I recently stayed in Stellenbosch, also known as South Africa’s City of Oaks. The Southern Sun De Wagen was my base for two days from which I explored the beautiful town. Located just off Dorp Street, which is South Africa’s longest residential street and the old wagon way to Cape Town, the hotel offered not only a glimpse into the past, but also the perfect spot from which I could submerge myself in the everyday goings of Stellenbosch and its people.
This elegant boutique hotel consists of a collection of historical farmstead buildings that date back to the early 1900s. They have been beautifully restored and now offer charming accommodation just across the road from the famous South African rugby school, Paul Roos.
The farm buildings’ history is connected to early wine and fruit farms of none other than the well-known wine farms, Vredenburg and Lanzerac, and the architecture is linked to Sit Herbert Baker – a famous English architect and dominant force in South African architecture. In essence, Southern Sun De Wagen consists of three country houses – the Wagenhuis, the Kuyperhuis and the Roeshuis – and together the spaces offer a total of 22 rooms. The Wagenhuis was my sanctuary for to nights, located underneath an enormous tree, offering ample space and a peaceful setting to wind down after a busy day of exploring.
Of course, De Volkskombuis also deserves a mention. This is where Southern Sun de Wagen’s guests can enjoy breakfast, which is included in the stay. Also a Sir Herbert Baker building, the warm atmosphere of this restaurant will see me returning time and again. Any other meals are for your own account, but they have a lovely garden for exceptional al fresco dining, and the indoor seating is just as magical with high ceilings and immaculate wooden beams making for a typical Cape Dutch setting with true South African flavours coming through from the kitchen. They also have private dining rooms for more intimate settings or meetings and a fair wine list for those who want to pair their meals with a glass of wine from the region. There are, however, not many options by the glass, so perhaps come prepared to pay for a bottle of wine instead of wine by the glass. Their beetroot salad is divine, and I can recommend their wood fired pizzas too – especially for dinner in the garden. For those who want to indulge in some truly South African cuisine, I would recommend choosing an option from the traditional boerekos section in the menu. Their Boland Bobotie is to die for. Be sure to arrive hungry, though, as the portions are quite generous.
Stellenbosch on Foot was also one of the highlights of my visit to the City of Oaks. Visit Stellenbosch invited me to attend the historical tour of Stellenbosch – a truly insightful walking tour through town, highlighting some of the most profound historical happenings and the most beautiful historical buildings – all with interesting stories to tell.
I sat down with general manager, Abel Pienaar, to learn more about the hotel and its offerings, as well as its comeback after the floods not too long ago. This is the full interview.
Links:
https://www.southernsun.com/southern-sun-de-wagen
https://devolkskombuis.co.za/
https://www.visitstellenbosch.org/
https://stellenboschonfoot.co.za/
