Tucked under Lion’s Head and with stupendous views over the sea and Twelve Apostles, Casa Blanca is our most glamorous beach villa. Barefoot luxury at its best, this relaxed yet perfectly curated sanctuary has guests longing to linger forever. Cocooned on the hillside, above the four pristine beaches of Clifton, Casa Blanca combines the best of location and privacy all in one. Tucked up a quiet street off the Glen, parking is never a problem either, and it takes a mere 10 minutes to walk downhill to one of the Cape’s most beautiful beaches.

Upstairs, the master suite is a private enclave off the open-plan living area with an extensive dressing room behind. Bathing in the sunken bath in front of the four-poster bed is the ultimate luxury, with views to match. Come summer, the glass doors slide back for a view of the stars, and in winter, the fireplace next to the bath glows with warmth. Downstairs, three beautifully decorated en-suites each have views and one has a separate entrance leading into a peaceful courtyard garden planted with lush greenery. There are, in fact, three entrances to this home, potentially giving four couples absolute privacy at all times.

The décor is wonderfully eclectic, reflecting collections and memories gathered over years of travel to exotic destinations. Wooden doors reclaimed from a monastery are adorned with goat bells, Moroccan- or Indian-inspired woodwork and trellises are used to create privacy or to create a soft filtered light in the all-weather outdoor room, and a sense of the Orient pervades throughout. The scent of magnificent blooms cascading from crystal vases and the gentlest hint of incense greets one on entry as the late-afternoon sun glows and fills the main entertaining area and well-appointed kitchen with an embracing welcome. Deeper-than-deep couches are there to envelop and comfort, and dinners are either enjoyed at the generous dining table or out on the split-level deck. Everywhere, views of the mountain or sea are framed cleverly by thoughtful architectural details but the most popular chill area by far is the outdoor room or pool house – with its pizza oven for relaxed meals together, or the extra-depth chaises, positioned to take in glorious sunsets or ever-changing seascapes. Opening out to the garden and lap pool, it’s quite possible to spend hours lazing here with not a care in the world.