24 Best Hotels in The Western Cape and Winelands, South Africa

Set on a 500-acre working farm that is among the oldest on the Cape, Babylonstoren is a bucolic lodging with a dozen lovingly renovated thatched-roof cottages gazing up at the dramatic Drakenstein Mountains. They overlook lush fruit and vegetable gardens containing more than 300 types of produce. The Farmhouse has nine suites centered around a courtyard with a glimmering swimming pool, sauna, and salt room. Other than the bright and delightful rooms, there's a multitude of perks to staying here: guests can join in activities like bread baking and wine tasting. This gorgeous oasis will both delight and restore. Note that there's a minimum two-night stay.

The edge of the spectacular Botrivier Lagoon is where you'll find the luxurious Arabella Hotel & Spa. Your private balcony gazes down on this birder’s paradise, and you just might spot rare species on the water’s edge. Rooms are crisp and modern, with huge windows letting in lots of light. The 18-hole golf course is among the best in South Africa, the spa is known for its soothing treatments, and the pool is surrounded by lush greenery. For all the luxury, the hotel is also very child-friendly.

The stark beauty of the mountains, the incredible rock formations, and the tumbling waterfalls of this nature reserve were probably as attractive to the San of long ago as they are to visitors today. More than 130 San rock-art locations can be seen on a tour with a trained guide, and you can also go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and canoeing. Only game endemic to the area has been reintroduced, including wildebeest, zebra, eland, and the endangered bontebok. The food is exceptional, including the legendary springbok loin. The attention to detail in rooms is astonishing: an artist's sketchbook and paints in your room and an African tale for a good-night story at your bedside. Rates include activities and all meals.

The gorgeously landscaped grounds at this dramatically located hotel—featuring a mix of indigenous and exotic species that create an opulent yet grounded feel—are scattered with enormous "lodges," each with their own butler's kitchen and private heated pool. Then there's the estate's excellent spa, cinema, and truly inspiring art collection, which includes some of South Africa's biggest names. (Vladimir Tretchikoff's iconic painting Chinese Girl greets you in the foyer.) And if that's not enough, you can enjoy Delaire's impeccable wines (sampled from an appropriately majestic tasting room), and the estate's two restaurants—its eponymous flagship and the newer Hoseki, both seriously impressive.

In a gorgeous Cape Dutch manor house that dates from the mid-18th century, the hotel sits amid acres of vines beneath Paarl Rock, overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains. Suites are either in the nicely renovated stables and other historic structures or in attractive newer buildings constructed in traditional Cape Dutch style. Rooms are a tasteful mix of modern and antique: reed ceilings and thatch comfortably coexist with heated towel racks and other creature comforts. As you might expect, there is also an excellent restaurant on the premises.

Part of the Leeu Collection—which seems to own half the town these days—this classy guesthouse exuding privacy and peace is a Winelands favorite. Rooms in two-story whitewashed cottages face a pool deck and central garden exploding with flowers. Upstairs rooms have timber beams and mountain views, and suites have private pools. Be sure to book a table in advance at either Protégé or Épice, the latest restaurants from the team at the multi-award-winning La Colombe in Cape Town. 

One of the southern hemisphere's most spectacular seaside properties, The Marine has an incomparable clifftop setting. Perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, the sumptuously decorated rooms provide whale-watchers with grandstand views over the ocean. All rooms keep you toasty with underfloor heating, and some have private balconies. The two restaurants tempt you with sophisticated menus. The Marine is surprisingly child-friendly.

The ultimate luxury getaway, this renovated Victorian manor house—with original ceilings, wooden floors, and antique furnishings—manages to seamlessly combine five-star decadence with unpretentious family hospitality. Rooms are set in the lush gardens behind the main house and have king-size beds with goose-down bedding, wool carpets, and restored Victorian baths. The restaurant, in the conservatory of the main house, serves lavish three-course breakfasts and delicious dinners featuring dishes like saffron pasta with black garlic and cinnamon pork ragu.

Set in gorgeous gardens, this boutique hotel balances a muted color scheme and bold paintings adorning the walls, plus a hot tub on the rooftop deck, a garden courtyard, and a heated swimming pool. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. There's also a small spa. The four-person villas are five minutes from the main property and come with private pools and ocean views.

The setting, a crescent of white dunes, has a lot to do with the Arniston Spa Hotel's appeal, so request a sea-facing room and enjoy the ever-changing colors of the horizon and the grandstand view of the whales swimming by between June and November. The beachfront hotel also strikes a fine balance between elegance and comfort. The restaurant’s à la carte menu offers substantial variety, with a strong focus on seafood. There is a kids' activity program and plenty to keep youngsters busy and happy.

At this lovely lodging, the contemporary rooms are classically decorated in muted shades of cream, beige, and gray and have balconies overlooking the vineyards or hotel courtyard. It might not have the most breathtaking setting that the Winelands has to offer, but what it lacks in location it more than makes up for in luxurious touches and attention to detail. There are two restaurants and a deli to choose from, and the estate also produces excellent wines, so you don't have to travel if you don't feel like it. 

