When GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town, Western Cape, opened at the turn of the millennium, its initial 39 rooms catered exclusively to gamblers. Recently, it has been expanded to include 68 new rooms, bringing the total to 103 keys, including presidential and other grand suites.

Despite this expansion, the Grand Hotel maintains exceptionally high occupancy rates. Should you be fortunate enough to secure a room, you’ll find it well worth the effort. Note that bookings are available exclusively through SunInternational.com, rather than third-party booking platforms.

The perfect room experience

What elevates these new rooms to ‘perfect’ status? For starters, each bedside features USB-A and USB-C charging ports, alongside traditional power points. The complimentary Wi-Fi is exceptionally fast and straightforward to connect to. A large, wall-mounted smart TV offers web browsing, streaming capabilities, and built-in Netflix and Apple TV options.

The bathroom sits behind a proper door and features a generous shower with a mixer that can be operated without first getting wet – a thoughtful touch. Two bathroom lighting options – one behind the mirror and the other overhead – provide versatile illumination.

Smart-coloured marble surfaces offer ample space, allowing two guests to comfortably unpack their toiletries.

Thoughtful design features

A round table with two elegant chairs serves a dual purpose as a workspace and dining area, conveniently positioned near additional power points. Two large mirrors grace the bedroom, one with a shallow ledge beneath – perfect for placing a hairbrush or hairdryer.

Blackout curtains ensure undisturbed rest, while a digital safe accommodates a laptop.

Though newer beds still feature timber posts, the refurbished rooms boast leather backrests that complement the leather two-seater couch beneath the television.

Rooms come equipped with electronic switches to signal privacy preferences or housekeeping readiness.

Contemporary aesthetics with historical nods

The updated decor, led by Lisa Bridgeford, head of interior design at dhk Architects, honours GrandWest’s historical and nautical themes while embracing contemporary colour schemes and botanical and zoological illustrations.

Recent additions include a body-temperature indoor swimming pool, a compact gym, and a Camelot spa. The spa features a Himalayan salt sauna and a Rasul chamber for steam treatments and body exfoliation. Individual and couples’ treatment rooms include en-suite showers.

We enjoyed a 90-minute couples’ hot stone massage. Therapists Nicky Pasquallie and Joyce Talo delivered outstanding treatments, and Farmer’s Weekly highly recommends the spa experience, which is also available to non-hotel guests.

The experience begins with herbal tea and can be extended in the outdoor relaxation area.

Integrated entertainment

The Grand Hotel, modelled and named after the former Grand Hotel in Cape Town’s Adderley Street, connects directly to the GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World. One could feasibly remain indoors indefinitely, adhering to whatever schedule suits one’s biorhythms.

For high rollers, the Union Castle Club offers lounging, bar, and dining spaces linked directly to the Salon Privé, a gaming environment where one might expect to encounter James Bond playing baccarat.

Sun International’s loyalty programme, MVG (Most Valued Guest), provides exclusive opportunities across all its properties, including Sun City, The Maslow Time Square in Pretoria, The Boardwalk in Gqeberha, The Maslow in Sandton, and GrandWest itself.

Premier destination

GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World stands apart as the largest entertainment and leisure destination of its kind in South Africa. It houses the country’s biggest (and Cape Town’s only) licensed casino, with extensive slot and table game options.

The Grand Arena, the Western Cape’s largest undercover entertainment venue, hosts international stars in its 5 000-seated or 7 000-standing auditorium. The complex also features cinemas offering 2D and 3D screenings.

Built on the former Goodwood Showgrounds – once home to souped-up car racing, squash courts, and an ice rink – GrandWest now houses Cape Town’s only indoor Olympic-sized ice rink.

For those who are interested in gambling, instructional courses are available for various games.

However, if gambling isn’t your preference, numerous alternative activities await. The bowling alley offers particular enjoyment with its effortless electronic scoring, while Laser Tag and various other interactive games provide additional entertainment options.

Dining experiences

Dining at GrandWest spans everything from upscale restaurants to affordable food-court options. Quarterdeck Restaurant, GrandWest’s buffet restaurant, now operates under Sun International’s management and offers its best experience to date.

At R340 for lunch, it represents excellent value with diverse offerings to satisfy all dietary preferences. It is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sundays for lunch.

Standout dishes include crumbed calamari strips – tender and delicious – and mountains of prawns in spicy peri-peri or garlic sauce. The prawns come with heads and shells intact, making the provided hand wipes essential.

Classic ‘carvery fare’ featured whole roasted sirloins, sliced and accompanied by three delicious sauces. The ‘Durban-style’ lamb curry was exceptional. It wouldn’t be surprising if some of Sun International Durban’s original curry chefs now work on the GrandWest team.

One minor drawback to an otherwise magnificent Quarterdeck Restaurant experience is the absence of hot beverages. However, this is easily remedied by visiting the Vida e Caffè on the gaming floor (providing all guests are aged 18 and older). Here, Chesterfields and leather armchairs provide stylish seating throughout a large, raised area.

While business meetings might not immediately spring to mind at an entertainment venue, Vida e Caffè and many other GrandWest spaces suit this purpose admirably on account of the large spaces and the hum and ding of gaming machines.

Grand Hotel guests enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Union Castle Room. During Farmer’s Weekly’s visit, outstanding vegetarian curries featured among buffet offerings.

While in-room tea and coffee options are limited to instant varieties, the room delivery service for filter coffee proved prompt and reasonably priced.

A glance at SunInternational.com reveals entry-level rooms almost entirely booked for weekends through August, with prices starting from R3 170 per room.

Nearly 25 years after opening, ongoing upgrades ensure GrandWest remains as impressive as when it first welcomed guests.

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