A 100-year-old mansion, run as a co-living house

Utopia is a big old Fresnaye mansion that we've turned into a relaxed community house. The bones are the original ones — high ceilings, fireplaces, wooden shutters — and the shared spaces are large enough that six people living here never feel on top of each other.

Outside there is a giant pool with a view of Lion's Head, a hot tub open all year, a braai area for entertaining, three patios and a garden with fruit trees and birds. Inside, a lounge with a pool table and a kitchen big enough for people to cook at the same time.

Every bedroom has a bed, a desk or dedicated workspace, and a lock on the door. Wi-Fi is fast and an inverter keeps it running through load shedding — the main reason remote workers and digital nomads end up staying longer than they planned.

Who lives here

Up to five or six housemates at a time, a mix of Cape Town locals and international travellers. Everyone here is conscientious and easy going. Housemates are around as much or as little as you like — you can join a braai by the pool or close your door and work.

Your host

The house is hosted by Christina, who has been hosting for 8 years. Every room at Utopia is rated 5.0 by guests, and three of the five carry Airbnb's Guest Favourite badge.

Practical things

A regular cleaning service looks after the shared areas. There is free parking on the premises, exterior security cameras, and the neighbourhood is considered one of the safest in Cape Town. Stays range from a few nights to several months — check each room's Airbnb listing for its current minimum stay and pricing.