There's a pretty good chance that I'll have the privilege of going to South Africa in the next couple of months. My husband is traveling to Cape Town on business (he's an owner of a company called
Safarious) and we plan to make a trip to the bush while we're in that part of the world. One of his partners,
Andy Hogg, founded and now runs
The Bushcamp Company and the other,
Michael Lorentz, is a
world class professional guide so we're following their lead on the wild part of the trip. We have some great recommendations for Cape Town as well, however, I've started doing my own research on where to go and stay...especially in the Cape Winelands. While cruising for info, I found
Babylonstoren and it immediately went on my bucket list.
Babylonstoren is a beautifully restored
historic Cape Dutch farm that was founded in 1690. Today it's a thriving little utopia complete with orchards, vineyards, gardens, a restaurant, a spa, a winetasting room, and a couple of swimming pools. It's a working farm, yet the whole property is open for exploration so guests really get to immerse themselves in the agrarian lifestyle (you can even pick your own fruits and veggies!). Former Elle Decoration editor Karen Roos has led the charge on breathing new life into Babylonstoren and she's really created something special. Along with her team, she's created a beautiful, fully-functioning farm, complete with bio-diversity
and stylish decor! Have a look:
This is the historic manor house...
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
As I understand it, the design around the tree is made with pieces of broken Dutch blue and white pottery. Amazing, right?!?
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
The Greenhouse made me swoon. It doubles as a teahouse...double swoon.
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
I'm not entirely sure what's going on here with these suspended thatched garden pods, but hopefully I'll get to find out!
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
The farm's restaurant is called
Babel...I'm pretty sure this is the epitome of farm-to-table!
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
As you can imagine, the menu is changed daily depending on what is fresh...
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
There's also a
Farm Shop, where you;ll find wine (from
Babylonstoren and other local wineries), handcrafted cheese, charcuterie, and freshly baked artisan breads. Then in the soap room, you can get handmade soaps!
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
Babylonstoren also boasts a small set of guest suites, all of which reflect 17th and 18th century Cape Dutch style sensibility mixed with a clean, modern aesthetic. I love the fresh white and the cozy but uncluttered vibe...
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
This is a kitchen in one of the cottages...
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
Guests can take a dip - outside or inside. From what I read, the outdoor pool was designed to look like a traditional farm dam. I'm guessing it's this one and not the orange one above.
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
This is the spa pool...
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
 |
| photo © Babylonstoren |
How amazing does this place look? The whole setup seems to be both relaxing and rejuvenating. Even if I don't get to stay overnight, I'd love to spend the day on the grounds. Between the gardens, the wine, the restaurant, the tearoom, the spa, and the pool...I'd be in heaven.
Any if you have any Cape Town or Cape Winelands recommendations, I'd love to hear about them!
I'm so jealous- I went this past April with my husband's company and it was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. We stayed at an amazing boutique hotel in Cape Town called The Queen Victoria, then ventured on our own by rental car to Hermanus (a gorgeous drive along the coast) where we stayed at Birkenhead House. It was the most incredible experience. They have a sister property in the winelands called La Residence. While in the winelands, we visited Waterford- a gorgeous family run vineyard (think Ralph Lauren)- where we met the owner, who makes renowned wine, served at events like Oprah's 50th and those of Nelson Mandela. We also had lunch at Delaire Graff, which had gorgeous views. Both in Stellenbosch. Then we did safari at Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi- worth checking out online for the interiors alone. Very posh- where the Hilton sisters stay. Have the best time ever!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! This looks like an amazing place and sounds like it's going to be a wonderful trip!!!
ReplyDeleteYou may check out The Points Guy blog. He is in Cape Town now and has great tips. http://thepointsguy.com/2013/01/video-south-africa-wine-country-highlights/
ReplyDelete