12 Apostles Hotel & Spa — Hotel in Western Cape

I have been a Cape Town resident for over 10 years and was a frequent visitor at the Leopard Lounge and Azure restaurant. I had always looked forward to one day staying at the hotel.

After relocating to Johannesburg, my wonderful partner went through every effort to create a memorable engagement. He arranged flights and booked a room at the 12 Apostles with the romantic turndown package, pre-booked and paid for a dinner at Azure and asked the hotel about engagement locations. To make the night even more memorable, he arranged for our close friends to join for sundowners before dinner at the Leopard Lounge.

Our experience with the 12 Apostles Hotel and staff was disappointing and disenchanting.

On arrival, the table reserved at Leopard Lounge balcony was occupied. We were eventually relocated to Azure balcony and later moved inside the lounge.

The dinner booked and pre-paid at the Azure restaurant at 7:30pm was confirmed by my partner in person with the restaurant maître d’ at around 6:30pm. She was told that we were having drinks with friends upstairs. At 7:40 my partner personally went down to the restaurant to indicate that we were running a bit late and would take the table shortly however was informed that the restaurant was now closed. I would expect a 5-star establishment who are expecting an engagement to notify their guests sitting upstairs that they are closing.

We were informed that the Café took orders 24 hours a day. We moved to the Café around 8pm where we were informed that we were not allowed to sit there as they were closing (even though there were people sitting and enjoying their meals) – and had to take our preferred meal off the room service menu in our room.

On arrival, the room was considerably cold so we tried to turn on the heater. Many top establishments would usually have rooms pre-set to a comfortable temperature in Winter. The aircon had been placed on a timer so we requested assistance from reception. The first lady who tried to assist us turned the aircon on cold and was unable to change the setting so left us in a colder room. We called reception again to assist, the second person was also unable to change the setting so called maintenance staff. Two men arrived to try change the setting. At this point our dinner from the café arrived (lukewarm) which we ate in a cold room with two strangers present trying to fix the aircon. After twenty minutes the maintenance staff recommended that we change rooms.

The food was mediocre and below expectations. When I asked the waitron for parmesan for the pasta and chutney / sambals for the curry she laughed as if I was joking and didn’t return. No effort was made to make this a romantic dinner for us.

This was not the evening that we had in mind. In short, no staff tried to assist in making this a special occasion and generally there was not a high level of attention paid from booking and discussing special occasions with the concierge, to checking in at the front detailing that the evening was a surprise, to the restaurant maître d, through to the café meal arrangement.

We were informed by the Management the next day that there would be a full investigation as they took guest feedback seriously. Three weeks later with no feedback, the Guest Experience Manager requested a Trip Advisor review.

I am very disappointed with the experience and the lack of effort made to communicate with us post the stay.

We did get engaged the next day – at a...

I would like to firstly communicate how utterly disappointed I am in the service provided by the booking staff at the 12 Apostles Hotel. From the moment I made the booking on Thursday, 11 January 2024, I received terrible communication.

When initially booking, I intended on getting the dinner for 2 experience for Saturday, 14 January 2024. However, it was communicated to me that this was fully booked so then I requested the next available date for the dinner for 2 experience. It was communicated telephonically that the next available date was Monday, 15 January 2024. We then confirmed this date for 16:15 and I gave my details.

After this phone call, I waited the whole weekend for a confirmation email, only to receive the incorrect one on Sunday, less than a day before the booking. I then called to communicate the error in my booking as it said I had booked for the afternoon experience. When talking on the phone we confirmed I would be paying for the dinner for 2 experience at 16:15.

When we arrived at the hotel we were once again told that we had booked for the outdoor bliss which I had CONFIRMED TELEPHONICALLY the day before, was not happening. We confirmed for the 16:15 indoor dinner for 2 experience over the phone. After waiting 25 minutes for someone to collect us, we were taken to a room with no candlelight and no rose petals as had been promised in the booking for the dinner for 2 experience.

We did how ever enjoy the massage experience. The service provided was great.

However, after getting done for the “dinner”, we were informed at 19:00 that we were having the “late lunch”. The staff handled this quite unprofessionally and unapologetically. We were treated like a disturbance. They then took us to the leopard bar which was completely different to what we had booked. There was no romantic experience to any part of our evening. They then informed us that Azure Restaurant that we had booked at, was fully booked and we could not be slotted in. We did not experience one part of what I payed for. There was horrible communication and we ended the evening by going to a different venue. At no point did a manager come speak to us, the staff kept telling us that we would speak to a manager but nobody ever came. We received very little assistance and apologies for the mess up.

It was clear that the booking had been messed up by someone because they kept trying to slot us in.

This experience was supposed to be for our 5 year anniversary. We live in Germany and are leaving this week. We organised babysitters for the evening and really looked forward to everything. I cannot express more how disappointed I am in what happened. Our evening was completely ruined. I will not be recommending this to anyone.

I would like urgently request a refund as a considerable amount of money was spent on this evening, which we didn’t get...

My fiancée and I spent 4 nights at the 12 Apostles Hotel over Christmas. The hotel has its pros and cons, and depending on your preferences, it might or might not be the right fit for you. Here’s why I’m giving it 5 stars (despite some cons):

Historic Charm: The hotel is an institution with an impressive history. While this means some parts feel a bit dated, the classic Victorian-style decor adds a timeless charm. 🏛️ Our room was spacious, beautifully furnished, and the bed was incredibly comfortable. Special requests like neck pillows were accommodated perfectly. 🛏️ If you need those, too, I would recommend to write an email beforehand.

Noise Concerns: I had read reviews about the noise due to the hotel’s proximity to a road. While it is near a road, I didn’t hear a thing. The sound of the ocean and wind masked any potential traffic noise. 🌬️🌊 For peace of mind, I recommend requesting a room away from the road when booking.

Outstanding Service: The service is exceptional! From room service to the bar and restaurant staff, everyone went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. If something doesn’t meet your expectations, a polite request at reception will almost always solve the issue. 😊

Breakfast and Dining: The breakfast buffet was plentiful, and it’s easy to eat healthily if you prefer. Egg dishes are made to order, and there’s a great variety of fresh fruit. 🍳🍓 A small improvement would be to offer even more health-focused options, like additional seeds and grains.

Pool Areas: The hotel has two pool areas: One facing the ocean with stunning views 🌅

One nestled in the mountains with a natural rock pool feel 🏞️ Both pools are more for cooling off than swimming and come with incredibly comfortable loungers and attentive poolside service.

Calm Atmosphere: The clientele is predominantly older, which means fewer influencers or Instagrammers - and I loved it. For me it created a peaceful environment where everyone values privacy. We loved the tranquility. However, if you’re looking for a lively vibe with trendy bars and a younger crowd, this may not be the best fit. 🛋️

The Gym: The gym is quite small and basic. Cardio enthusiasts will find it adequate (it has a treadmill and two bikes, all new), but those like me who enjoy strength training might be disappointed. 🏋️‍♂️ However, the hotel offers complimentary transfers to a nearby gym, which is a thoughtful touch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t try it since it was closed over Christmas.

Overall Experience: Despite a few minor drawbacks, I’m giving the 12 Apostles a 5-star rating. The impeccable service, delicious food, and peaceful atmosphere make it a standout destination. 🌟 If you’re seeking a luxurious retreat with space to unwind and rejuvenate, this is the place for you. However, if you prefer a modern, dynamic hotel with a younger vibe, it might not be the...