Where Local Culture Meets World-Class Luxury: The V&A Waterfront’s Latest Transformations

Where Local Culture Meets World-Class Luxury

Anyone planning to visit Cape Town this year will find the V&A Waterfront in the middle of one of its most exciting chapters yet. A wave of refreshed spaces and new additions is reshaping the precinct, each one underscoring the Waterfront’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful placemaking — honouring its local roots while continuing to evolve as a world-class destination for visitors and Capetonians alike.

InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town

IHG Hotels & Resorts has brought the InterContinental brand to Cape Town with the refurbished InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town, located in the heart of the V&A Waterfront. Managed by Sun International under a hotel management agreement, the property has reopened following a multimillion-rand redevelopment, offering 306 rooms, including 45 new suites, with sweeping views of the harbour, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic Ocean. Guests can enjoy a new elevated pool bar and terrace, a signature spa, and an InterContinental Executive Loyalty Club Floor and Lounge, while reception areas and restaurants have been fully reimagined.

Le Bistrot de JAN has opened its doors at the hotel, marking internationally acclaimed Chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s first Cape Town restaurant. Returning home after years abroad, Chef Jan presents classic French bistro cuisine with a South African twist. Executive Chef Giles Edwards, known for his work at the award-winning La Tête, guides the kitchen to create a relaxed yet refined dining experience, blending timeless French flavours with local ingredients in inventive and familiar ways.

Oranjezicht City Farm Market’s New Chapter

After a decade, Cape Town’s favourite market has entered a new chapter, with the Oranjezicht City Farm Market opening in a custom-designed timber space just across from its original location, with sweeping views of Robben Island and Table Bay. The new venue blends rustic character with contemporary design, creating a setting that feels both familiar and refreshed.

What began as a small community initiative has grown into one of the city’s most loved destinations, supporting over 100 traders and approximately 3,500 livelihoods. In the new space, traders have elevated their stall designs, supported by upgraded facilities such as running water and extraction fans for food traders. The move brings together the same much-loved traders, alongside a few newcomers, while preserving the market’s family- and dog-friendly atmosphere, complete with wooden pergolas and woodchip underfoot.

The Cape Town EDITION Is on Its Way

Marriott International, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, is bringing its EDITION Hotels brand to Africa with The Cape Town EDITION. Set to open later this year at the V&A Waterfront, this will be the first EDITION Hotel on the African continent, placing Cape Town among a select number of global cities to host the brand.

The Cape Town EDITION offers 142 guest rooms and suites, alongside world-class dining experiences, including a signature rooftop bar. Additional amenities include a spa, pool, and meeting and event facilities. The development also incorporates The Residences at The Cape Town EDITION, a limited collection of private homes. Positioned at the edge of the planned Granger Bay development, The Cape Town EDITION overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, with views across the city centre and Cape Town’s most recognisable landmarks, including Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill.

Plan Your Visit

Between a reimagined luxury hotel, a beloved market’s new home, and Africa’s first EDITION hotel on the way, there has never been a better moment to visit Cape Town and experience the V&A Waterfront’s next chapter for yourself.

This article has been adapted from the original piece published in This is Cape Town Magazine, Volume 6, specifically for the blog. To view the original article, click here or read the full magazine online at www.thisis.capetown/resources.