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

A 30-minute drive from Hermanus, this luxury lodging sits on 2,500 acres overlooking Walker Bay. Privacy is paramount in the soothing suites, which have fireplaces, sunken bathtubs, and private sundecks opening onto mountains as far as the eye can see. Rates include breakfast, three-course lunch, and a six-course dinner, plus activities such as horseback riding and trips to a nearby coastal cave. Children will delight in the playground, petting zoo, and treasure hunts at the reserve.

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.

With eight individually designed suites hidden on a leafy street in Franschhoek, this peaceful and modern 19th-century Cape Dutch house is one of the area's best-kept secrets. From the outside, the building looks like a simple white house with green shutters, but inside lies a peaceful, modern-meets-French-Provençal oasis. The quaint courtyard has a pool (three of the suites have their own private pools) and a long dining table shaded by a tent of vines. The rooms are beautifully decorated with distinctive items that are both new and vintage. The hotel does an excellent job at making you feel at home with added treats like pre- and post-dinner drinks and live entertainment (a resident pianist plays in the evenings during high season).

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.

This Victorian guesthouse offers luxurious accommodations and excellent food in the middle of 17,000 acres of rare renosterveld scrubland, home to the endangered geometric tortoise. There's also plenty of springbok, rhebok, bontebok, wildebeest and other creatures around the mountains, streams, and plains. Watch sheep shearing in action, or you can hike, bike, swim, or paddle. Rooms have thick comforters and crisp linens. Ask for one that opens onto the veranda, especially in summer. Rates are full-board, and include brunch, afternoon tea, sundowner drinks, dinner, and two daily activities. There are also two self-catering houses that are ideal for families or groups. 

If whale-watching is on your agenda, you’re unlikely to come across a better spot than this boutique hotel. It has a magnificent location overlooking Walker Bay, where southern right and humpback whales breach just beyond the perpetual line of surfers. On the spacious stone patio, you can lounge on one of the wicker chaises while gazing at the view. The rooms are classic and spacious, peppered with colorful furnishings. The on-site restaurant is open to non-guests as long as you book ahead, meaning you can enjoy this outrageously beautiful view even if you don't stay over.

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. 

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.

You'll soon feel at home at this pretty Victorian B&B in the heart of the village. It was one of the first guesthouses in Darling, and still offers the best service. The six individually decorated rooms in the main house are all named after local artists whose prints hang on the walls. Three of the rooms are next to the pool. The breakfasts, overflowing with homemade bread and jam and yogurt from the local dairy, are a highlight of a stay here. Enjoy them on the terrace or patio in good weather.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

In the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains, A Hilltop Country Retreat offers spacious and luxurious self-catering accommodations. Decorated with furniture and finishes made by local artists and artisans, each suite is uniquely appointed. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with king-size beds decked out in Egyptian cotton sheets. There are also two fully equipped houses. There are two pools and a barbecue area for all to enjoy. You can self cater, or for an extra fee staff will deliver a DIY breakfast basket to your room.

Located in the Swartruggens area of the Cederberg, Kagga Kamma offers well-appointed suites carved out of an unworldly red-sandstone outcrop—whoever thought sleeping in a rock cave could be luxurious? If caves aren’t your thing, there are also Hut suites that are designed to resemble Khoi and San dwellings. Rock-art tours, nature drives, and mountain biking await nearby.

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.