Cape Town’s Ritz Hotel to be revived with nod to its glamorous past

CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson chats to journalist and writer Herman Lategan.

Listen below:

The Ritz Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town is set for a careful refurbishment that honours its 1970s architectural flair, including its once-famous revolving rooftop restaurant. 

It was recently sold to an international hotel group for between R240 million and R300 million.

RELATED: 

• Sea Point's iconic 'rotating rooftop' Ritz Hotel sells for around R240–R300 million
• PICS: We peek inside 'trashed' Ritz Hotel

Known for its space-age design, dramatic interiors, and glittering social scene, The Ritz was more than just a hotel - it was a beacon of urban glamour.

Lategan recalls elegant dinners with flambéed crayfish, sweeping staircases, and a pianist in a white suit serenading guests. 

"The whole place was just over the top... a setting for a movie, actually."

- Herman Lategan, Journalist and Writer 

He also recounts a lesser-known chapter of South African history: Nelson Mandela briefly living in the hotel after his release from prison, drawn by the twinkling lights he used to see from Robben Island. 

The hotel offered Mandela a penthouse suite, where he reportedly kept his room spotless, a quiet echo of his disciplined prison years.

According to Lategan, the new owners promise a sensitive renovation that will preserve the building’s unique legacy.

"It's a slow project, but they are doing a lot of research, and they are not going to do a rush job. They want to do it very well. They want to make it a part of Cape Town's urban landscape again, as it should be."

- Herman Lategan, Journalist and Writer 

As Cape Town continues to evolve, Lategan believes the city's architecture holds emotional power, stirring memories, shaping identity, and reminding us of who we were. 

"Buildings should evoke an emotion... specifically older buildings." 

- Herman Lategan, Journalist and Writer 

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.