If you have friends visiting the Cape who are looking for neat, affordable and luxury accommodation with a touch of eccentric flair, we’ve found just the thing.
Enter Ashby Manor, an eclectic and stylish home away from home on the hills of Fresnaye. Close enough to town (a R40 Uber ride to be exact) but far enough to make it feel like a private retreat, Ashby Manor welcomes guests through its friendly doors.
A Victorian style home, complete with creaking wooden floors and pressed ceilings, the guest house hardly feels like a hotel at all. In fact, it feels like you’re staying at friends.
The walls are hung with an assortment of paintings, Nouveau mirrors and a crystal chandelier, with funky cushions, antique furniture and a colourful chaise longue that greet you as you climb the winding stairs.
Our room, unlike the rest of the cheerful decor, was a silent retreat of light wood, white walls and soft bedding; a peaceful haven to relax in for the weekend. The windows look out on to the Sea Point Promenade and glistening Atlantic, while the back of the property faces Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. Light and airy, it was the perfect environment to curl up with a book while sipping a cup of complimentary Nespresso prepared in your room.
As the sun dipped, we took a bottle of wine and sat on the small rooftop veranda, taking in the last of the day’s rays.
The service was friendly from start to finish, as sugary treats were brought up to our room (at 4 pm tea and cake is served in the spacious dining room), our bed and cushions were made and prepped for the evening, and breakfast is served in the morning complete with continental bread and cheeses, followed by a cooked breakfast, tea and coffee.
Within close proximity is Sea Point Main Road and the Promenade, as well as Queen’s Beach, Clifton and Camps Bay for a morning stroll or afternoon on the shorefront.
We left Ashby Manor with a feeling of calm, as if we had travelled far for a weekend away. It really is a perfect hideaway for fellow city dwellers or visiting guests, and your every need is acknowledged and met with a warm smile and professional hospitality.
OF NOTE
Where 242 High Level Road, Fresnaye
Cost Rooms start at R700 per night, and R1 200 per night for the luxury double
Contact +27 21 434 1323, ashbymanor.co.za
Photography Bernard Myburgh