Babylonstoren | Luxury South Africa Hotel

A historic Cape Dutch farm set in the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley, set in 200 acres where you are free to roam and watch fruit being picked in the orchards or vines being pruned.

Why you'll love it here

Indulge with fresh and seasonal farm to fork produce
Wine lovers - with 10 different wines produced and a cellar tour, located in the heart of Cape Winelands
Freedom to explore and discover all areas of the Farm at your own pace or join a guided tour
Learn about the history of the area with a visit to Soetmelsvlei, a beautiful living history experience

Greig

Travel Specialist

01244 435 119

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect South Africa holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Enquire

Your holiday always includes

Premium lounge passes at UK airports
VIP meet & greet service at departure

Private transfers to and from your hotel
Personal concierge service throughout

24/7 assistance when travelling
The first-hand knowledge of our team

Full accommodation information

Hotel information

Located in the premier wine-growing region of the Cape Winelands against the backdrop of the Simonsberg Mountain, Babylonstoren has become a popular destination for visitors from around the world. Dating back to 1692, the historic fruit and wine farm was skilfully reimagined by its current owners more than a decade ago. It is loved and best known for its magnificent formal fruit and vegetable garden. Every single aspect of Babylonstoren – including the contemporary Farm Hotel and Garden Spa, the Farm Shop, winery, farm-to-fork restaurants, Scented Room and Bakery – is led by the ever-changing tapestry and botanical diversity of the garden. It has just been voted and the No.1 hotel in Southern Africa by Conde Nast Traveller readers for the 3rd consecutive year.

As well as being hugely romantic, perfect for foodies, winelovers, budding gardeners or those with special horticultural interests, the Farm is particularly good for families where the kids can be involved with collecting the eggs, feeding the donkeys, playing in the giant bird nests, exploring, cycling, fishing, canoeing, as well as many surprises for the whole family can discover. The Spa has been extended to include a double hammam and Rasul chamber. The Rasul ritual is a multi-step process that is self-applied and includes a deep exfoliation and detoxing body wrap from locally sourced clay. They have also recently added Soetmelksvlei – a beautiful living history experience where you can see how life would have been in the 18th century.

Room Options

Manor House

Owner's private house with 5 bedrooms for up to 10 sharing.

Farmhouse Suites

Nine one-bedroom suites built within a walled garden and in a courtyard with a hot spa including a pool, vitality pool, sauna, steam room and salt room.

Fynbos Cottages

Two one=bedroom cottages and six two-bedroom cottages with stunning views over the Franschhoek valley and including the use of a beautiful pool, vitality pool and natural stream, discreetly located behind the rooms, The two new cottages have two bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. One of these cottages has a third bedroom with an integrated bathroom in a self-contained suite, featuring a separate entrance -ideal for an au pair or accompanying guide.

Fynbos Family House

Five bedrooms, built in a courtyard style around a pool and with remarkable views over the Franschhoek valley. Ideal for multi-generational families or friends traveling together, the house is nestled at the foot of the Simonbergs mountain and can be booked for exclusive use.

Garden Rooms

Six one-bedroom suites, 3 one-bedroom cottages and 4 two-bedroom cottages with a use of a hot spa (pool, vitality pool, sauna, steam room and salts room), just behind the main hotel spa.

Facilities/Amenities

Swimming pools
Restaurants
Bar
Spa
Gym
Farm shop
Wine cellar

Restaurants & Bars

Babel Restaurant

Housed in the old cow shed, Babel Restuarant is a wonderful mix of Cape Dutch architecture and contemporary glass walls that makes for a simple yet edgy environment. The farm-to-fork menus are served from the farm's seasonal produces.

Old Bakery

A true celebration of La Dolce Vita! In the Old Bakery, guests can choose from an Italian night or a Carnivore night depending on the day of the week and enjoy the lively atmosphere in this alternative evening dining venue.

The Greenhouse Restaurant

At the rear of the garden, tucked away between the oak trees offers a wonderful refreshment station after a walk through the garden. All the food is served picnic style with fresh and seasonal ingredients inspired by the garden.

Activities & Entertainment

As the farm has evolved, the experience continues to improve and delight guests and is at the heart of the hotel guest experience. From the sundowners – take a land rover up into the hills to take in the magnificent views as the sun slips beyond the horizon. Take a guided walk, fly fishing up at the dam, take a tour of the wine museum or sit down to a nine wine cellar tasting experience, maybe visit the water buffalo or simply take a dip in the pool and take time to wander and learn more about the varied and specialist horticultural gardens There is always something new to discover or find. The farm makes their own coffee blend and gelato and this adds to the many products that they sell including homemade breads, cheeses, pickles and essential oil balms, olive oils, balsamic and wines of course. They have extended their own kitchen gardens and guests can harvest and join in as much as they would like to.

Visit Soetmelksvlei - Farm life in the late 19th century required ingenuity and a high degree of self-sufficiency. Soetmelkvlei honours the legacy of artisanry. Visitors are encouraged to interact with master craftspeople as they go about their daily chores. Get a glimpse of life before the turn of the 20th century through the immaculately recreated interiors of the Farmhouse and Old Celler.

Our Advice

Take a trip up to the Farm Dam where you can take a canoe out on the water for a wonderfully tranquil way to spend a few hours.

South Africa travel information

Time zone: +2 GMT
Flight time: 11-12 hours
Recommended airlines: Emirates, British Airways, KLM, Qatar Airways
Currency: South African Rand
Tipping guideline: 10-15%
Health considerations: There is a risk of malaria in certain areas of South Africa, including the Kruger National Park. However, transmission occurs typically between the months of September and May only. In June, July and August, the risk is considered to be very low. There is a low to very low risk of malaria in the rest of South Africa throughout the year.There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa, however, yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Capital: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein
Population: 61,020,221
National languages: 11 official languages including English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, and Xhosa
Electricity and plugs: Type C, D, M, N, 230V
Mobile phone coverage: Good coverage
UK passport visa requirements: You don't need a visa for South Africa if you have a British passport - for a maximum of 90 days

Want to know more?

Call our Travel Specialists for a chat with our South-africa experts. They'll share their first-hand insights so you can find your perfect holiday.

Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm

25th Dec, 26th Dec & 1 Jan: CLOSED

New Years Eve: 9am - 3pm

Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm

Saturday: 9am - 5pm

Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Greig

Travel Specialist

01244 435 119

Not sure where to stay in The Cape Winelands? I'm here to help. Give me a call and I'll share my first-hand insights to find your perfect spot.

Enquire

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