Neighbourgood Hill

We slept so well before the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon that I actually took a photo of the mattress brand the next morning. The bathroom was great too, with a corner shower, plenty of hot water, and everything we needed before a long race. Neighbourgood Hill made the whole trip feel special, and we’ll definitely be back next year. Parking in the city had me a bit worried, but we found four spaces a short walk away. We arrived an hour before our booking, and the friendly reception staff said our room was ready and showed us to room 32. It was spacious enough for four, with a queen bed and a bunk. We checked out the communal kitchen, met the resident cat, and saw the pool, green space, and loungers. After picking up our race numbers, we came back to heat and eat our pre-prepared meals in the kitchen, with the cat keeping us company. We had one beer by the pool, then turned in early. At checkout, the friendly woman at reception took our keys and even offered to help with our luggage. Such a memorable stay. Iwan Ross, that’s me, the author who happened to be a guest. Swanky.

The shared spaces are a real plus, with lots of room indoors and out to work or read. The front desk woman was lovely and let me check in early, and Steve turned out to be a cute cat, not a pillow like I first thought. People were kind to me as a solo traveler, and the place is so close to the beach, so I’d recommend it. The Wi-Fi in my room was unreliable. There was a router in the hallway outside, which may explain the weak signal indoors. Noise was another problem: I could hear everything someone on the second floor did because the floor wasn’t thick. I was woken at 4 am, which drove me crazy. I’d ask the host to remind guests to keep quiet at night or add carpet in some areas, since the noise can carry. Still, I absolutely love the place.

The garden was a lovely bonus for working outside, and the cafe inside was another great perk, with really friendly service. I felt at home in this cozy co-living place, with a nice community and supportive staff. It’s ideal for a longer working holiday, and the location felt perfect and secure with 24-hour security. A few rooms could use a small renovation or touch-up. I was very happy here and plan to come back next summer. ☀️

For a small, cute hostel, this place can compete with any big hotel. The service was great, the rooms were nicely decorated, and they can be serviced on request. It’s also in an amazing location.