Affordable style on South Africa’s coast: The best budget hotels in Cape Town

Unbeatable rates in Tamboerskloof, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most charming suburbs, where narrow streets are lined with Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Popular with young and middle-aged couples, the hotel is within walking distance of the Kloof Street dining strip and a 10-minute walk into the city. Hosts – Jimmy, Louise, Cindy and Keith – ensure that guest comfort goes beyond mere accommodation needs, with restaurant bookings, transfers and tours recommended and arranged. Book one of the rooms on the second floor for street or partial mountain views. No children under 12.

An attractive, good-value hotel offering nine deluxe rooms and self-catering suites, each spacious and quirky. It is within strolling distance of the city centre and bustling De Waterkant district, yet located in multicultural Bo-Kaap, where the call of the muezzin has resonated for over two centuries. A characterful urban option, with objects collected by the owner over three decades adding individual character. Only breakfast is served here but the city options are within walking distance.

B.I.G. is a wonderful hybrid backpacker and b&b, with 12 en-suite private double/triple/family rooms, six en-suite dorms and the most engaging hosts you could hope for. Want to climb Lion’s Head to watch the sunrise? They’ll wake you up at dawn and walk up with you. Want to tool around Bree street people-watching and gallery-hopping on First Thursdays (the first Thursday of every month when art galleries and shops stay open until late)? They’ll not only arrange the Uber but come along for the jol (SA slang for party). Located in the residential suburb of Green Point, within five minutes’ walk from the MyCiti bus line that connects you to most of the city’s top sites.

Sea views, inventive breakfasts and comfortable rooms in Cape Town’s Kalk Bay, near Boulders beach – where you can swim with penguins – and the Constantia winelands. Ideal for those who would prefer to escape the city for a laid-back, artsy seaside village, with great restaurant choices a stroll away. Simple, unfussy and comfortable – the kind of place that encourages you to take your shoes off and put your feet up. The best rooms have sea views (ask for the deluxe category), of which Impala and Star of the Sea are top picks. But the best room in the house is the Loft, with its own private balcony and lovely Kalk Bay views.

Step behind the garden gate at the end of a tiny cul-de-sac off one of the city’s busiest streets, and you step into a parallel universe – a renovated 19th-century farm building owned by French artistes, set in a pretty, tranquil garden with old pomegranate, guava, avocado and olive trees. It’s an exclusive and peaceful set up – just five en-suite rooms and a self-catering garden cottage share the garden – a boon in summer, but note there’s no pool. Book either room 4 or 5, the two upstairs room that lead out to their own terrace with views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head.

This guesthouse offers a boutique hotel experience at a bargain price in a quiet yet central location, with well-equipped rooms, a great pool area, wonderful breakfasts, professional concierge service, 24/7 reception, on-site spa and lots of generous touches. Given this, the rates really are unbeatable. The character of the Victorian home – with its pressed ceilings, large sash windows and whitewashed pine floors – is offset with contemporary furniture and African overtures such as antelope horns and zebra skin; African crafts are used in the décor of all the rooms.

A small, stylish and exclusive all-suite guesthouse, located on the slopes of Table Mountain. An almost wind-free suburb, featuring some of the city’s most interesting contemporary architecture, but too high up on the mountain to be a pedestrian – you’ll have to hire a car, or rely on taxis. The two best rooms (out of a total of four) are both highly recommended: well-dressed spacious studio apartments, these are ideally suited for anyone wanting a compact, peaceful home in a vertical garden overlooking the city. There’s a lovely terrace garden, a plunge pool, and a peaceful ambience that pervades this colourful, contemporary ‘home from home’.

A slick, modern boutique hotel with just seven rooms in the heart of Cape Town, close to the sea and with a charming bistro serving good, light meals. It’s sandwiched between the Sea Point promenade that winds along the Atlantic to Moullie Point (adjacent to the Waterfront), and the Main Road with its numerous shops and dining options. Rooms are compact but every detail, from the Nespresso machine to the wine selection in your minibar, is carefully selected. Make sure you book a room upstairs and try to bag the only one with a sea view.

An affordable, quirky hotel off buzzy Kloof Street, Cape Town’s longest restaurant strip, and a 10-minute stroll from the city centre via Long Street, which is good for nightlife and shopping. Set around a courtyard where breakfast and drinks are served, the rooms have been individually and eclectically styled by the owner – mostly Art Deco and 1950s antiques – creating a relaxed, breezy vibe. Every room is individually styled in a homely, eclectic way. Ask for one of the rooms that open onto the first-floor wraparound veranda; rooms 6 and 14 are by far the biggest. Great value for money given the central location.