The Vineyard Hotel: A Tranquil Stay in a Treed Cape Town Suburb

The pace of life unfolds gently at The Vineyard. Winding paths lead you down from verdant gardens shaded by mature trees to the Liesbeek River, and the resident Cape Mountain tortoises are likely to stroll past across the lush lawns as you sit out on the patio. The family-owned Cape Town hotel is hidden away in Newlands on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and feels a world away from the Mother City’s vibrant urban energy – yet you can get to Bree Street in 10 minutes. It’s the ideal solution when your soul craves connection with nature but you still want easy access to the city centre, beachfront and beyond.

Slow living and simple pleasures

The gardens are at the heart of the grounded energy that pervades every aspect of a stay at The Vineyard. A gentle chorus of birdsong fills the morning air, leafy vistas frame glimpses of Table Mountain from your window, gold at sunrise, pink in the evening light. On your plate in the restaurant, the garnish of microgreens is home-grown: the hotel’s sustainability mindset embraces composting vegetable waste to grow pea shoots and greens in the organic kitchen gardens.

Room to breathe

Choose between serene courtyard-facing rooms looking out over the Japanese-inspired courtyard garden; mountain-facing rooms with views of the eastern slopes of Table Mountain that never get old; junior suites and suites that open onto the garden, the mountain, or the soothing rush of the Liesbeek River. And there are two- and three-bedroom self-catering apartments immersed deep in the gardens for secluded and spacious stays.

• king or twin beds
• ensuite bathrooms with bath and shower
• private patios (deluxe rooms)
• Nespresso machine
• tea and coffee facilities and bottled water
• high-speed internet
• onsite parking
• in-room dining

Food for thought

Two centuries of history blend with contemporary ease in the welcoming shared spaces of the hotel. Generous breakfasts at The Square segue to a second cup of coffee from the Long Café, or lunch at the Garden Lounge & Patio looking out over peaceful garden views. Afternoons by the open air swimming pool are fuelled by drinks and snacks from the Splash Café (there’s a heated indoor pool too). And Morii serves a vibrant take on Italian flavours, with handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas for leisurely dinners, doors opening wide onto the gardens on dusky summer evenings.

Things to do

Perfectly placed to explore everything that Cape Town has to offer, it’s a short drive to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, 10 minutes to the CBD, the Table Mountain trails from Newlands Forest are on your doorstep, yet there’s plenty to do without even leaving the sanctuary of the hotel and its gardens.

• explore the riverside walk and gardens
• meet the tortoises
• garden spa
• heated indoor pool
• outdoor pool
• gym
• dinner at Morii
• breakfast and lunch at The Square and The Garden Lounge
• coffee and pastries at Long Café

A soothing place to reset, reconnect, unwind and breathe deeply, The Vineyard is a garden sanctuary that feels like coming home.

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2
Cost From R4 093 per room per night (depending on season and availability)
Where to find it 60 Colinton Road, Newlands, Cape Town
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