Horizon Aparthotel by Totalstay™ has opened on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, bringing a new flexible-stay offering to one of the city’s most sought-after coastal neighbourhoods.
Located at 289 Beach Road in Sea Point, the 11-storey building was originally a residential apartment block before being acquired by Heriot REIT in late 2024. The property has since been fully reimagined and converted into a 36-unit boutique aparthotel, designed to meet the growing demand for accommodation that offers the ease of hotel-style service with the comfort and flexibility of apartment living.
Now operated by Totalstay™, Horizon introduces a considered mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with four two-bedroom penthouses on the upper floors. Each apartment includes an open-plan kitchenette and living area, with bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms. Several one-bedroom configurations can also be combined to create additional two-bedroom units, making the property well suited to families, small groups, business travellers and longer-stay guests.
The development reflects a broader shift in the way people are choosing to travel and stay in urban destinations. As remote work, extended travel and blended business-leisure trips continue to shape guest behaviour, travellers are increasingly looking for spaces that allow them to settle in, work, relax and live comfortably, without losing the reliability of a managed hospitality experience.
According to Rael Phillips, CEO of Totalstay™, Horizon responds directly to this shift.
“Across our portfolio, we’re seeing sustained demand for accommodation that allows guests to stay longer and settle in more comfortably,” says Phillips. “This includes remote workers, international visitors on extended trips, and domestic travellers combining business and leisure. Horizon has been designed to meet that demand with a balance of flexibility and service.”
Beyond the apartments themselves, Horizon includes shared guest spaces such as a restaurant and pool deck, set against the backdrop of Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and the Atlantic Ocean. Many units offer ocean or mountain views, while the building’s elevated position brings a strong sense of place to the guest experience.
For Heriot REIT, the project represents a deliberate repositioning of an existing asset rather than a conventional new-build hotel development. By transforming a well-located residential building into a hybrid hospitality space, the development unlocks new value within an established urban node while responding to current market demand on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Grant Elliott, Chief Operating Officer for Heriot’s Western Cape portfolio, says the intention was to repurpose the building for a more flexible form of accommodation.
“This wasn’t about building new,” says Elliott. “It was about recognising the value of an existing, well-located asset and repurposing it for a different type of accommodation where guests, regardless of how long they stay, have the flexibility of a hotel-style offering together with self-catering facilities.”
He adds that the conversion required a full rethink of the building’s layout and internal configuration, with the aparthotel market front of mind from the beginning.
“More travellers are working remotely or staying for longer periods, so the building needed to support that, in addition to demand from the corporate and leisure stay segments, with spaces that allow guests to work, live and relax comfortably while being based on one of Cape Town’s most distinctive beachfront locations.”
Positioned along Sea Point’s Beach Road, Horizon offers direct access to the promenade and is within walking distance of restaurants, retail, cafés, beaches and key leisure attractions. This makes it well placed for both domestic and international guests looking for a walkable, experience-rich base in Cape Town.
The property adds to Cape Town’s growing supply of mid- to upper-tier apartment-style accommodation, a segment that continues to gain momentum as travellers look for more space, flexibility and independence than a traditional hotel room typically provides.
For Totalstay™, Horizon forms part of a wider portfolio of aparthotels and managed stays across South Africa, and reflects the brand’s continued focus on design-led spaces, thoughtful hospitality and seamless operations.
“At Horizon, the intention was to create an environment where everyday rituals can unfold naturally, whether that’s working from a balcony, sharing a slow breakfast, or simply spending time indoors,” says Phillips. “The setting is considered, but never overbearing. It supports the guest experience rather than defining it.”
With bookings now open, Horizon Aparthotel by Totalstay™ brings a new chapter of apartment-style hospitality to Sea Point, offering guests the freedom of a home, the ease of a hotel, and a front-row seat to the rhythm of Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard.
View the original articles on the publishers’ websites:
Heriot REIT reimagines Sea Point apartment block into aparthotel
Reimagined 11-storey hospitality development set to transform Sea Point in May
New 11-Storey Horizon Aparthotel Set to Transform Sea Point Skyline
Horizon Aparthotel by Totalstay Opens on Sea Point’s Beach Road