Sonnekus is a 10 bedroom boutique hotel located in St James / Kalk Bay, Cape Town. The gracious old home (circa 1926) has recently been restored and blends modern design and comforts in its old fashioned shell.
I booked through Booking.com, and decided to take the room upgrade to include a sea-view, when you live inland, you want to soak in as much sea time in as possible. I remember telling my parents I chose the sea view option and their response was, well you won’t sleep very well. This had not crossed my mind at all. You see, the hotel is located on Main Road (a very main road) which runs parallel with a railway line. Traffic + trains + sea = more noise than I am used to at night, and they were completely right, my sleep that night was rather disrupted. At some point in the night I got up to close the window (I am a fresh air person), which made a small difference, but the view was worth it. If I could stay in that space with that view, I’d take disrupted sleep any day.
The next day I knew I wanted to start the day with a run and exploring the area. Kalk Bay has been one of my favourite Cape Town spots since I was young, and returning to the area always makes my heart so happy. Sunrise, sea and in general, spectacular views meant there were a lot of photos taken and slower running that there should have been. For reference, Kalk Bay is about a 10-15 minute walk from Sonnekus, and Muisenberg is a similar distance in the opposite direction.
I’d been told by friends there is a beautiful, secluded beach near Sonnekus, well it turned out to be directly across the road. A subway leads one under the railway line to Danger Beach, a pristine white sand beach with some kelp and rocky outcrops. The weather was hotter than expected and I was melting after my run so did a Wim Hof swim, and was joined by a seal which made me do a double take. The 2 other swimmers and I kept our distance, you never know what wild sea lions could do next.
Breakfast at the Sonnekus House Café was splendid. Sitting outdoors in the courtyard with a view of the sea can’t really be beaten. Its no wonder why the restaurant has become so popular. The food didn’t disappoint either. Almost always French Toast for me. Side note, you can read more about my French Toast journey in the cape here.
Sonnekus, so would I go back, without a doubt. Would I recommend staying here? Most definitely. My stay was a breath of fresh air. Sonnekus you have my heart.