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CHI WING LO: THE ARTIST WHO TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE AND ALLOWS US TO SELF REFLECT
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The hillside haven exudes nostalgia, old-world charm, decadence and luxury with breathtaking panoramas. Each corner of the hotel is thoughtfully curated, with astonishing attention to detail and minor imperfections that add a homely touch, making guests feel at ease and welcome.
Its stylish interiors are a visual feast, captivating, immersive, unique and inviting. Designed from the ground up by the creator, artist, fashion designer, hotelier, and beloved maverick Gail Behr - the late owner and manager of Dorp Hotel - was known, feared and revered as a character not to mess with and a force of nature. Gail understood that hospitality isn’t just about providing services; it’s also about storytelling and building connections. She had an innate ability to fuse artistic vision with hospitality, crafting an environment that feels luxurious and welcoming.
“Gail was fiercely loving, kind and generous but could be incredibly tricky and unpredictable. I have never laughed as much with someone as I did with her, but I feared her in equal measure. I miss her terribly, and she has left her mark on everything I do,” her friend and internationally recognised designer Gregory Mellor reflects. He continues, “We worked together on Dorp over three years on and off, conceptualising the whole place. Like Gail, the entire experience was very layered, complex and unique. The design process was completely different from anything I have ever done and has changed my whole approach to design. We started with stories about the people who might stay there, dreaming up all kinds of mad and wonderful personalities... and then designed the village of buildings around these imagined characters. We deliberately made the buildings not make sense to give them personality and a high quirk factor and to make it feel like a village that had grown organically over time. We made enclosed verandas for sitting rooms, or a greenhouse on a roof, or a very skinny bathroom that felt like it was an afterthought. We wanted to celebrate the awkward and chaotic as much as the pretty and grand…as that is what makes the collection of buildings that make a village so special. It was all very intentional. The irony is that we worked hard to create authenticity with something that is pure fantasy. I think it made life somewhat difficult for the various architects who came and went throughout the design and building of Dorp. Gail hated corporate “greyness” and wanted the process to be fun and original - she would say we started the project at her kitchen table over a bowl of soup, and we completed it at her kitchen table over a bowl of soup.”
Samantha Corbett, a loyal guest since Dorp’s inception, and still a regular despite now having a pied-à-terre in Cape Town, tells me about her love affair with Dorp. "When we first entered Dorp Hotel, it felt like we had stepped into someone's home - someone with really great taste. It felt like coming home, and you're the favourite child. Gail didn't tolerate fools or rudeness from anyone. Hence, the sign at the entrance says, ‘Check your privilege,’ reminding everyone to mind their manners. By nature and design, Dorp has an undertone of rebelliousness, drawing in artists, creatives, deep thinkers, and aesthetes. Gail championed those brave enough to go against the grain and express their true selves; these people became Dorp people, returning time and time again. But the real magic of Dorp is the heart and soul that Gail poured into it. It's a masterclass in understated design, never seeking the spotlight and eschewing design rules and norms; the resulting little village instantly makes you feel at home. Dorp captivates you, and you can't help but fall in love with it.”
The entrance to Dorp is subtle - a discreet doorway to the right of the building leads you to a small lobby, where a traditional key display sits above a small reception desk. The lobby radiates the essence of an exclusive club, where you may not quite meet the entry requirements, but have your fingers crossed that you’ll make it into the inner sanctum.
We passed the test and made it to the other side, to ‘The Salon’ and not the ‘living room’, which we often heard Gail correcting! The Salon feels like entering the home of an eccentric aunt. There’s nothing flashy or pretentious. Instead, its double-height expanse exudes a quiet luxury - a timeless decadence that gradually unfolds as you settle into the plush pink sofas surrounding vintage tables adorned with an intriguing melange of books, curiosities, and objets d’art with tall leafy potted palms creating cosy and inviting nooks and a sense of privacy. In your mind's eye, you can almost envision Oscar Wilde holding court, surrounded by an air of wit and charm and secret soirées unfolding in delightful whispers and laughter. The atmosphere is infused with the spirit of creativity and intrigue, inviting you to become part of an exclusive gathering steeped in literary elegance and playful revelry. Meanwhile, a row of large, elegant Georgian arched windows provide stunning views of Table Mountain. Sunlight pours in, casting a warm glow across the room. I love it!”
