South African hotels shine in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 awards

Source: Condé Nast Traveler | Sterrekopje Farm

The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on feedback from thousands of Condé Nast Traveler readers worldwide and are widely regarded as a benchmark for guest satisfaction in the global hotel industry.

The Plettenberg tops the list, with several Cape Town and Franschhoek properties also making the top 15, highlighting a mix of well-known names and boutique stays across the country.

Top 15 Hotels in South Africa (Readers’ Choice Awards 2025):

• The Plettenberg, an SLH Hotel, Plettenberg Bay — 99.4
• Babylonstoren, Franschhoek — 99.16
• Last Word Franschhoek, Franschhoek — 97.7
• Spier Hotel, Stellenbosch — 97.51
• Last Word Long Beach, Cape Town — 96.8
• Sterrekopje Farm, Franschhoek — 96.69
• Last Word Madikwe, Madikwe — 96.57
• Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, Cape Town — 96
• Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, Johannesburg — 95.69
• Cape Grace, Cape Town — 95.63
• Tintswalo Atlantic, Cape Town — 95.6
• The Oyster Box Hotel, Umhlanga — 95.58
• Ellerman House, Cape Town — 95.34
• Taj Cape Town, Cape Town — 94.75
• Last Word Constantia, Cape Town — 94.38

For the full list of Africa’s top-rated hotels — including Morocco, Tanzania and Kenya — visit the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025: Best Hotels in Africa round