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Farmstay · Cape Winelands
Klapmuts - Simondium Rd, Simondium, 7670, South Africa
Highlights
Working farm with gardens, winery, spa, and farm-to-table dining
Klapmuts - Simondium Rd, Simondium, 7670, South Africa Get directions
Working farm with gardens, winery, spa, and farm-to-table dining
Klapmuts - Simondium Rd, Simondium, 7670, South Africa Get directions
"A beloved vineyard estate in the Stellenbosch wine region known for its vineyards, garden café, and broader agritourism efforts—presented as a local favorite and hidden gem for food-and-wine-focused visitors; the wider region benefits from a refreshing seasonal breeze locals call the "Cape Doctor." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A South African wine-farm resort in Simondium favored by readers for its bucolic setting and placement on the continent’s resort list, representing the appeal of vineyard properties that combine scenic beauty with cultivated, rural luxury." - Heather Richardson Heather Richardson Heather Richardson is a journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. She writes about travel, conservation, and environmental science for publications such as National Geographic, Nature, BBC Future, and The Guardian. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town in the heart of the Cape Winelands, this restored farm functions as a luxury winery hotel and self-contained ecosystem across about 1,070 wooded and cultivated hectares, with 33 rooms, suites and cottages and roughly 12 acres of fruits and vegetables. Historic whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings (some dating to 1692) sit alongside elegant modern structures; a super-luxe five-bedroom Fynbos Family House that opened in 2024 offers sweeping mountain views, a private pool and terrace ideal for relaxing or braai-ing meat from the farm shop. The estate’s broad red-earthed avenues lead past Merlot vines, blood orange trees, lavender, vast herb gardens and unusual features such as a rice paddy, a prickly pear maze, calabashes on trellises, naartjies and a num num tree; water buffalo produce mozzarella and milk for gelato served in a whimsically lit Gelato Room, and there is also a glass-walled Greenhouse cafe famed for fresh-baked scones with house-made conserves. Food is thoroughly farm-to-fork at Babel restaurant, where meat and fish are paired with vegetables and herbs plucked from more than 300 edible plant species (guests can even pick their own), and the estate’s wines—from pretty Chardonnays and a herbaceous Mourvèdre rosé to a structured Babel red blend (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) overflowing with blackberry and dark chocolate notes—are showcased through tastings, cellar tours and a decorative Wine Museum with amphorae. Non-wine options include a house fizz called a bitterlekker made from homegrown citrus, honeybush tea and rosemary, while on-site experiences and inclusions (room plus breakfast starts around $570) range from guided garden tours, bread baking, fishing, cycling and rowing to mountain drives, workshops, a personalized larder and a farm experience; the property was also named among F&W’s Top 15 Hotels for Food and Drink in the 2025 Global Tastemakers awards." - Nina Caplan
"A celebrated wine estate in South Africa's Winelands offering immersive wine-tasting experiences and beautiful gardens, recommended for couples who enjoy wine, fine dining, and pastoral, romantic settings." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Set on a working farm in the Cape Winelands, this estate spans 494 acres planted with more than 300 varieties of trees and feels like a manicured royal garden. Visitors stay in cottages or farmhouses and dine farm-to-table across multiple venues — from picnic-style lunches in a greenhouse to family-style Italian and South African braai at the Old Bakery and modern farm-to-fork cuisine at Babel." - Rachel Chang
