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

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 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.

If you want to be in the center of the village, this stylish guesthouse puts you a stone's throw from the famous whale-watching cliffs. There's a tree-shaded garden and a pretty pool in the courtyard. The rooms are comfortably decorated in French provincial style. Larger rooms with sleeper sofas are great for families or friends traveling together. Ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the bay or a suite that opens onto the pool.

On the banks of the Klein River, Blue Gum is a wonderful place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of Hermanus. The rooms are individually decorated in a style that's part English country house, part colonial outpost. Mosquito nets, crisp white linens, and handsome wood will make you feel a little like a 21st-century Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame. It's a lovely family-run place with an emphasis on escaping the bustle of city life.

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.

This restored Cape Dutch homestead, built in 1698 and situated on 30 acres of farmland, has rustic decor and spacious rooms with all the creature comforts. If possible, book a room in the old stable with a private patio overlooking the garden. Breakfast is served on an expansive terrace and includes croissants and home-baked breads. The fine-dining restaurant is open from October until May has a three-course set menu that is highly rated by guests. You can enjoy peaceful walks through the orchards and vineyards, take a guided wine tour, or kick back at the pool. 

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.

This classic guesthouse on the Paarl Wine Route is tastefully decorated in a comfortable and homey style—crisp white linens, wood-frame mirrors, and ornate lampshades highlight each of the guest rooms. An open hearth is popular during winters, as are summer breakfasts on the patio. Other outdoor areas include three gardens and two swimming pools. Some of the best rooms open out onto the garden.

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. 

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.