In beautifully manicured gardens, De Kloof Luxury Estate is a chic boutique hotel that offers five-star accommodations in one of the town’s oldest Cape Dutch manors. The handsome house, which has been lovingly restored, has original wood ceilings and floors and stylish décor with French flair. The two-bedroom cottage is great for families, and there's a spa on-site as well as yoga classes, meditation, and reflexology.

In a farmstead originally built in the 1860s, this hotel has thick whitewashed walls, tile floors, and timber beams. Rustic pine furniture and bright floral fabrics decorate the rooms, some of which have fireplaces and views of the lagoon. The restaurant's à la carte menu combines West Coast ingredients with French flair. Breakfast is said to be the best in town—with homemade bread, warm pastries, cheeses, bacon, eggs, cereals, and a view to die for. 

If you can't wait to hit the water, then this guesthouse is a great choice since it's bright, airy, and right on the beach. Rooms are, not surprisingly, decorated in beachy shades of blue and white and have an outside shower for wet suits, boards, and such. Sea-facing rooms are ideal for families, with two beds downstairs and two in a loft. To top it off, the property is connected to the Cape Sports Centre complex. Friday Island also has a lovely beachfront bar and restaurant, making it a good place to stay even if you don't take to water in a big way.

Everyone who walks past this boutique hotel looks on enviously at the location; it sits on Harbour Road, affording marvelous views over False Bay, particularly from the pool. There are bright, airy rooms in the Manor House, one of which comes with a wood-fired hot tub on the deck. The new wing has studios with kitchenettes and balconies.

The sheer beauty of the setting has not changed since this wine estate was founded in 1692. Its classic Cape Dutch manor house is flanked by the rolling vineyards and mountains of the Jonkershoek Valley. You can eat casual alfresco meals on the terrace (weather permitting), grab some upmarket pub food in the utterly charming Taphuis, or opt for fine dining at the Manor Kitchen, where chef Stephen Fraser pulls out all the stops. The menu changes regularly, but always features some South African touches like game meat, local oysters, or cheese from the Winelands region.

This cluster of vine-covered buildings nestled in gardens overflowing with roses, lavender, frangipani, and jasmine sits in an upmarket residential corner of Stellenbosch. It's a mere 10-minute drive to several of the country's best wine estates and restaurants. Inside Majeka's tranquil walls, rooms are elegantly lavish with tones of silver and gold and modern chandeliers. A spa, whirlpool tub, sauna, and gym are all available, and lovely outdoor spaces abound, from the various pools to loungers in the magical gardens. 

With sweeping views over the valley and mountain range, you might choose to stay put at Mont Rochelle for a few days rather than explore all Franschhoek has to offer. The hotel feels a bit like a family manor house, and you might be tempted to come to breakfast wearing the hotel's comfy slippers. The staff are friendly and more than attentive. Just squeak and they'll do their best to meet any request. The rooms are plush—there's lots of dark wood, crisp white linen, classic wing chairs, and huge paintings to lend a luxurious feel. Two of the suites—which are enormous—have private plunge pools—a real luxury in summer when the temperatures soar. Children are welcome, but there aren't any dedicated children's programs or family rooms.

This delightful hotel was originally built in Victorian times but was extensively remodeled in art deco style after a fire in the early 1930s. The present owners highlight its architectural flourishes and collect furniture and artifacts from this era to complement the interior. There's a palm-shaded swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs in the pretty garden. The dining room serves an excellent breakfast and straightforward lunch and dinner, often showcasing South African staples like Karoo lamb. Ask about taking a trip along Route 62 in a classic American car.

What a delight to be able to explore Stellenbosch's nighttime pavement cafés and then walk back to this attractive 1802 hotel afterwards; a national monument, it's thought to be the oldest continuously running inn in South Africa. The reception area is in the original living room, a beautiful space with a lofty beamed ceiling and elegant antiques. The whole hotel has undergone a major revamp, and the rooms have a clean, contemporary feel. A lovely garden and pool in a brick courtyard shaded by trellised vines is open for meals and drinks throughout the day.

With a great view over vineyards and mountains, this small luxury hotel in a converted farmhouse is an oasis from the sweltering Swartland summer heat (and great as a winter getaway, as well). Rooms have a homey country feel, with comfortable couches and heavy wood furniture. In addition to the outdoor pool, there's an indoor pool so you can take a dip even if the weather is iffy. 

Resembling a Mediterranean village—albeit a very luxurious one—this lodging is made up of a collection of two-story buildings with their own swimming pools. Uncluttered and modern, rooms and suites are elegantly appointed with simple furnishings, gas fireplaces, and stylish detail evident in the cotton throws and wide choice of pillows. The surrounding orchards and shade trees make the complex and walkways both verdant and private. There's a kids' clubhouse offering a variety of activities including nature walks, treasure hunts, and visits to the on-site raptor rehabilitation center, so you can enjoy your wine tasting in peace.

If you come to Hermanus anytime from July to November, consider staying at this hotel in the heart of town. It's a family-run hostelry that offers comfort but little pretense. Rooms are outdated, so the real reason to stay here is its position atop the cliffs, making it a great place to view the annual whale migration. Request one of the second-floor, sea-facing rooms, with sliding-glass doors and unbeatable views. During holidays, a games room with a pool table and table tennis is set up for older children. Breakfasts are ample.