The Old Maharajah building in Long Street, Cape Town, has been extensively renovated and has reopened as the Maremoto.
The Old Maharajah building in Long Street, Cape Town, has been extensively renovated and refurbished, adding style to this popular area and enhancing the central business district’s overall appeal.
The building used to be a hotel called The Harp, and over the years devolved into a not very smart boarding house. In its new incarnation it stands proud as the Maremoto, with its new ground floor restaurant paying tribute to a bygone time when mailship travel was all the rage.
Over the past 15 years this building has also been used as a backpackers and youth travel agency, the Overseas Visitors Club, and it was home to the well-known Maharajah Indian restaurant.
Today it is owned by the Ross family, better known for its tour company Hylton Ross, and Christopher Ross was responsible for the redevelopment.
“A complete interior renovation was done to create more space and light and to enhance flow,” he says. “The building now consists of three interconnected entities - the ground floor, bar and restaurant and a first floor space for hire for special occasions, launches and as a venue for film and photographic shoots.”
Ross says the best feature of the first floor is the balcony that wraps around the building from Long Street into Buitengracht. On the top floor are six en-suite rooms for personal accommodation, with prices ranging from R750 to R850 a room a night.
“We were influenced by the efforts of the Long Street Café, Royale and the Daddy group to continue the gentrification of upper Long Street,” says Ross. “There is no doubt that this is the city’s most eclectic and playful precinct and it has integrity as a locale that cannot be matched or fabricated by artificial means.”
Another pleasing aspect of the street, he says, is that its historical connection to the harbour is still relevant today.
The renovation is certain to add further appeal to this famous 3.8km street, which stretches for more than 20 city blocks. One of Cape Town’s oldest streets, here you will find both the Palm Tree Mosque (one of Cape Town’s oldest mosques) as well as the Old Slave Church (built in 1804).
Ross says the City and the CCID are making gainful attempts to improve security in the area.
“I think in the next 10 years more progress will be made in transforming Long Street, and I hope the city will have the vision to create pedestrian only areas in this part of town to restore the village component and sustain the positive trends that you can see happening today.”
He says the My CiTi link is a marvellous idea, and he is also very encouraged by the continued progression of the new transport grid.
“I believe the grid is a vital component of a regenerative urban landscape. It is essential for people to be less reliant on car transport and it is a pleasure to see people walking and creating a flourishing café society in the city where previously it was either unsafe or simply unappealing.”