Capetonians keep their friends close and their secrets closer. That includes their favourite local haunts and hangouts. And one of their favourite favourites has to be The Vineyard, a welcoming 211-bed hotel, set in an award-winning 8-acre garden in the upmarket suburb of Newlands.
So, what’s the attraction? There are so many!
After work cocktails with colleagues and friends don’t get better than those spent toasting the summer sun as it sets behind the Table Mountain’s eastern cliffs. (Insider tip: every Monday, there’s a complimentary wine-tasting in the Garden Lounge or on the lawns.) (Yes! It’s free! Shhhhh.) On weekends, you’ll spot Cape families here, laughing while loving the veranda menu, their children chatting to the resident mountain tortoises ambling across the garden slopes.
Early birds flock to the heaving buffet and a la carte breakfasts at The Square, which later becomes the preferred venue for ladies-who-lunch and busy Claremont execs. The Square also attracts visitors and locals alike with its classic-contemporary dinner fare.
(Don’t miss the last of The Square’s legendary Tastes of 2019 wine-paired dinners on November 8 – the cult favourite wines of Simonsig will be featured. And of course, the festive feasts at The Vineyard are famous. Tickets to these fly, so quick, read up here https://www.vineyard.co.za/dining/).
And any excuse is a great reason for a celebration at the outstanding Myoga restaurant. Here, Chef Germaine takes sustainable fusion dining to new heights. A BSc Earth Studies graduate, he’s been foraging for ingredients since he was 12. As he was about to enrol for his Master’s, he won a cooking competition and never looked back, except to apologise to his day. Sorry for academia, lucky for us! He creates food with a story – and his stories are wonderful. Ask Chef to tell you a few when you visit!
Coffee beans are roasted on-site right next door to the coffee shop serving pastries and more-ish munchies (perfect for catchups and quick business meetings), but if it’s lovely out, head over to the summer-only pool bar, Splash, for light lunches and relaxed suppers (note: for safety purposes, swimming is for over-night guests only).
Next door to Splash is the wellness centre and spa. Many locals (not staying at the hotel) belong to the gym and yoga studio here, enjoying small classes and the dedicated attention of their trainers. And ask anyone about Angsana, the on-site spa – it is widely regarded as one of Cape Town’s finest. (For this reason, Capetonians book well in advance!)
After a heavenly treatment, take a quiet walk down the dappled paths of the garden. (You can also book a Garden Walk guided by the resident horticulturalist, which concludes with a generous Afternoon Tea.) There is real peace for the soul here. Imagine how wonderful it must be to book into a mountain-facing room, or one of the self-catering apartments dotted along the banks of the Liesbeek. Bliss, surely.
It’s difficult to believe that The Vineyard is so close to the Claremont business and shopping precinct and the trendy street cafes of Newlands, but this welcoming hotel, with its friendly staff and its secret garden, could be miles from anywhere.
See you there! (Don’t tell anyone!)
Contact: 021 657 4500
Address: Colinton Rd, Newlands, Cape Town, 7700
Website: https://www.vineyard.co.za
Pictures: Supplied