Top Urban Hotels in Africa and the Middle East

With its captivating beaches, elegant vineyards, enticing boutiques, and iconic mountain, Cape Town serves as a cornerstone of luxury for travelers. This year, Cape Town alluringly features five of the top ten urban hotels in Africa and the Middle East. Notably, Cape Grace and One&Only, perennial favorites located in the city’s Victoria & Albert Waterfront, secured the second and fifth spots on this prestigious list. Moreover, Ellerman House, an exquisite Cape Edwardian mansion overseeing the South Atlantic Ocean, showcased its unique offering with just 11 rooms, two suites, and two villas. The hotel provides guests with two lounges, a well-stocked library, a spa, and multiple remarkable venues for relaxation—including a brandy lounge, a wine gallery, and a Champagne cellar.

The Survey Behind the Rankings

Each year, the World’s Best Awards survey gathers insights from readers about their travel experiences globally. Participants share opinions on various hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were evaluated based on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink quality, and overall value. Furthermore, properties were classified as either city or resort hotels depending on their locations.

Impressive Showings Beyond Cape Town

While Cape Town dominated the list, cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai made robust appearances. Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, an opulent resort inspired by the charm of ancient Arabia, earned a commendable third place in the region. One guest notably stated, “My husband and I were treated like royalty from the moment we disembarked.” Nevertheless, at the top of the rankings stood the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, which respondents highly praised for its private atmosphere and lush grounds. One survey participant described it as “the gold standard for elegance, luxury, and service.”