Long Beach: Our full report

The Last Word Long Beach is a small, stylish ‘boutique’ guesthouse situated on Long Beach, one of Cape Town's ...

... more remote beaches on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula. Located in the small fishing village of Kommetjie, it’s about a 45-minute drive to the centre of Cape Town and only a 15-minute drive to Simonstown and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, as well as to Cape Point Nature Reserve.

The Long Beach lies on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula and is a peaceful base from which to explore the southern peninsula. Set behind an inconspicuous gate, the guesthouse has uninterrupted views from large windows of the 8km beach and the sea beyond.
The open-plan lounge and dining area has highly polished cream tiled floors and is decorated in pale blues and creams. The lounge, furnished with comfortable sofas and armchairs, has folding doors that open onto a balcony, with the views beyond. In the dining area, white wicker chairs are set around tables laid with white and pale-blue tablecloths, with more tables and chairs on the balcony.

The Long Beach has six stylish rooms – three doubles and three suites – all decorated in soft neutral tones reflecting its beautiful beach setting. All are equipped with satellite TV, DVD player and stocked minibar.

Upstairs are two 70m2 ‘elegant’ suites, each with a large double bed facing the view, a separate lounge area, an en-suite bathroom and a private balcony.

The other four rooms – three 50m2 ‘superior’ doubles and a 90m2 ‘junior’ suite – are located downstairs. All have double or twin beds, a small seating area, an en-suite bathroom, and their own patio leading out to the garden and small swimming pool.

A gate leads from the small garden directly onto the Long Beach, ideal for a lovely brisk walk. Between July and November whales can often be seen from the balcony or from the beach. Horseriding is also possible on the beach from any of the local stables nearby.

Our view

The Long Beach is a beautiful spot for travellers who don’t want to be in the heart of Cape Town. It feels remote, yet is close to nearby restaurants and many popular attractions like Cape Point Nature Reserve. A great location for long walks on the beach and tranquil sunsets.

Lucy Copson

South Africa expert

Geographics

Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Ideal length of stay: Three or four days is ideal for exploring this part of the Cape Peninsula.
Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: On a recent visit in May 2014 we did not stay here long enough to enjoy a meal, but the manager explained what might be expected.

Breakfast is usually a buffet laid out on the sideboard in the dining area. This is usually a selection of fresh fruit, freshly baked bread and muffins, yoghurts and cereals. A cooked English breakfast can be prepared to order with a choice of eggs, sausage and bacon.

Lunch is not normally included here as most guests tend to be out and about exploring the area during the day.

A three-course dinner is available on request. Expect a soup or a prawn starter, freshly caught linefish or a steak for the main course, followed by dessert. With advance notice, a seafood barbecue can also be arranged.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: No
Drinks included: All beverages are included including local wines, beers and spirits.

Special interests

Luxury: The luxurious Long Beach provides a high-level of comfort in a tranquil setting – the in-house chauffeur and dining under the stars all add to the feeling of being spoilt. It is decorated in neutral tones with blue and cream touches, reflecting its beautiful beach setting perfectly.; See ideas for Luxury in South Africa

Children

Attitude towards children: The Long Beach accepts children of three years and older.
Property’s age restrictions: No children under 3.
Special activities & services: There are no special activities or services here for children, but the swimming pool and the beach are attractions.
Equipment: There is no special equipment for children.
Generally recommended for children: This is an adult-orientated property and doesn’t cater for young children even though they are accepted. We don’t recommend it for children under 10.
Notes: The swimming pool is not fenced so parents need to supervise children at all times. A gate leads from the guest house to the beach.

Communications

Communications: Each room has a direct-dial telephone and there is complimentary WiFi throughout the guesthouse.
TV & radio: There are satellite TVs and DVD players in the rooms. Each of the suites also has an iPod dock.
Water supply: Mains

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: No
Medical care: There are doctors and hospitals nearby.

Balconies: Due to balconies in rooms on the upper floors, we recommend that families with children under the age of six book ground floor rooms.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There is a security gate and fence surrounding the property and a security guard is on duty at night.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in each of the rooms and in the kitchen.

Activities

Birdwatching
Boat trip
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Dune-boarding
Fishing
Helicopter
Horse-riding
Kayaking
Microlight
Mountain biking
Quad-biking
Scuba-diving
Self-guided walking
Snorkelling
Watersports

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Laundry is available at an additional cost.
Money: There are digital safes in each of the rooms. The guesthouse does not offer currency exchange, but there are banks nearby should guests need to exchange foreign currency.
Accepted payment on location: Visa, MasterCard and Amex are accepted, as well as SA rands cash.