As indicated on the plasterwork, the original building where the Royal Hotel stands is said to have been established in 1862. The hotel itself is the oldest licensed one in the Western Cape.
It features Victorian-colonial architectural design elements, which were significantly updated during its renovation in 1929 when the famous arched stoep in front of the hotel was added. The stoep is renowned for being the longest uninterrupted stoep in the southern hemisphere.
Prominent visitors such as two respective Prime Ministers, Jan Smuts and subsequently DF Malan, would frequent the hotel with their families and guests. With the introduction of apartheid laws under Malan, a small part of the stoep of the hotel was used to create non-white bathrooms which were later removed bringing the stoep back to its original state.
Visit the Royal Hotel’s website for more information.
Your Next Destination
Carry on up Main Street. The next destination is the Dutch Reformed Church, directly after the Royal Hotel.
