Search
An unforgettable hotel experience.
In recent years, more and more tourists have started focusing on authenticity and natural beauty when choosing their travel destinations. And it don’t get more authentic or naturally beautiful than Babylonstoren. Set around 30 miles away from the coastal city, it’s the perfect farmhouse hotel Cape Town visitors can escape to. This historic garden and farm dates back to 1692, making it an ideal destination for history lovers as well as for those who seek genuine travel experiences to remember a lifetime.
Located in Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa, this exquisite hotel stands in a striking landscape. In the distance, the Simonsberg, Du Toitskloof and Franschhoek mountains offer a breathtaking backdrop for Instagram-ready pictures, while around the whitewashed buildings, lush gardens draw visitors closer with their mesmerizing colors and scents. To bring the current hotel to life, owner Karen Roos renovated the buildings and added new structures that respect vernacular architecture.
The original buildings include a manor house from 1777 as well as a wheat and hay store, cellar, bell tower, ornate fowl house, dovecote, and historic gates which date back to the 1750s. The Babylonstoren Farm Hotel features whitewashed walls and charming gabled roofs, taking guests back in time. Stepping inside, however, visitors find a bright and modern space with a stylish decor that complements the rustic character of the complex. White and neutral colors abound to create an airy feel, while modern furniture and items from international design studios give the rooms a refined touch.
Fireplaces encourage guests to relax with a glass of wine and a book from the well-stocked bookshelves. Nine one-bedroom suites provide access to an outdoor pool, spa area with a sauna, and to a lounge area. Guests can also stay in one-bedroom or two-bedroom cottages which have their own kitchen and lounges. A manor house also provides sleeping spaces for up to 10 people. The room rates include a delicious breakfast as well as a personalized pantry. Apart from the thoughtfully designed accommodation, the hotel has a few farm-to-fork restaurants. Here, one can order mouth-watering meals made with ingredients grown in the nearby garden. The Bakery restaurant provides an Italian-style menu, while Babel features contemporary-style dishes with creative twists. Greenhouse treats guests with home-baked goods and aromatic coffee as well as artisanal bread and cheeses, fresh salads, and preserves.
More than a farmhouse hotel Cape Town tourists can relax in, the Babylonstoren also has a large garden. Which is a destination in of itself. Indeed, the hotel offers guided tours to tourists who want to wander through this green wonderland. French architect Patrice Taravella gave the garden a geometric layout with 15 clusters. Guests and visitors can discover around 300 edible or medicinal plants here. These range from vegetables and berries to nuts, herbs, and citrus trees. A prickly pear maze and ponds with lilies and lotus are also open to guests, along with a medicinal plant garden, and a wine tasting room. Vineyards and old olive trees also surround the complex. Safe to say, Babylonstoren is special. The kind of place that one finds hard to leave and even harder not to visit again. Photographs© Babylonstoren.
