Rising above the adjacent convention center and within walking distance of both the downtown area and the V&A Waterfront, this sleek hotel is both the largest and flashiest in Cape Town. In terms of style and decor, it is the polar opposite of the clubby traditional hotels it competes with in the area.
The high-rise is all glass and steel, and guests can be forgiven for thinking they've wandered into a corporate headquarters when they enter the vast, squared-off lobby. The flooring is solid black granite topped by huge contemporary area rugs in a jarring rainbow of bright orange and red hues, and the reception desk, which looks to be 30 yards wide, has two large flat-screen TVs behind it broadcasting news and weather, not an especially happy welcome when one or the other is bad news. Towers guests sit down and check in at a desk more modest in scale where hot towels and an aperitif are included in the registration rituals.
Open hallways lead past water features and atrium sculptures to an equally contemporary but inviting restaurant that serves all meals from an open kitchen. The bar in the adjoining lounge glows red from built-in lights, and live jazz music plays
here each night. Patio space faces the convention center and a fountain. A cozier cigar bar seats 40 and has a wide selection of whiskies and cognacs. At least 50 other dining and drinking options are within a 10-minute walk, and a complimentary scheduled shuttle makes the trip easier when the latter takes precedence over the former.
The penthouse indoor lap pool and whirlpool have a magical skyline view at night. Music plays underwater in the pool, and it uses salt water rather than chlorine. An adjoining gym offers the same great view for a fee, and a personal trainer is on call. A well-appointed spa and beauty salon are also on the top floor. The unisex sauna and steam room surprise with their no-clothing-allowed regulation, but no one's looking anyway, since the glass walls survey the waterfront scenery 19 floors below.
Meeting facilities here are the best in town thanks to the convention center ensuring space for up to 1,300 people banquet-style in one room. A business center contains four computer terminals, and the whole hotel offers complimentary wireless Internet access.
For those clients whose accommodation tastes lean to the hip and modern, this is the place to be. Hallways are accessed by keycards only through sliding-glass doors, a supplementary measure of security that is hardly needed in this safe area of town. Dark fabrics, white duvets, cushioned mattresses, bold patterned carpet, Serengeti-inspired colors, abstract paintings, and furniture with a Scandinavian bent are characteristic of all rooms.
Each larger-than-average room goes beyond the usual amenities with some extra touches for business travelers, including safes that contain a plug for recharging laptops or gadgets, and cordless phones with voice mail. The top three levels of rooms also feature all-in-one printers/scanners/fax machines (with unique fax numbers for each guest). Coffeemakers and trouser presses are also welcome options before dashing off to a meeting. The sumptuous baths have heated tile floors, quality toiletries, and separate shower and toilet enclosures.
Grand Deluxe rooms offer about one-third more space than standards, and the ample corner suites add better amenities, multidimensional views, DVD players, a scale in the bath and lots of welcome 
goodies. Guests on the Towers floors get access to a modified top-floor lounge, which oddly doubles as a restaurant. Seating space is extremely hard to come by, and light canapes and drinks are only offered during a three-hour evening window, no exceptions. All even-numbered rooms face Table Mountain; odd-numbered ones face the sea. Eighty-eight rooms are set aside for smokers (and are admittedly not the best of the bunch, since they have lower-floor views and musty smells), and five are equipped for the handicapped. Maintenance throughout is impeccable. Guests reserving suites receive butler service and complimentary BMW transfers to the airport and surrounding area, but these benefits are strangely kept hush-hush unless requested.
A change in management has led to a few service hiccups, but the staff soldiers on with a smile. Name recognition is duly noted by repeat guests. This unabashedly contemporary hotel is aimed squarely at business travelers and convention groups, but is the only high-end option besides Twelve Apostles for guests who prefer their digs in the style of Ian Schrager rather than colonial England.