The Best Hotels in Stellenbosch for Wine and Food Lovers

One of the first grand homes of Stellenbosch, built in 1713, this centuries-old national monument has now respectfully been converted into a five-star boutique hotel. The rooms blend old-world textiles, wall-strung art and dark-wood furnishings as artfully as the area’s fine wines. Helena’s Restaurant has two sections: one under a wood-beamed ceiling; the other beneath a glass-roofed conservatory, opening onto a courtyard and the bijou swimming pool. Food is ‘heritage with an edge’. Think risotto with fresh wild mushrooms and white-truffle oil, followed by beef ox-tail tagliatelle and malva pudding with Rooibos-apricot compote.

The oldest hotel in South Africa blends its rich past with contemporary luxury. Its 58 suites are set in the original inn, which opens onto a vine-draped courtyard, housing a celebrated restaurant, gardens and the pool. Choose between a Comfy Room (light and open), a Whimsy Room (romantic, in the old part of the hotel), and a Plenty Room (the largest, with distressed brick walls, snowy linen and wingback chairs in bright prints). The restaurant’s all-day menu serves the likes of homemade creamy cauliflower gnocchi with herbs, broccoli and grilled baby marrow or Cape Malay chicken curry.

Set on the edge of town on a wine estate dating back to 1692, the Lanzerac has dramatic views of the mountains, rolling vineyards and oak-tree-shaded gardens. Behind the classic Cape-Dutch exterior lies a sophisticated country hotel with richly decorated rooms, gourmet restaurants showcasing local produce and opportunities to drink estate-grown wines. Savour fresh artisan produce in the vineyard-set deli, famous for its all-day breakfast; classical dinners in the Manor Kitchen, where windows give a view of the chefs in action; and pub fare with flair at the atmospheric Taphuis.

This elegant hotel, decorated in black and white with polished antique floorboards, flows over two neighbouring manor houses on the banks of the Eerste River. A generous breakfast is served and great restaurants are a short walk away. Take a ‘Cape Classic Cuisine Walk’ with tea, wine and food tastings, or a ‘Foodies on Foot’ tour, sampling a variety of savoury and sweet products. You can also rent a bike and do the Eerste River Trail that starts in front of the hotel. Cool off in one of the hotel’s two pools or libraries.

This Victorian home, second oldest in the Mostertsdrift part of central Stellenbosch, was bought by the Oosthuizen family and converted into a nine-room hotel. You’re a short stroll from restaurants, the botanic gardens and other attractions, and just a few minutes’ drive from world-class wine estates. There are nine suites, all effortlessly blending classic European and African style, with big ensuite bathrooms and an inviting courtyard pool for all.

This 18th-century Cape Dutch homestead on the Weltevreden wine estate has four romantic bedrooms upstairs, set under the sloping thatched eaves, and a self-catering two-bedroom farm cottage. All are simple but luxuriously decorated. Weltevreden brunches are famous, with the likes of smoked snoek (mackerel) kedgeree with pot bread and onion marmalade, and buttermilk pancakes with date butter.

This small private wine estate high on the Helshoogte pass, an hour from Cape Town, has views of the Simonsberg and Drakenstein mountains. It also has excellent wines, especially the Clouds pink sauvignon blanc, with aromas of kiwifruit and gooseberry. Guests receive a glass of wine before being shown to one of seven rooms in the hotel, or six villas on the working estate, all featuring designer furniture and original local artworks chosen by the Dutch couple who run it. Memorable breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served daily, al fresco whenever possible.

British jeweller Laurence Graff has turned the Delaire Graff estate into a top destination for wine, cuisine and South African art – his three passions. The luxury lodges each have a private deck, heated plunge pool, butler service and free minibar stocked with artisanal gin and handmade chocolates. The views of the mountains throughout the hotel – whether from your lodge or the infinity pool – are a cut above. Lavish breakfasts are served at the estate’s Indochine Restaurant, or on your deck. Lunches and dinners are famous, pairing estate wines with the likes of dukkah-spiced Karoo lamb and panna cotta with basil and strawberry.

Set beside the first fairway of the championship De Zalze golf course, surrounded by 300 acres of vineyards, this Cape Dutch guest lodge has a variety of suites – the luxury and family ones stocked with kitchens for self-catering. After a round of golf, or hiking, running or biking along the vineyard trails, take a dip in the plunge pool before an estate wine tasting, or head off to explore the restaurants of Stellenbosch, just 3km away.

This classical 19th-century guest house is a 50m walk from the centre of Stellenbosch, with its museums and whitewashed Moederkerk church. Regular guests love its location and old-fashioned elegance, from Persian carpets and tasselled lamps to carved headboards and gilded frames. It harks back to the past, while pampering in the present with extravagant breakfasts served in the dining room and high teas beside the pool.

This comfortable, contemporary lodge, on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, has 53 ensuite bedrooms with extra-long beds and writing desks. A good breakfast is provided, and fine dining is on hand at the De Koetz restaurant or a slew of local eateries. Champagne-tasting tours and a host of other activities can be arranged, or simply park yourself by the pool for a day of lazing.

Built in 1904 in the grand country-house style and furnished with antiques, Evergreen combines old-world charm with mod cons and a staff known for their warmth and hospitality. It’s in the historic heart of Stellenbosch, giving you an easy walk to the town’s attractions, fuelled by a hearty Evergreen breakfast. Later, relax at the spa in two lounges, or on a sundeck beside the pool.