GrandWest: A Celebration of Long-Lost Architectural Gems

It took 3 years of hard work and 12 highly-skilled architects to complete the unique design of Cape Town’s GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World. However, you need only visit this incredible destination for a few minutes to wholeheartedly agree that it was time well spent.

Breaking records and challenging norms, GrandWest is Sun International’s most successful casino property and it is the largest entertainment destination of its kind on the continent. This success is partly due to GrandWest’s unique architecture that proudly pays tribute to the rich history of Cape Town, instead of mimicking Las Vegas in a totally unoriginal way.

Did you know? The design and theming of the GrandWest is a proudly South African collaboration with an entirely South African team of professionals completing this impressive task.

Replicating some of Cape Town’s most famous landmarks, visitors from South Africa and abroad can marvel at the uncanny replicas of some of Cape Town’s most loved, gone-but-not-forgotten landmarks. The most notable replicas in the GrandWest complex include the Old Post Office, the Old Railway Station, Cartwright’s Corner, the Grand Hotel which was built over a century ago and the Tivoli Music Hall which was sadly demolished in the 1930’s but finds its renaissance in this unlikely venue.

Did you know? The much-missed Alhambra Theatre is also honoured in the GrandWest complex, the then ground-breaking theatre was South Africa’s first atmospheric theatre.

Motivated by the abundant inspiration gleaned from studying Cape Town’s fascinating architectural archives, the talented team behind the unique design were also determined to showcase the pearls of Cape Town’s yesteryear architecture to a new generation of enthusiastic visitors. Sadly, architectural preservation in the city was adopted too late and prior to the construction of GrandWest many of the city’s landmarks existed only in the memories of the people who were lucky enough to witness them.

Did you know? In honour of Cape Town’s maritime tradition, the interior décor of GrandWest has a nautical twist.

While GrandWest showcases several exact replicas, it also aims to capture the intangible yet unforgettable spirit of some of Cape Town’s iconic areas. Fittingly, the GrandWest entertainment area is named “The District” as a tribute to District Six. Although the historic area was without any particularly distinct architecture, any tribute to Cape Town is simply incomplete without due recognition of the iconic District Six.

Including a full menu of restaurants and trendy eateries, a host of live music venues and a stunning casino, the vibrancy of the streets of District Six is alive and well in The District in GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World.

GrandWest doesn’t only offer a buzzing entertainment area for adults, kids and the young at heart can enjoy the following fun-filled areas and activities:

• Ice-skating
• Mini fun fair
• Ten-pin bowling
• Go-karting
• Arcade
• Cinema

Shopping enthusiasts take note! GrandWest also offers an eclectic mix of retail stores, including a variety of exclusive boutiques, jewellery and clothing stores, a bookstore and a tobacconist and sweet shop to satisfy any craving.

Fun fact: The “Mother City” isn’t Cape Town’s only nickname, formerly known as “Cape Grab”, Cape Town was also once known as the “Tavern of the Seas”.

The Mother City, Kaapstad, the greatest city in the world… Call it what you want, visitors to GrandWest will undoubtedly have a newfound appreciation for Cape Town after experiencing the amazing architecture and exceptional facilities at the GrandWest complex.