Lots of hotels have presidential suites. Though we can't manage to get a video camera into all of them, we can sometimes get excited when we learn of a particular guest that has stayed in one.

Back in June, in the days leading up to Mandela Day, Michelle Obama visited Cape Town, where she reportedly toured the District 6 Museum and lunched at the Kitchen, a small deli on Sir Lowry Road Woodstock. Her hotel of choice? The Table Bay Hotel, where she, Sasha, and Malia slept in the Table Mountain Presidential Suite.]]> ASchechter 2011-08-12T09:25:02-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/9/3/16426/88696

So where Gordon Ramsay failed, a local chef is hoping to succeed. Ramsay may have been forced to close his Maze restaurant at One & Only Cape Town last month, but Sol Kerzner obviously has faith in South African chef Reuben Riffel, who will open Reuben’s at One & Only Cape Town on October 1.

Although he may not be as famous as old sweary boots, Reuben has won acclaim (and awards) for his restaurants in the Franschhoek wine valley called (we’re sensing a theme here) Reuben’s and Reuben’s at The Robertson Small Hotel. This will be his first urban resort, though. ]]> juliab 2010-09-07T09:01:33-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/8/2/143511/2130

Gordy and Tana at the opening of Maze One & Only. Guess he should have concentrated more on the food than the highlights.

UPDATE: Gordon Ramsay also owes the U.S. government millions in unpaid taxes!

Poor old Gordon Ramsay. Yet another one of his hotel restaurants has closed down, and not even the World Cup rush of Brits could save it.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Maze at One & Only Cape Town - which was his only restaurant in Africa - was shut down by Sol Kerzner on Thursday because after a year and a bit, it still wasn’t pulling in the punters. ]]> juliab 2010-08-02T14:58:37-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/3/22/125727/046 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/britishairwayshotel.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>All publicity is good publicity, right? Erm, maybe not for the <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/18/153721/436/travel/Strike+Watch%3A+Against+All+Odds%2C+British+Airways+Strike+Set+For+Saturday"><b>British Airways</b></a> staff who were <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7488942/Late-night-revelry-of-the-BA-cabin-crews.html">caught carousing</a> in a posh Cape Town hotel just before they started their strike. No word on whether it was the same group who earned the airline the nickname <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/25/102745/256/travel/Racy+Flight+Attendant+Pictures+Earn+BA+the+Nickname+%27British+Bareways%27">British Bareways</a> last month. <p>But this may be some good publicity for the hotel in question, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Nh+The+Lord+Charles/ian/122659"><b>Lord Charles</b></a>, outside of Cape Town in wine country, since the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7488942/Late-night-revelry-of-the-BA-cabin-crews.html"><i>Telegraph</i></a> had the mind to tell us that there are two swimming pools, &#147;multiple sun decks and seven acres of manicured lawns should one opt for a midnight stroll&#148; (presumably you can also stroll in the daytime). <p>The Lord juliab 2010-03-22T13:19:13-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/11/20/132913/59 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/mountnelson.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>This week, a combination of wanderlust and hotel lust led us to research the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Mount+Nelson+Hotel/ian/141143"><b>Mount Nelson Hotel</b></a> in Cape Town, South Africa, which a roving <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/5/25/11503/0347/hotels/The_Cape_Town_Hotel_Scene_Dine_in_Style_at_the_Mount_Nelson_Hotel">HotelChatter correspondent</a> briefly had the chance to visit last year. We deemed Mount Nelson worth a second look from afar, because of the consistent buzz it garners for its exaggerated sense of luxury. Then again, if it weren't exaggerated it wouldn't be lust-worthy, would it? <p>Fat cats who travel to areas of the world deemed "exotic" aren't usually in the game of roughing it. Maybe they've come for a safari, but they better be welcomed home at the end of the day by plush linens at the very least. <p>No Heidi Atwal 2009-11-20T16:40:00-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/