the V&A Waterfront.

The lobby area of the Radisson RED hotel instantly spells out how this may be different from other hotels. There is no traditional reception desk but rather a free-flowing area on the left where staffers are ready to check you in. There are giant red beanbags instead of couches and a natty red-coloured fridge too. On the opposite side of the lobby is a long table at which people work or hang. When we visited there previously there was a ping-pong table there. Which I was told will return soon.

You know, If ever a hotel were built with millennials in mind, this is it. The important stuff, lightening-speed internet and fully interactive big-screens in the rooms, as well as fashion-forward design, makes this property pop with colour and energy. The rooftop features the Red Roof Bar in a converted truck, a long lap pool and a kitchen serving pizzas and grills.

There is also undercover seating on the roof and with views over the Waterfront and 360 degrees around it, this is a prime party space. There are yellow hexagonal-shaped plastic chairs and tables that are as comfortable to sit on as they are great to look at while a perimeter border planted in red plastic crates adds greenery.

Decor touches inside the room all make sense. The signature red colour is always clear but tempered with blonde wood for furnishings and gun-metal grey for the block-out curtains, all of which work beautifully together. A table and chairs work as a dining and working area. A wall-side consul contains a coffee plunger, freshly ground coffee, a kettle and takeaway coffee cups. We were treated to caramel popcorn too.

The bathroom, which features a walk-in rain shower with an additional high-power hand shower, has quality bathroom amenities at the ready for your use.

As a neighbour to The Zeitz MOCCA, it makes sense that this hotel is all about art and music and sharing in these passions.

The ground floor eatery, OUIBar & KTCHN, serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast and has a Selfie wall where you can screen-grab yourself and your friends. And, while they have a cafeteria-style production line going, coffee is ground and dispensed on demand, eggs and other delicious items are made to order and food on offer is well favoured and carefully made.

We had a first-floor studio room with a balcony looking onto the Silo Hotel and Zeitz MOCCA.

The design details here really thrill. A perfect example is their solution to those hated hard-to-steal clothing hangers. There’s no need to fight with their coat hangers as they go on and off the rail with ease but they are so ingeniously designed you won’t be able to use them anywhere else which removes the temptation to steal them. You can even pre-pay your underground parking ticket before you head off.

Travelling with our dog Julie was also a pleasure. A dog bed and water and food bowl were provided along with some snacks for her which meant less luggage on our part. And, if the mood takes you, you can smooth out your creases with the iron and board provided.

Of course, there’s a bar fridge and a laptop-sized safe provided for your use and we were happy to find fluffy disposable slippers and robes in the wardrobe. There is a 24-hour gym in the hotel too.

Frankly, we loved being in the Red at the Radisson Red Hotel.