Cape Town - Well, the lobby area, the restaurant, and the bathrooms are new, that is while the rooms have stayed the same.
Fire&Ice used to boast a funky, sporty attitude; the individually designed loos were a talking point, and the lifts remain so – being a “shark cage” or a “cable car”. But the overall look now is lighter, brighter, and more airy. And there is no more smoking room.
The public lobby is furnished with several couches, and a long table for informal business meetings (good wi-fi), meals, or catching up with your e-mails. The coffee/booze/milkshake bar which used to be in the middle is now at the end, just in front of the “selfie wall” for all you social media addicts.
When I checked in, things were relatively quiet, but when I came back down to meet Sexy Deborah for an early dinner before going to the ballet at Artscape – transported in the hotel’s courtesy car – the place was packed with Harley Davidson bikers. And later still, when we returned for milkshake nightcaps, a DJ was playing to a sexy crowd of trendy revellers. Apparently this is quite normal for a Friday night.
The restaurant itself is more open now; gone are the chandeliers and the koi pond, and while a full menu remains, so does the hotel’s speciality: gourmet burgers. These come in a variety of options.
Of course, we had to have Fire&Ice’s famous shakes. There are already more than 30 different flavours, with or without alcohol.
The cosmetic changes at Fire&Ice have given it a more modern look and feel, but the enthusiastic service remains, and it’s always wonderful to be welcomed back as a regular with your name on the wall of fame at reception.
l New Church Street, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town. Call 021 488 2555.
Weekend Argus