At the foot of Table Mountain, Welgelegen House captures Cape Town’s timeless charm. Once two Victorian family homes and later a safe haven for young adults from a nearby Jewish orphanage, it has been reimagined as a welcoming retreat, a true “home away from home.” Today, 14 en-suite rooms open onto a leafy courtyard, offering calm and stillness amid the city’s rhythm.
A plunge pool provides respite on warm days, while our attentive team shares local insights, from hidden restaurants on Kloof Street to sweeping views atop Table Mountain. Ideally located, Welgelegen House places Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront, and Cape Town’s vibrant culture just a short drive away, making it not only a base for exploration, but a return to Cape Town’s spirit.

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Enquiry Details
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Booking terms
- All quotations/provisional bookings are valid for 14 days.
- A 20% deposit is required to secure the booking (unless otherwise stated).
- The balance is payable 60 days prior to arrival.
- No-shows will not be refunded.
- Check-in is strictly from 14:00 unless by prior arrangement.
- Please advise arrival time of guests.
Payment
- Cash deposit payments must be pre-arranged with head office and carry a 3% surcharge on the total invoice.
- Forex (international money transfer): bank fees are the responsibility of the travelling guest — should this not occur, RETURN Africa reserves the right to bill a 3% surcharge on the total invoice.
- Should a refund need to be made on a forex or credit card payment to an international account, RETURN Africa will not be held liable for any exchange rate fluctuations.
- Regret no cheques accepted.
- When receiving an invoice from RETURN Africa, please ensure it comes from one of our official reservations email addresses: reservations@returnafrica.com.
Cancellations
- Cancellations must be received and acknowledged by RETURN Africa in writing.
- Cancellations of bookings for which no "commitment fee" has been paid will carry no cancellation fees.
- Cancellations of bookings (for any reason other than a WHO pandemic advisory that directly impacts the booking) for which a commitment fee or full payment has been received will incur the following cancellation fees:
- If cancelled between confirmation and 61 days prior to arrival, the 20% commitment fee is forfeited.
- If cancelled 60 days or less prior to arrival, the full reservation value is forfeited.
- All cancelled bookings that qualify for a refund will be refunded less a 5% handling fee.
South African Resident Rates#
- Proof of residency will be requested at check-in. If residency cannot be confirmed, international rates will apply.
Extras & Add-Ons
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Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Annik6 days agoVerified
Wunderbarer Aufenthalt We had a truly wonderful time in Cape Town, and our stay at this hotel was made even more special by our wonderful host, Memory. Memory was such a warm and caring host. She gave us so many helpful tips and recommendations and took the time to ask us every day how we were doing and whether everything was going well. We really appreciated how genuinely attentive and welcoming she was. During our stay, we also booked a Township tour through the hotel. It was an incredibly interesting and, at times, deeply thought-provoking experience. It stayed with us throughout the rest of our trip and gave us a lot to reflect on. We found it incredibly valuable and meaningful, and it is certainly something we will never forget. It is quite powerful to realise that apartheid only ended relatively recently and that its effects can still be felt so strongly in South Africa today. The experience gave us a much deeper understanding of the country and its history, and we are very grateful that Memory recommended and helped us arrange this tour. We would wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Cape Town. The warm hospitality, personal attention and wonderful recommendations made our stay truly memorable. Thank you so much for everything, Memory. We wish you all the very best and hope to see you again one day!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
TCNathalie78 days agoVerified
Great stay at Welgelegen We had a brilliant time at Welgelegen! The staff is professional, friendly and incredibly helpful. They organised excursions for us and, since they have their own in-house guides, they knew exactly where to take us based on our preferences. I’d highly recommend Welgelegen. I’ll certainly recommend that my clients to stay there.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Heinrich B106 days agoVerified
The perfect end to a romantic day in Cape Town We chose Welgelegen House for a special romantic evening, and it exceeded every expectation. The staff went above and beyond — upgrading our room unprompted and, at my request, beautifully arranging flowers, candles and wine that set the most wonderful atmosphere for the evening. What really sets this place apart, though, is how genuinely warm and welcoming the team is. Hearing the staff laughing and chatting in the kitchen during breakfast was so lovely — it made the whole place feel less like a hotel and more like staying with friends. Cozy, homely and welcoming are the three words I'd use to sum it up. If you're looking for somewhere special in Cape Town — whether for a romantic occasion or simply a stay that feels personal and memorable — look no further.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Daniel P110 days agoVerified
