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This is why style savvy content creators are choosing these hotels and lunch spots as their Instagram backdrops

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"Siri, where do all the cool people take their pics for Instagram?"
"Siri, where do all the cool people take their pics for Instagram?"

There's no denying that the Mother City is any aesthete's mecca - it's a visual diary just waiting to be explored, meticulously curated, and documented.

While I do always acknowledge that my Instagram page was way more colourful when I lived in Cape Town, I think perhaps I took for granted how easily I could create IG content when I was there versus now... in this grey concrete jungle that seems like it can only be garnished by our own colourful clothes. 

READ MORE: 5 tips on how to maintain your Instagram aesthetic in the wintertime just like the top influencers do 

I was reminded of this the minute I checked in at The Onyx Hotel and Luxury Apartments in up-and-coming business district, The Foreshore, when I visited CT for work recently.

I mean, the bottle green velvet couch by the lobby demands that you drape your limbs over it more leisurely than a cashmere throw. 

Or at least, pose close enough to it...

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tuesday ????‍?? ?? : @xx_niquita_xx ?

A post shared by Zipho Ntloko (@themakeupstandsa) on

And you'll be glad to know that the couches in the suites are just as inviting too, especially if you're a Netflix champion like me. 

And if you're someone who never misses an opportunity to take a mirror selfie, The Onyx is just the place for you to do so given the interior decor of each suite:

Okay, besides the furniture, this new hotel really has quite a charm to it - the views, darling. The views. 

The Onyx â?? a dramatic repurposing of the iconic

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Doing what needed to be done.

A post shared by Lukho Ngobo (@lue_ngobo) on

And the picture-ready spots thanks to the fact that their fourth floor features a bar, a lounge and relaxation area, top-class gym facilities, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool with views of Cape Town and Table Mountain, and a spa managed by Sanctuary Signature Spas.

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Last week was lit?

A post shared by Aphiwe Burhali (@aphiwe_burhali) on

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Sapphire

A post shared by Cara Bez Geduld (@carabezgeduld) on

I've always said Cape Town does food better, and many more will agree with me when I say that the Mother City is indeed known for its thriving foodie scene, as it offers some of the most diverse and world-class restaurants enjoyed by both international tourists and local crowds. Honestly, take it from someone who dined at both The Onyx restaurants - Asian tapas restaurant YU for dinner, and MRKT for lunch before I headed back to Jozi. 

READ MORE: 6 beautiful restaurants you can steal decor tips from 

Inspired by growing interest in unique culinary experiences and travel, global food trends have shifted towards the informal, with shared plates and a more relaxed attitude to dining out. I also think this is one of Cape Town's biggest selling points when it comes to dining at CT spots - the sentiment of kinship that sharing various dishes inspires. 

Menu highlights for my friends and I included Beef Short Rib Bao and a selection of unusual sushi dishes like the Marinated Seared Salmon with burnt spicy mayo and crispy bits. Oh, and not forgetting the salted Edamame beans. 

YU restaurant

YU opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 12pm – 11pm

But enough about my 'One Night in the Mother City' memoirs - here are some other popular trendy spots loved by content creators both in Cape Town and Joburg (expect a few multiple nominees in both cities): 

Cape Town 

For the views 

Radisson Red

Cloud 9 Hotel 

For nature's backdrops

Babylonstoren and the winelands

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A day out to @laborieestate #fixtribe ??

A post shared by Phola Ayanda Gumede (@loveslavephola) on

For interior design appreciation

Gorgeous George, The Silo and Bobo's Brasserie

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Hello Hi #homeofclassics

A post shared by Rich Mnisi (@therichmnisi) on

For the art

The Silo, Clod 9 Boutique Hotel, and Gorgeous George


For the white robe aesthetic

Radisson Red and Romney Park Luxury Apartments

READ MORE: We asked three well-heeled women to tell us how much living conditions differ between Joburg and Cape Town

Joburg 

For the perfect backdrop

The Whippet and Keyes Art Mile

Everard Gallery

For the art

Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa, Keyes Art Mile, and Maboneng

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waiting for godot ??: @3rdeyetwiceshy

A post shared by zanele kumalo (@misszan) on

Or you could just be the art...

For the ideal bedroom aesthetic

Craftmanship, Maboneng

For all things fashion, food and lifestyle 

44 Stanley

Know more hot spots worth Instagramming? Tell us here.

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