South African Getaways

Two hot South African getaways on the Western Cape

Spread along South Africa’s southwestern coast, the Western Cape province has long been one of the country’s top tourist regions. The attractions here are plenty, from natural wonders and historic sites to the booming art, fashion and design scenes of Cape Town.
In recent years, the area has also become a hotspot for food, wine and spa—all of which draw upon the region’s natural bounty and multicultural traditions. On a recent trip, we checked out two properties—one in the city, one in country—that showcase the best of wine and wellness in the Western Cape.
Cape Town

The Hotel Sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the upscale Bantry Bay neighborhood set the scene at the intimate Ellerman House, perched on the slopes of Lion’s Head Mountain, just 10 minutes from downtown Cape Town. Originally the private home of Sir John and Lady Ellerman, the main Edwardian-style mansion now houses 13 rooms and two multi-bedroom villas. Tiered gardens, cozy lounges and pieces from an art collection spanning over 100 years—some displayed in the on-site Contemporary Gallery—add to the genteel atmosphere.

Ellerman House has also taken steps to become one of the greenest hotels in town. Dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint, the hotel uses 1,500 motion sensor-activated, energy-efficient LED lightbulbs, and is in the process of installing 230 solar panels to generate up to 40 percent of the total power needed for the property. A water-capture system is also being completed, and the recycling program includes water repurposing and composting; everything from coffee grounds and kitchen scraps to shredded paper now goes to the eight on-site earthworm farms, with the compost later used in the gardens.
Dining & Drinking Rooms are stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks (including South African wine), and a 24-hour pantry in the main house is filled with homemade treats for guests to grab as they like.
Chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert sources farm-fresh fruits, veggies and proteins (and home-grown accents, like olive oil) for her creative, daily menus, which marry European signatures with Cape Malay influences and spices. Meanwhile, the new Wine Gallery showcases the owners’ passion for the grape: Here, guests can enjoy tastings of South African vintages, a chat with the sommelier or a wine-pairing dinner, then take a peek inside the giant carbon-fiber corkscrew sculpture, which holds 1,500 bottles from the house’s 8,000-plus-bottle collection. Other design highlights include a wall made from the different colored earth from various South African wine-growing regions.
Wellness Tucked among the gardens, the Spa features two single rooms and one couple’s suite, as well as a sauna, steam room and sensation shower. Many services are unique to Cape Town, including body treatments using homeopathic aromatherapy or natural clays, and massages using techniques like Reiki, Bellabaci (done with heated glass cups to remove toxins and enhance circulation) and traditional Japanese Anma. As part of their Healthy Living program, spa therapists can work with the chefs to combine healthful meals with spa and fitness activities (including hikes in the surrounding hills) for a holistic experience. ellerman.co.za
Stellenbosch

The Hotel Less than an hour outside of Cape Town, the cityscape gives way to dramatic mountain ranges, lush valleys and terraced vineyards and olive groves. This is South Africa’s best-known wine region, and in the heart of it—just outside the picturesque town of Stellenbosch—is Delaire Graff Estate. There’s been a vineyard on this site for years, but it wasn’t until current ownership took over about a decade ago that it was brought to an award-winning level. Now, the extensive grounds include gardens filled with over 350 indigenous plants; a state-of-the-art winery; biodynamic greenhouses and veggie gardens; two restaurants; and a contemporary Lodge, where guests check into suites boasting complimentary snacks, drinks and laundry, plush bedding and private hot tubs. Delaire’s owner is a world-renowned art collector, and paintings and sculptures from top artists (including sculptor Dylan Lewis, whose nearby studio can be visited by Delaire guests) are displayed both inside and on the grounds, adding to the breathtaking setting.

Dining & Drinking Drawing organic ingredients from the on-site greenhouse and gardens, and sourcing from ethical regional farms, the two restaurants let the fresh products take center stage. Set overlooking the vineyards and olive groves, with an oak tree-shaded deck, the main Delaire Graff Restaurant serves bistro-style seasonal dishes accompanied with bespoke olive oils and aromatic butters. In the Lodge, under a canopy sculpture of swallows in flight, the intimate Indochine celebrates pan-Asian flavors in its tapas and tasting menus. (The decor celebrates the local, too: One of the only artisanal hand carvers in the Western Cape crafts some of the restaurant’s tableware.)
Schedule a guided tour of the winery, or settle into a leather chair in the Wine Lounge to taste some of the vintages, which are produced using grapes grown both on-property and elsewhere. Signatures include the flagship Bordeaux-style blend, named after the Botmaskop mountain next to the estate.
Wellness Clients are encouraged to book a block of time, with treatments based on how you feel on that day, and everything—from the therapists’ gentle whispers to the lack of intake form—is designed to be low-stress. The menu includes results-oriented services like medical-grade facials, along with best-sellers like custom massages and Aromatherapy Associates wellbeing rituals, which target issues like sleep quality, immunity and jet lag using natural essential oils. Seasonal services are offered, and the spa works with a local aromatherapist to create special oil blends to accent services, using ingredients like Cape geranium and chamomile. delaire.co.za