The Trade rooftop pool
Rooftop pool called The Moon, beside a bar with poolside dining
No. 3 of 15 on our Cape Town rooftop pools list, in Cape Town City Centre.
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- Who can swim
- Hotel guests only
- Day pass
- No
- Heated
- Not published
- Season
- Pool dips suggested in warmer weather
Choose The Trade for a rooftop pool in a historic city-centre building with poolside dining. A room is the way in, since the pool is guests only.
The pool
The pool is on the rooftop level called The Moon, next to the bar, above Cape Town's inner city. The hotel is in a historic building at 55 Shortmarket St. Poolside dining comes from The Trade Bar & Social, which runs the bar independently of the hotel.
Our take
The Trade is the other central-city pool on our list alongside Pullman, and the one that puts a bar right at the water. Pullman is heated and guests only; The Trade doesn't publish whether its water is heated.
The downside is that heating, hours and floor aren't published, so check before planning a cold-weather swim. July highs drop to 17°C, and the hotel gives no water temperature.
Good to know
- Poolside dining from The Trade Bar & Social
- 4.8 Google rating from 661 reviews
- Historic building on Shortmarket Street
The catches
- Heating isn't published
- Pool is for hotel guests
- Bar is run independently, so its rules may differ
Best forGuests who want to eat and drink at a rooftop pool in the city centre.
Skip it ifYou need a heated pool or published pool hours.
Getting in
Hotel guests only, and no day pass is sold.
Pool hours and age rules aren't published. The bar is run independently by The Trade Bar & Social, so ask it directly about bar hours.
Tips
- Swim between January and March, the best three months.
- Book dinner at The Trade Bar & Social for a poolside meal.
Before you go. Before booking, ask the hotel about heating and pool hours; neither is published.
Pool facts and where they come from
Facts marked "unconfirmed" come from a travel guide or booking site, not from the hotel. Check them with the hotel before you plan around them.
| Where the pool is | Rooftop (called The Moon) Source: the hotel's website |
|---|---|
| Pool type | Rooftop pool at The Moon, alongside the bar Source: the hotel's website |
| Who can swim | Hotel guests; rooftop Moon Bar reserved for guests and occasional events Unconfirmed: from insideguide.co.za, not the hotel |
| Season | Pool dips suggested in warmer weather Unconfirmed: from insideguide.co.za, not the hotel |
| The view | Above the Cape Town inner city Source: the hotel's website |
| Rooftop bar | Rooftop Bar, independently operated (The Trade Bar & Social) Source: the hotel's website |
| Bar open to non-guests | No, reserved for hotel guests plus occasional events Unconfirmed: from insideguide.co.za, not the hotel |
| Heated | Not published by the hotel |
Location and contact
| Address | 55 Shortmarket St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001Open in Google Maps |
|---|---|
| Area | Cape Town City Centre |
| Pool level | Rooftop |
| Hotel class | 4 stars |
| Google rating | 4.8 from 661 reviews Ratings are for the whole hotel, not just the pool. |
| Phone | +27763340166 |
| Website | thetradehotel.co.za |
The Trade pool: questions people ask
Can non-guests swim at The Trade Boutique Hotel?
No. Only hotel guests can swim, and no day pass is sold.
Is there food at the pool?
Yes. Poolside dining is served by The Trade Bar & Social, which runs the rooftop bar independently.
Is The Trade's pool heated?
The hotel doesn't publish this. Cape Town highs reach 27°C in January and drop to 17°C in July.
What is the rooftop called?
The rooftop level is called The Moon. The pool sits there alongside the bar.