It is that time of year when most people look forward to a well-earned end of year break and I reflect on 11 months of gallivanting around South Africa, savouring some of the best experiences this country has on offer. For practical purposes, I’m limiting highlights to the Western and Eastern Cape. I’m not a fan of large “family” hotels, much preferring the more intimate boutique variety, and an impromptu detour from Route 62 in the Cape Winelands led me to this country gem.
Built as a private home in 1909 during the region’s short-lived ostrich-farming boom and subsequently declared a national monument, The Robertson Small Hotel opened in 2011. It underwent extensive refurbishment before being acquired two years ago by The Living Journey Collection, a portfolio of eight small luxury hotels within a two-hour drive from Cape Town. While the facade of the house was scrupulously maintained, its interior – as well as those of the various outbuildings – were modernised and exquisitely redecorated.
Similar amounts of love and attention were lavished on the gardens and amenities. As anyone who has travelled through the Little Karoo – Robertson lies at its extreme western edge – will tell you, the place gets hellishly hot in summer. I arrived just after midday when the mercury was hitting 34°C after riding a couple of hundred kilometres in biking leathers… desperate for a cold beer and a swim!
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
My first need was met even while checking in and I was delighted to discover a pool outside my room. I was thoroughly “chilled” when dinner rolled around. The Small Restaurant is intimate and stylish, boasting an impressive winelist and attentive staff.
More importantly, the food had me and fellow diners in raptures.www.thelivingjourneycollection.co.za Drive along the R43 from Hermanus to Gansbaai in the Western Cape and you’ll find verdant Stanford. A mere 140km from Cape Town, the town is emerging as a gastronomic getaway in a province that is already widely acknowledged as one of the culinary destinations of the world. Apart from the dozen-odd restaurants, bistros and bakeries that line the main road, there are 11 wine estates, three breweries and distilleries, and two multiple award-winning cheese-makers.
[/paywall]
