dcmike

Fantastic photos, as always, SFO777 - but I am really impressed with the great photos of the Silo! I've been obsessed with this hotel since I saw a BBC travel show that featured it. Hoping to make it one day soon, and your photos have definitely increase my motivation!

SFO777

Thank you SKT-DK. That AA meal was veggie lasagna bolognese. Tasted like cardboard.

Thanks so much Vaterland for kind comments. The Silo is not for everyone and the furthest thing one could imagine from a classic hotel like Ellerman. Service at The Silo was wonderful. Everyone we encountered was friendly and eager to please.

Thank you very much SAtraveller. La Colombe was a marvelous experience.

Thanks so much Andriyko. Indeed, Emirates "bling air" cabin is an acquired taste. But service is so good that I tend to ignore all the fake gold. I think they figured that our as New First is much more subdued and elegant. Sadly, there are only 8 or 9 of those at the moment.

Thank you dcmike. I would definitely stay at The Silo again.

NYC1

Great report, as usual. That's quite a dose of EK F, but it never gets old.

In terms of the comments around EK F being bling, I find that this is something that jumps out in pictures online but when you are actually sitting in the seat, it does not bother me at all. Plus, I would rather have some bling and an airline that invests in the product and service rather than one that cuts corners at every opportunity yet charges outrageous fares.

MikeFly

Having a hard time typing this response as I am feverishly working to get myself to Capetown again to try those restaurants! Thanks SFO777!

SFO777

Thanks very much NYC1. I'm with you on EK. Yeah, it's a td bling-bling but sitting in the seat, it doesn't bother me at all.
And most EK pricing really quite reasonable compared to the competition, making it great value especially if you enjoy wine.

Thank you MikeFly. I love Cape Town and and South Africa period. Can't wait to go to Joburg in November and back to Cape Town next year.

sl1ppy

I've always enjoyed your trip reports but this comment on another couple is beyond the pale, you need to take a long hard look at yourself. Very, very poor.

SFO777

Thank you for the bump.

spizzy

SFO777 loved the trip report. Quick question, always wanted to go to South Africa but keep reading about the ever escalating crime, car jacking, power outages, etc. My question is is this overblown and did you feel safe?

SFO777

Thanks very much spizzy. I felt completely safe in Cape Town and last year in Joburg. Then again, we were generally in upscale touristy areas and residential areas. Quite frankly, I felt safer in Cape Town that I would visiting Chicago, Philadelphia or most other US city centers. Almost all South Africans I met were genuinely friendly and engaging. The biggest issue in South Africa seemed to be the power grid and frequent power outages, although many business have installed standby generators to deal with the issue. We experienced an outage at both La Colombe and The Silo but the generators were so quick to come online (less than a second) that it was barely noticeable.

steveggetit

Hello Footie m8!

Well my team Aston Villa got thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle at the w.e. but I'm still wearing my shirt with pride, no blinking Saudi blood money in our squad!

Your pics and trip again inspire me to spend some of me 401K money before the doctors cut off my travel Insurance! How you stay slim and within Chlosterol limits confuses me!..... Keep taking the Pills!

So glad your Lady enjoyed her time also and that Paris was manageable..... I am really happy for you both for an anniversary celebration, inshallah!

Your stories and Pics of Flash Hotels & Food are outstanding and make this Rugby & Footie man belly grumble hard for a good French Lunch.... I will take your Cape Town Hotel recommendation for sure as it looks close to the Victoria Waterfront Area. My lady bought an original Brown Satchel leather handbag there 30 yrs ago and she still knocks me over the head with it when I frequently misbehave..... Its when her voice changes from Steve to STEPHEN that I know I have to jump & conform lol!

your pics are like, dare I say this, " Food PORN "!.... I will leave you with this thought! thinking Madonna Coffee Table......You need a Coffee Book Deal!

anyhow friend I hear you have a new Career with the Friendly Skys....... Isn't that interesting to us posters..... United " You want a drink " Yes Please! Please help them address a little customer service but that might be stretching the elastic too far!

I doubt BA or Virgin would take me on though given how diplomatic I can get!...

Remember you have an open invite to a Home match Aston Villa in Birmingham and the delights of Chips and Curry Sauce, Cod Fish Extra & Optional.... A couple of Pints or 4 and a trip light fantastic in a Birmingham Karaoke bar with a decent Curry after. But then I was & am an honest working man.

Not Haute Cuisine by your standards!

Keep posting friend, we love & respect you all to bits in this great FT community.

Your advise especially on Hotels I take as F class a little out of reach now for me. We will be back in SA for my wife big request which is Wild Dogs Safari in Botswana. I want to take her to Vic Falls and we will end up in CPT, Garden Route and no doubt Mauritius or Seychelles on way back to UK...

Take Care m8

SteveG

Bretteee

Wow!! So a fabulous meal in South Africa is $100 vs. Paris at $400!!! 4 times more and probably just as good. I like the area you stayed at in Cape Town by the water. We stayed at the Nelson which is not in such a nice area but it was still a great experience.

bostontraveler

you don’t have to spend $400 for a fantastic meal in Paris…

SFO777

Thanks so much SteveG for your most kind comments. And congrats on Aston Villa's resounding win today and the 3 points! I'm starting to get into the PL after my visit to Hotspurs Stadium and Tottenham/Chelsea earlier in the year. My grandson is a big ManCity fan and I'm taking him to the City/United game next March, paying thru the nose for VIP tickets and behind the scenes tour and photo ops.

Thank you Bretteee. It may not be Paris but Cape Town is a great foodie city, and at amazingly inexpensive prices.

Very true, although a Michelin 3 star Paris meal can easily exceed $500/$600 per person or more with wine.

offerendum

You don't need wine to reach this. At Le Cinq they now charge 590 € for the tasting.

drminn

Earlier this year I had fabulous tasting menus, each for around $200 without wine, at Mayta and Maido in Lima. A true food porn worthy experience, but I am too lazy to write trip reports.. Excellent price/performance.