Where to Stay in Cape Town on a Budget
Though one of Africa’s glitziest cities, Cape Town is home to some seriously tempting shoestring accommodation, from hostels to budget hotels to homestays – all bookable on Culture Trip.
From world-class restaurants to elegant winery tours, thrilling contemporary galleries to reflective historic sights such as Robben Island Museum – the site of Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment – there’s a lot to experience in Cape Town. Whether your bag is beach bars or boutiques, there’s a lot to spend your money on in South Africa’s cosmopolitan heart – other than accommodation. If purse strings are tight, we can help; here are the best places to stay in Cape Town on a budget.
1. Stock Exchange Apartment Hotel
Chain Hotel, Budget Hotel
Hipster Woodstock, with its Old Biscuit Mill – a cool collection of ceramics shops, coffee roasters and trendy restaurants – is one of Cape Town’s most dynamic quarters and best areas to stay in, just a few minutes’ walk from the coast. Stock Exchange Apartment Hotel puts you in the thick of it and lets you save cash by cooking in kitchenettes – if you have the willpower to resist local culinary delights, that is. Contemporary geometric prints and bold pops of colour in the rooms are reminiscent of the energetic area.
2. Gorgeous George by Design Hotels
Budget Hotel, Chain Hotel
With looks this good, the “gorgeous” tag suits. At this central cheap hotel in Cape Town, steps from the African crafts market at Greenmarket Square, mid-century modern touches – think three-legged tables and velvet sofas – meet industrial-chic vibes with exposed cement ceilings and metallics. The jewel in the design-forward crown? A rooftop indoor-outdoor pool, restaurant and lounge space. Drenched in greenery, Gorgeous George is as perfect for evening sharpeners as it is for morning OJs.
4. Rouge on Rose Boutique Hotel
Boutique Hotel
If you’re seeking an intimate vibe to cheap accommodation in Cape Town, you’ll find it at Rouge on Rose. With just nine rooms, tucked into the historic and colourful neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap, this friendly boutique stay is run by a local mother and son team – who have insider intel on the best places to eat and shop in Cape Town. Pick their brains in the bold red lobby, then plan out the day from your sand-hued bedroom, furnished with subtle Asian touches.
5. La Grenadine
Budget Hotel, Guesthouse
Set just off buzzy Kloof Street, a hotspot for bars and restaurants, La Grenadine feels a serene world away from the thrills of city life, thanks to a shade-dappled garden and cream-washed spaces, furnished with exposed stone and roll-top clawfoot baths. Just five rooms and a cottage make this cheap Cape Town hotel feel intimate, while vintage touches from its French owners bring a bit of provençale glamour. This place has a conscience, too – there are solar panels on-site and 1% of its turnover goes to NGOs and charities.
6. 2Inn1 Kensington
Inn, Budget Hotel, Spa Hotel
Who said a wallet-friendly accommodation on the Western Cape couldn’t do pampering? The spa, with its rungu massages and soothing facials, is a definite highlight of any stay at 2Inn1. Another perk? The garden and pool area provides a place to take the plunge on sweltering South African days whilst offering dramatic views out to Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. The rooms, all cool contemporary lines, aren’t half-bad either – especially given they come with free daily sundowners from 6pm-8pm.
7. Hotel on the Promenade
Hotel
Calling all beach bums: Hotel on the Promenade is a prime pick if you’re planning on spending your Cape Town time lazing on the sands. You’re just a hop from a string of beaches, including Milton, Sunset and Queen’s – posh Clifton is just a short drive away, too. Soak up the rays over a coffee on yellow terrace chairs, then stick around for a lunch of kingklip eel fillet with cream sauce. Handily, the hotel can sort out car hire and airport shuttle if you need it.
8. Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Stay at this attractive mansion and you could almost imagine you’re crashing at the home of a wealthy Capetonian cousin – it’s far more intimate and friendly than the average cheap hotel in Cape Town and yet still elegant. A tiny courtyard plunge pool cools you between naps on the stripy loungers; classically luxurious rooms have eco-friendly Africology toiletries and metro tiling in showers. Let them pack you a picnic for the park, or organise a tour of the city’s jazz scene.
9. Once in Cape Town
Hotel
10. Ashanti Lodge & Travel Centre
Lodge
11. Never@Home
Hotel, Lodge
12. The Backpack
Hostel, Lodge, Hotel
Named one of the best hostels in Cape Town and in Africa, the Backpack is an award-winning, fair trade and environmentally-friendly hostel. If you’re looking to make greener choices, be sure to book a room at the Backpack, as they use biodegradable cleaning products, recycle on a monthly basis, and use vegetable scraps to feed their worm farms. The lodge accommodates 100 people in 35 rooms, all of which are individually styled with air conditioning and private or shared bathrooms. Free continental breakfast and unlimited WiFi is included, not to mention the outdoor pool area, pool table, and travel centre to help you plan your Cape Town adventure.
13. Carnival Court Backpackers
Lodge, Hotel
14. 91 Loop Boutique Hostel
Hostel, Boutique Hotel
Found your budget break in Cape Town, but looking for a special night or two? Check out our guides to the best boutique hotels in the city and the top sustainable places to stay in Cape Town. Alternatively, book yourself a seaside adventure with our rundown of the best hotels on Cape Town’s Atlantic Coast.
Lee-Shay Collison contributed additional reporting to this article.
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