Where to Stay in Cape Town: Inside The Views Nox, a Luxury Villa in Camps Bay
There are hotels, and then there are those places that genuinely stop you in your tracks the moment you walk in. The Views, a four-bedroom luxury villa in Camps Bay listed through Nox Rentals, is the latter.
Use code THELOSTTWO5 for 10% off your booking through Nox.
We stayed here on our most recent trip to Cape Town and it was such a great base… comfortable, well-located, and those views really do deliver!
The Villa: What You Actually Get
The Views sleeps up to eight guests across four en-suite bedrooms, all on the top floor with private balcony access overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Downstairs, the main living area is massive with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a lounge that seats ten, a TV room, a 12-person dining table, and a raised kitchen that overlooks all of it. The whole space opens onto a deck with a private pool and sun loungers, and yess, the view from basically every single room is the ocean.
One of the things we kept coming back to was how much it felt like a home rather than a rental. Having a full kitchen, laundry (which is key considering Cape Town is an adventure capitol), a proper living space, and our own private pool made such a difference, especially on the days we just wanted to slow down and exist somewhere beautiful without going anywhere. That's something a hotel simply can't give you.
A few practical things worth knowing:
The lovely housekeeper lives at the bottom of the property, and she’s available 24-7 if you need anything. There is also daily housekeeping.
The villa has a full inverter backup system, so everything (lights, plugs, air con) keeps running during load shedding. This is a big deal in South Africa, but we never experienced that this last trip.
There are about 65ish stairs to reach the house. The views make every step worth it though!
The Location: Camps Bay
Camps Bay, a suburb of Cape Town, is one of those neighbourhoods that looks almost too good to be real. The palm trees lining a white sand beach, the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountain range as a backdrop, and a strip of restaurants and bars along Victoria Road. It's widely considered one of the most famous beaches in South Africa, and arguably one of the most iconic in the world. From The Views, you're also perfectly positioned to explore the rest of the coastline: Clifton 4th Beach, Bakoven, Llandudno, and beyond are all minutes away.
Who This Is For
This villa works for a lot of different groups. Families, friend groups, or couples. It's particularly good for a multi-family trip where you want a shared common space that's actually big enough to use, plus private bedrooms for everyone. If you want more space and privacy than a hotel, with home amenities plus hotel-level service taken care of, well this is exactly that.
BTW— book well in advance. It fills up fast.
Use code THELOSTTWO5 for 10% off your booking through Nox.
→ View The Views on Nox Rentals
Things to Do in Cape Town: A Quick Guide
We've been all over the world and Cape Town is still our favourite city on the planet. The beaches, the mountains, the hiking, the food, the wine …it genuinely has everything.
Where to Stay
If you're looking for something more private and spacious than a hotel, book through Nox Cape Town (@noxcapetown). They have the best collection of villas and apartments in the city, that make you feel like you’re at home. Use code THELOSTTWO5 for 10% off.
The Beaches
Cape Town is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the best part is that they're right in the city.
Camps Bay is the most iconic- the one everyone pictures when they think of Cape Town. Palm trees, white sand, mountain backdrop.
Clifton 4th Beach is just around the corner and equally stunning, with a slightly more sheltered feel. We reallly love this one.
Bakoven Beach is a little further along and gave us full Euro Summer vibes. The view looking back at the mountain from the other side is just as spectacular as anything else we saw on the trip. Also incredible- just more rocky and less sand.
Llandudno, continuing down the coast, this one might be our new personal favourite. Quieter, more dramatic, and feels like a discovery even though it isn't exactly a secret.
Kogel Bay Beach is about an hour's drive out of the city and easily one of the most beautiful beaches we've ever seen anywhere. It looks like Jurassic Park- raw, untouched, and almost no one there. So worth the drive!
Drive the Coast
Rent a vintage car from Retro Rentals Cape Town- it's the best way to experience the coastline. Drive Chapman's Peak, one of the most iconic coastal highways in the world, and just keep going. Cape Town has the best road views we've encountered anywhere.
Hiking
Cape Town is a hiker's paradise. If you're only here for a few days, start with Lion's Head if you’re looking for a challenging hike (especially at sunset) or Kloof's Corner, which only takes about 30 minutes to get up to a section just below Table Mountain with panoramic views over the entire city.
Boulders Beach — Do Not Skip This!!!
About an hour from Cape Town is the most magical place on earth- Boulders Beach, home to a permanent colony of African penguins. Hundreds of them live right on the beach year-round. You can get close, hang out with them, and even swim in the water alongside them, they're completely wild and this is just where they live. If there is one thing you do in Cape Town, make it this.
The Cape Winelands
About an hour from the city and worth at least a full day. South Africa produces world-class wine, especially Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, and the Winelands are where you go to drink it properly. The Franschhoek Wine Tram is the move: a hop-on, hop-off tram through the vineyards to different estates so no one has to worry about driving. Around $20 USD per person for the day, with tastings paid separately at each estate. Book in advance.
Eating & Drinking
Gold Restaurant: The perfect first-night dinner to set the tone for your whole trip. It's a 14-course tasting experience with dishes from all across the African continent, paired with live music and dancing all night. The staff are from all over Africa, which makes the whole experience feel that much more special. 10/10.
Kloof Street House: One of Cape Town's most iconic restaurants, set inside a beautiful old house with a genuinely unique atmosphere. Book well in advance, it's always busy. Order the ostrich, it's what they're known for and 100% worth trying while you're in South Africa.
Mantra Café: A stop for Aperols and seafood with incredible views. Great for lunch or a late afternoon break.
Mojo Market: Casual, low-key, great atmosphere. An indoor market with tons of food vendors covering all diets and budgets, plus live entertainment most nights, karaoke, jazz, the works. There’s something for everybody.
Brash Burger: Best burgers in Cape Town, and they deliver. We ordered straight to the villa one day for lunch and it was absolutely the right call.
Maggy Lou's: Cape Town has a café scene that rivals some of the best in the world (we lived in Bali for two years and it genuinely reminded us of it). Maggy Lou's is one of our favourites- their matcha is soo good.
Things You Can't Miss
V&A Waterfront: Make this your first stop. Incredible restaurants right on the harbour, sea lions playing in the water, Table Mountain as your backdrop, and shops you could lose yourself in for hours. If you only had one stop in Cape Town, make it this one. Pro tip: if you're there on a Wednesday evening or over the weekend, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market is right next door with great food vendors, fresh produce, and local artisanal stalls. Time your visit accordingly.
Bo-Kaap: A must-visit neighbourhood known for its brightly coloured houses and cobblestone streets. The colours date back to when freed slaves painted their homes to celebrate their freedom, making it one of the most photographed and historically significant areas in the city. It's a quick stop, but worth walking through and learning about.
We did Cape Town after five days on safari in Kruger National Park: that combination is honestly the perfect South Africa trip. It's not just about safari; you really do get the best of both worlds in one go.