The best hotel I have ever stayed in For our trip to Cape Town, we could not have wished for a better place to stay. This hotel was far more than just accommodation — it was a place filled with warmth, kindness, and genuine hospitality. From the very first moment, the people working there made us feel like we were not simply guests, but part of a family. Every single staff member treated us with such friendliness, care, and sincerity that our stay became truly unforgettable. When we think about Cape Town today, we automatically think about this hotel and the wonderful people who made our experience so special. They were a big part of what made this journey unforgettable for us. Thank you for everything — we will definitely come back.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
David & Tricia117 days agoVerified
Great guest house in a safe area. Located about 4 Km from the fantastic waterfront, a cab is 150 ran or $12 aud, we actually walked to take in the area, 400 mtr from great eateries. Checkers supermarket & liquor store 2 blocks away. The guest house is 2 buildings with a court yard & small pool in between. Our room is of average size, well appointed with Queen bed, study desk, small wardrobe TV , coffee & tea facility, we had cookies , fruit plate & decanter of port in our room when arrived. Lovely welcome as well as the friendly staff. Lovely bathroom with hot shower, 4 footed old style bath, double basin & toilet. Our room 6 looked over the court yard & had great views of the famous Table top Mountains. The breakfast, continental with a great cut fruit & berry bowl, fresh warm bread & cakes which are all made on site. They also provide a great choice of eggs many ways, bacon , omelet's cooked to your liking, delicious & HOT. Definitely a great delicious breakfast offer. One of the best we have experienced. Afternoon tea provided, cakes & cookies, help yourself. Finally but not the least the staff, extremely friendly & helpful, always smiling nothing an issue. You feel like you are part of the family. There is also two communal sitting rooms where you can chill but also a lovely fire to add to the ambience. Security is excellent with staff available 24/7. Wonderful Wonderful place to stay, we would certainly recommend to fellow Australians wishing to visit Cape town. Would we stay here again "You bet we would". It was a great experience and beginning to our visit to South Africa. A lovely quiet location.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
finca59117 days agoVerified
Home away from home We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Welgelegen Guesthouse. The warm welcome, the excellent service, the superb breakfast: everything was handled with great thoughtfulness and sensitivity. We felt completely at home. The guesthouse couldn't be in a better location. Safe, quiet and very central. If you're looking for a temporary home in Cape Town, head to Welgelegen. And above all else is Memory – she is a warm and thoughtful host.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Bernd V124 days agoVerified
Exceptional Place to stay in Cape Town I stayed at this lovely hotel early April for 6 days. The staff is exceptional. Because it has only a limited number of rooms staying there feels like being with family. Especially Memory in the front office was of great help. She helped me with picking private tours, places to see, restaurant reservations, and any questions I had. The rooms are beautiful decorated and very clean. The hotel is located in a very quiet area while still within walking distance to great restaurants. Taxi drive to waterfront is just 15 minutes. Highly recommend this place and it is definitely the place I will go back to at my next trip to Cape Town.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
D&C Travellers128 days agoVerified
3 star guest house not Boutique hotel! We have stayed at Welgelegan about 20 months ago, before the change of ownership. Before stayed room2 this time room5 both the same standard Kit stays were very different though Good points - the lounge is well fitted and comfy. Shower gel and shampoos were nice The less good - The welcome wasn't the same as last time, previously it felt like you were welcomed into a boutique hotel family type environment. This time it was just sort of get you to your room. The bar had disappeared so if you wanted a drink you'd have to find a member of staff which wasn't easy. The room was tired, taps not working properly or fitted very well, paintwork tired, the doors to the terrace didn't close properly so in the bad weather they rattled. The pillows were slightly tatty and discoloured. No USB points to charge phones etc. No power sockets near bed it felt 3 star guest house not any better To note many rooms overlook or are in close earshot to an active secondary type school playgrounds ( literally next door ) It was very very noisy on the Saturday we stayed with multiple activities for three hours . Room two doesn't look over the school, several do though No food facilities other than Breakfast. The buffet at 9am with any empty room it seemed, was very sparse and there's no menu for breakfast so you are put on spot when approached as to what you want. We were only offered diff types eggs and bacon tomatoes mushroom waffles to discover when leaving that also things like eggs Benedict etc . Just have a menu? Won't be staying again! We won't be staying againPosted on Tripadvisor![]()
Donna E129 days agoVerified
absolutely wonderful hotel! fantastic staff; warm kind people; lovely rooms; gorgeous surroundings; delicious food. Would surely come back .Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Adventurer617410155 days agoVerified
Home from home Lovely "home from home" experience with friendly staff, generously sized rooms and peaceful atmosphere. Situated on a quiet residential street in a nice part of town. Will definitely be back!Showing only 3-5 star reviews





































