Hotel review: Morea House – between the mountains and the deep blue sea

It was a mix of nostalgia and excitement that accompanied me as we headed over the ‘nek’ – the winding road that takes you from Cape Town’s city bowl, around and down into Camps Bay – and both came into play as we drove up to the entrance of Morea House.

For a little background, Cape Town used to be home and Camps Bay beaches hosted many a summer sundowner, so this hotel review was for me, both a trip down memory lane and a glimpse into the design direction of a vibrant, international tourist destination. It delivered on both!

Image credit: Morea House

The minute you step into the lobby, you are immersed in a softer reflection of the surrounding landscape – the tones and textures of both the sea and the mountains have been used to inspire the colours, create the shapes. It feels part gallery, part designer home, with the soaring height of the light installation drawing your eye up and the bold art work on the wall drawing you in. The sculptural ceramic chandelier by South African designer Jan Ernst takes centre stage and is so much more than a light – it feels like a beautifully curated collection of seashells and seaside shapes – while the surrounding walls wrap around and invite you in a well-contoured designer hug.

Inside the relatively understated exterior, the bold, sculptural forms grab your attention, while the softer more natural textures invite you to stay. Cape Town interior architect Tristan du Plessis is the creative force behind this design, that comes together as a perfect blend of curation and collaboration. In conversation with the designer, it was this process of collaboration, that for him, sets the hotel apart.

“My favourite parts of the design are the many collaborations with others, creating a hotel together with locals and not just representative of them.” Tristan du Plessis, Founder, Tristan du Plessis Studio

The curved staircase spirals up to the 90 guestrooms and suites – each one designed to relate to their outlook, whether mountain, ocean, or sand. The details and accents inside your room, again reflect the view out your window. Happily, I had an ocean view where I was able to adjust my clock to the circadian rhythm of a Camps Bay sunset.

Another singular thread that runs through the design, and graces the wall of every guestroom, can be found in the dynamic woven works of art above the beds, which are the result of one of these collaborations – this time with artist Julia Pepler, whose series of “deconstucted art hangings”  are integral to the layers of tone and texture that immediately shift the guestroom into something a little more personal, and a little less brand-driven.

Dining at Morea House moves between two distinct levels – on the ground floor, OMRI serves its take on modern Lebanese cuisine, and already has become a notable force on the over-crowded restaurant scene in Cape Town. Design-wise it delivers a little reflective glamour under its curved and swagged ceiling at night, which shifts easily into brunch mode with the terrace doors flung open to the sea breeze in the morning for breakfast.

Above, the Morea Pool Restaurant feels like the heartbeat of the hotel, a place to go to the beach without the sand in your shoes and where the wine is always chilled – that’s the dream isn’t it? During my stay it provided me with a place to meet, a place to (leisurely) catch up with correspondence, and a place to simply slow down and soak in some Southern African sunshine.

Morea House falls under the Marriott Autograph Collection umbrella, a portfolio made up from independent hotels with a strong sense of place. Key to the success of this collection is that the properties all drive a special connection to the surroundings, offering guests some insight into local culture through design and, in the case of Morea House, this narrative is clearly developed even further through its wellness offering.

The hotels signature cold water immersion takes its inspiration directly from the ocean in front of it (anyone who has braved Cape Towns waters will attest to the fact that Capetonians have been cold-water-immersing long before it became a thing – we called it swimming!). That being said – Morea House has both elevated and extended the concept, with options for guided cold-water immersion in the luxury of the spa, alongside detailed guided information of tidal pools in walking distance from the hotel that would typically be closely guarded local secrets – a great combination of luxury and local, all with a little home-grown ‘fynbos’ infused aromatherapy oils to take the edge off the chill.

Image credit: Morea House

Back in my room, I lifted the lid on a little brown box that was kindly left for me – the Morea Sensory Ritual. Inside were some pretty crystal-coloured stones, offering both grounding and release while connecting me to the landscape. Clever marketing perhaps, but I for one loved it – it did exactly what it said on the box – I sank into the curved chair in front of the floor-to-ceiling door that opened out onto the horizon, I rolled those cool stones in my hand as I watched the (colder) waves rolling in beyond the frame, and breathed…

Main image credit: Morea House