Villa Viva Cape Town

Villa Viva is a guest house with hostel-style dorms at 74 New Church Street in Tamboerskloof, which Hostelworld puts under a kilometre from the city centre. It is run as a social business tied to Viva con Agua, the charity behind the “water for all” campaign, and there’s a sister Villa Viva in Hamburg. Expect a sociable, arty place with a bar on site rather than a quiet guest house.

What to expect

The property spreads over four Victorian houses, according to its Hostelworld listing, set around courtyards, a garden and a pool with Table Mountain in view. Rooms run from female-only and mixed dorms for four to six people (with lockers) through standard and superior doubles, with shared or private bathrooms, up to three loft rooms with mountain views that take three or four people. Extra beds can go into the superior doubles, which helps small families. Each room is named after a freedom fighter, artist or activist and has books and pictures about that person.

Practical details

• 74 New Church Street, Tamboerskloof.
• +27 21 423 5555, contact@villaviva.capetown.
• Check-in from 2pm, check-out by 10am (Hostelworld listing).
• The property is cashless, so bring a card.

Good to know

The Devils Peak bar has a sunny terrace and seating at the counter, and it doubles as the social hub, so if you want early nights pick a private room and ask where it sits relative to the bar. There’s also a chill-out lounge, a media corner kitted out for music, film and photo work, and a makers’ space for painting. The villa backs Viva con Agua, which says its water, sanitation and hygiene projects have reached about 3 million people with its partners.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Villa Viva Cape Town, Villa Viva Cape Town rooms, Villa Viva Cape Town, our villa, Villa Viva Cape Town, our story, Hostelworld property listing.