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

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.

The rooms and cottages at this 19th-century farmstead are comfortably furnished and decorated in a relaxed country style with floral throws and fresh flowers. Set in a lush garden with rolling lawns and abundant roses and azalea bushes, there is wine tasting on-site, as well as a coffee shop serving tasty cakes and pastries. If you're feeling energetic, try your hand at bass fishing or horseback riding on the estate.

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. 

Based in an 1862 manor house, the bright rooms at Green Gables marry splashes of contemporary design with pieces of antique furniture. There's a lovely garden and a verandah that's popular for sundowner drinks. The on-site restaurant, Frida's, is a local hang out, which is always a good sign. You can eat dinner and catch up on all the small-town news.

There's a warm welcome waiting at this guesthouse close to Montagu's church, where rooms are simply decorated but have all the comforts you'll need. Most have a balcony or patio—opt for an upstairs room overlooking the street for optimal people-watching. The real star here is the restaurant, which serves excellent steaks (and a few non-carnivore dishes). Book ahead for dinner as it's also open to non-guests.

This lodge makes the most of the sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean; the rooms might be simply decorated, but who needs artwork when at every turn you catch glimpses of the azure sea? At any rate, the rooms are comfortable and—a big plus—they all open onto verandas. The lodge has a restaurant that serves West Coast cuisine, as well as a bar where you can sip cocktails while watching one of the sunsets the West Coast is so famous for.

In one of Greyton's oldest buildings, the Post House is now a convivial hotel with a cheery, small-town welcome. Rooms combine period furnishings with bright, modern touches. There's a homey restaurant, an outdoor pool, and best of all, a quaint pub housed in the old post office.

On the outskirts of the village, this rural abode sits on a ridge overlooking a dam where you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The thatched suites have modern interiors and private terraces leading to the poolside garden. High ceilings, good-quality linen, and original art in each room contribute to the luxe atmosphere. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves brasserie cuisine with local flavors; meals can be enjoyed on the terrace in good weather or by the fireplace in winter. The cottage across the river has two bedrooms and is a great option for families. 

If you're on a tight budget, this farm is the place to stay; there are no frills at the basic but comfortable cottages, but the surrounding mountain scenery is spectacular. It's also where all the climbers come to hang out when they've had enough of conquering the nearby rock faces and need to beef up with a burger. The best reason to stay though, is the Sevilla Rock Art Trail, which starts at Traveller's Rest. You can take a guided tour or explore on your own with a booklet that describes all the rock art on the farm. The restaurant is open daily and has a menu of traditional dishes like bobotie, eland stew, and chicken curry.

Wooden chalets on stilts are set among trees at this romantic lodge near the Tulbagh wineries, complete with private spa baths and breakfast served to your room. There's a small game camp with antelope and zebra, and a large pool, which you'll be very glad of if you're visiting in summer when Tulbagh's temperatures can regularly top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The spa offers the usual treatments as well as a very romantic moonlit hot tub experience.

Originally built as the home of a British missionary, this lovingly restored guesthouse also once served as a school before becoming a hotel with rooms decorated with rich fabrics and luxurious finishes. Two have their own plunge pools, one has a Jacuzzi, and others have generous fireplaces. You're a five-minute stroll away from Franschhoek. On arrival, you're automatically booked in at highly rated Bouillabaisse, the sister seafood restaurant down the road, but you're welcome to eat anywhere in the food lovers' paradise that is Franschhoek.

Hidden among beautiful gardens that extend down to the Lourens River, this peaceful lodge makes a good base for exploring the entire southwestern Cape, including the peninsula, the Winelands, and the Overberg. Large, airy, comfortable rooms with sliding doors open onto the gardens; in the distance the peaks of the Helderberg are visible. D'Vine Restaurant has equally high standards and is regularly voted onto the country's top-100 list. The menu changes seasonally, but the owner is Italian, so there's a strong emphasis on Mediterranean flavors and fresh, local produce.