We recently had the time of our lives in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for a much-deserved ladies weekend away. Quite frankly, you don’t always need a reason to plan a trip, but for this specific weekend, we were celebrating a couple of birthdays. Myself, and my best friend, Chantelle, put our heads together and planned an unforgettable three-night stay in the Western Cape.
It was a weekend that ran smoothly from the minute we arrived, until the day we all hugged and said our goodbyes and longed for tiny arms wrapped around our necks again.
Only when we got there did we realize that between the 9 of us, there were 17 little toddlers and babies staying at home with their daddies(and mother-in-laws or nannies). The “village” everyone keeps telling you about when you have kids. It truly does exist.
But enough about all the babies (yes, the husbands too) that we left at home.
Here’s our take on how to plan the ultimate breakaway for a group of ladies in the Cape Winelands.
Accommodation Recommendations
- The Silo, Cape Town Waterfront
If you are lucky enough (like us) to spend even 1 night at this amazing hotel, we highly recommend it. Situated above the Zeitz Mocaa museum and overlooking the beautiful V&A Waterfront, this hotel is truly one of a kind. We cannot recommend this luxury enough!
- Boschendal Wine Estate, Franshoek
We booked the beautiful Cottage 1685 at Boschendal Farms well in advance to ensure that we were in the heart of the winelands. The accommodation was stunning and the service was excellent. There is so much to do on the farm itself that you might never want to leave and do anything else.
Wine Tasting
There are endless possibilities to choose from in this wine region, and you will most likely never leave unsatisfied. We decided to choose 1 wine farm for the Friday and one on the Saturday, and work around them. Things can get quite busy with a group of 10 ladies so it is best to not overbook your time and rather leave some room for some last minute decision making.
- Hidden Valley – a warm and inviting feeling when you arrive here and an easy choice for a group booking as you can easily forget about time here.
- Neil Ellis – Renowned for their well-awarded Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon, if it is quality wine you are after, this is a great wine tasting to add to the list.
- Boshendal – On arrival for our 2-night stay at Boschendal, we received a complimentary Wine and Chocolate tasting. This was relaxing and so much fun and just what we needed.
- Wildeberg – This is truly a hidden gem. Just outside of Franschhoek against the mountains lies this picturesque wine farm. Their Meteorique MCC is a stand-out. You can read more about it here in our Top Wines of the Month. All the labels on these bottles are also truly memorable and worth a place on your wine shelf.
- Grande Provence – A lot can be said about this wine farm. The beautiful gardens, stunning art and heartwarming food will make you want to go back for more. It is also on the Franschhoek wine tram route and is definitely worth a stop-over
Meals
Something that really stood out on the weekend was the amazing good selection of restaurants that we had booked for the weekend. I would recommend the following restaurants to anyone visiting in this area. From the lunches at Grande Provence and The Table to the exquisite dinners at De Eetkamer and La Paris Bistro. You won’t make a mistake visiting these spots.
- Breakfast at Boshendal Wine Estate
- Lunch at the Bistro at Grande Provence
- De Eetkamer in Stellenbosch
- The Table at De Meye
- La Paris Bistro
Some final food for thought… Make sure to plan ahead. The Cape Winelands are very much also a tourist destination and therefore no matter the season, the accommodation and restaurants can also be booked out in advance. Stick to a rough laid plan but leave some room for some fun and too much Bubbly!