The letters making up Dorp adorn the Salon's window wall, spelling out - D for Decency, O for Originality, R for Respect, and P for Psycho. These are some of the many Gail quirks you will discover that add a joyful touch of whimsy and fun.
As for the guest rooms, each room at Dorp is a unique haven, a destination in its own right. From dreamy bedrooms to enchanting suites and alluring studio-style apartments, every space is individually decorated, radiating charm and character, and each is as delightful as the next with vintage furniture, fascinating books, objets d'art, flea market finds, leafy plants and fabrics with gorgeous patterns and textures weaving together to create a certain magic that encourages you to unwind. There is so much care and attention to detail, so many well-considered touches, such as the 'Behr Necessities' jar in the bathrooms - metal containers containing all sorts of bits and bobs you may need during your stay, including some band-aids, a sewing kit, and a razor, a lovely old glass jar of jelly beans and chocolate bars, a bowl of apples, a freshly baked banana cake, delicious chunky relish, and some cheese. The lovely bathrooms have bespoke perfume-infused Dorp toiletries in recycled containers. All of these come with a lot of Dorp love. Although - some boast private steam rooms, others have kitchens, bar counters, wide-vista terraces, or secret courtyards, and Rose Cottage has a rooftop and a cantilever pool - there are no ‘bad’ rooms here; each has a distinct personality shaped by size, available outdoor space, and captivating views. Picture waking up to views of the majestic Table Mountain, the imposing Devil's Peak, or the rugged Twelve Apostles peeking through Kloof Nek with the shimmering expanse of Table Bay at your feet. Each room encapsulates a spirit of unique charm, inviting you to immerse in the beauty of your surroundings. The roof terrace and Victorian-inspired glass house provide incredible vantage points for more breathtaking panoramas.
Dorp sits within a magical setting, where, as you wander through, you uncover gorgeous points - little nooks, alleyways, and stairways that guide you through this beautiful utopia of magical bird-filled indigenous gardens designed by Gail and International landscape designer Leon Kluge to look wild and uncultivated. There’s more - the gardens lead down to a village within a village - Onderdorp (onder meaning under) that sits lower down on the hillside is a separate wing that secrets away another 15 bedrooms and yet more heart-stopping shared spaces, quirky nooks, stairways, undulating roof lines, arched windows, and tempting pools. The Games Room within is an adult playground with board games, a dartboard, piles of books, comfortable sofas facing a fireplace, and an antique French or "carom" billiard table. Palm House is a beautifully bohemian lounge and dining room filled with antiques, a long dining table, seagrass rugs, button-back armchairs, and sink-in soft oatmeal sofas. The Pool Room has an ingenious bathtub overlooking one of three pools, one of which cantilevers off Rose Cottage, where a dusty pink palette predominates.
Dorp keeps on giving - the Dorp shop doubles as Onderdorp's reception, coffee shop, and hotel shop. Gail often referred to herself as a "shopkeeper", and this one has an irresistible collection of covetable Dorp items spread over two floors. You are then transported to its singular designation - the shop's second floor - where you will find yet more tantalising, eye-catching branded goodies and artisanal must-haves. It is also the home to the Dorp tailor, Meagen Jongebloed, Behr's accomplished pattern maker, for her fashion line, Homework’s, her first creative venture. The gorgeous pink linen bathrobes you will find in every bathroom will soon be hanging in my own!
But best of all is the team at Dorp. It is clear the staff are happy and well looked after from how they treat others. "Most of the staff have been with us since the beginning and are one of Dorp's greatest assets. I receive compliments from guests constantly raving about how friendly, caring, and wonderful our staff are," proudly enthuses Simone Lambert, Dorp’s Creative Director.
I can certainly vouch for this. The staff are part and parcel of the Dorp. It is one big happy family where there’s constant friendly banter between the staff and the guests.
Dorp defies definition. It's not a grand hotel and a boutique hotel just sounds and feels wrong. It's more homely than your average hotel but grander than a guest house - a fabulous, giddy-making, happy place, and I am hooked, as I am sure you will be. It is filled with laughter, warmth, abundance, generosity, and good old-fashioned values. Rest assured Dorp promises to be a new home away from home for your next adventure to Cape Town.
