The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa

Character and identity

Set on the protected coastal road between Camps Bay and Llandudno, this 70-room Red Carnation property is built into the mountainside, with fynbos rising on one side and the Atlantic stretching out on the other. The white-walled exterior gives way to a mirrored, lavishly staffed entrance that signals the house style: flamboyant, old-school glamour designed by the Tollman family. Two restaurants (Azure for sunset dinners, a mountain-facing cafe now focused on sushi and seafood), the Leopard Bar terrace, an award-winning spa with strong local following, two pools and a 16-seat cinema round out a property that punches well above its footprint.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining quality here is the setting plus the service: a remote stretch of conservation coastline paired with the polished, hands-on Red Carnation register. Book a sea-facing room on an upper floor for the dolphin and sunset views, lean on the complimentary V&A Waterfront shuttle, and plan dinners at Azure given how isolated the location is after dark.