Cloud no9 Guesthouse

That view is astonishing, and it's the main reason this place feels worth considering. We enjoyed our stay, and everything worked, including the bed, TV, shower, toilet and kitchenette. The beds and bedding were good quality, though the beds weren't long enough for me, and my feet kept sticking out. The place was as described in the ad. Still, it needs a lot more care and attention, and the mismatched furnishings and odd details made the rooms feel out of place. We stayed a week after coming from Pretoria, where we braai for everything, so the braai area was my biggest disappointment. The owners should rebuild it, clean the grills and clear away the old coals and wood. Past room 4, toward the mountain, it looks worn down by years of rain and sun. I wouldn't recommend staying here if you plan to braai. The built-in tables and chairs looked like old Wimpy hand-me-downs and need a rethink. The showers worked, but their color looked strange, as if pipes had been broken out and the plaster redone, and they didn't fit the rest of the decor. We had plates and cups, but only one glass, one Martini glass and two cups. It felt like a missed opportunity not to provide wine glasses, especially in a Cape guest house, so my wife and I ended up drinking straight from the bottle. We didn't have coffee in the room until later in the week, and I'm not sure why. At arrival there were 30 packets of Ellis Brown creamer, 3 packets of sugar and 1 sachet of coffee. Breakfast filled us up, but it wasn't five-star. The eggs were always perfect, the toast was hot on the plate, the bacon was well cooked and the freshly made coffee was quite divine. They should add sweetener to the usual servings. The local ladies serving breakfast were really friendly and lovely. There are plenty of small inconsistencies and odd quirks. The place could use some love, but we still enjoyed our stay. I'd recommend it for the view alone, and that's the only thing we ended up telling people about when we got home. It's worth a look. I hope the owners are still updating it. The hundreds of dead or dry potted plants scattered around the guest house look a little ugly against the breathtaking city and sea view, with the mountain behind you. Maybe it's because of the water shortage.