Ker & Downey Africa > Journal > Babylonstoren Farm Hotel
Babylonstoren Farm Hotel is located in the Franschhoek wine valley and is home to an array of beauty and diversity, unique accommodation, and fine food and wine. The working farm and hotel evoke a sense of wellbeing in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Lisa Nel, Emma Perrin, Marcelo Novais and Silke Wahl of Ker & Downey® Africa were recently hosted by the award-winning wine farm and hotel. This is their unforgettable experience!
Babylonstoren Farm Hotel is the epitome of professionalism from the moment you confirm your booking. Each client receives a comprehensive pre-feedback form to allow the hotel to curate your experience and book the right activities to suit your needs and interests.
If it’s your first time visiting Babylonstoren you can’t help but feel completely amazed by the sheer beauty throughout the entire drive to the hotel. Babylonstoren is located in the heart of the Cape Winelands on one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the Western Cape.
The land lies at the foot of the strikingly beautiful Simonsberg and Drakenstein mountain ranges that serve as a jaw-dropping background and focal point as you arrive.
Once you check-in you are welcomed by a team of attentive staff at the hotel. The reception area offers a comfortable place to store your luggage if you arrive early and want to explore the farm. From here your host will take you through to your room.
The great thing about Babylonstoren is the flexibility of accommodation to suit all needs. There is truly something for everyone. If you prefer something smaller and stylish the Farmhouse accommodation is worth looking at. If you’d like to remain within the hustle and bustle of the working farm itself, have a look at the Garden Cottages.
If privacy and remoteness are what you’re after, the Fynbos Cottages which are set in the back of the hotel (accessed by a self-drive buggy) are the option of choice. No matter what room you choose, you will have access to the great array of activities on-site and can enjoy all the farm’s amenities including the award-winning restaurants. If you wish to do your own cooking using the local farm-fresh harvest, choose a cottage to ensure that you have your own kitchen.
There is an abundance of activities on offer at Babylonstoren which all deserve a special mention. We thought it best to highlight those that we were personally able to enjoy during our limited stay.
Imagine picking fresh fruits straight from the tree as you walk through winding paths of orchards and beautiful garden landscapes. This is what you’ll experience as you explore Babylonstoren’s famous 240-hectare working farm and gardens. Here, you will encounter staff who are visibly passionate about their work, and who greet you warmly as they go about their daily work.
Our incredible olive oil tasting experience kicked off by hearing the history of the farm’s balsamic journey and enjoying the taste of the 12-year-old vintage that can only be described as mouthwatering. This was followed by a tour of the production of the olive oil, some more tasting, and then the opportunity to create our very own blend.
The tour of the mountain is indescribable, and our guide’s passion was infectious! Taking in the breathtaking panoramic views of the farm below while enjoying a glass of wine and great conversation is the highlight of any guest’s stay at Babylonstoren.
This is a brand new offering on the farm where you can experience the essence of Babylonstoren. Here you are invited to enjoy the scents of lavender and rosemary oils and soaps (amongst others) and understand what it takes to make their unique aromas.
Nothing goes to waste at Babylonstoren. Even the past years calendars are used to wrap the scented handmade soaps!
Babel is one of the two onsite restaurants (Greenhouse being the second) but is the only option for breakfast and dinner. The cuisine can only be described as farm fresh with a fine-dining flair and no one but Babylonstoren can make a cabbage taste that good! The chefs are able to carefully curate the menu with the colours of the season and showcase the best that their garden has to offer.
Bike riding through the estate, fishing in the trout dam, bread baking at The Bakery, cellar wine tours, canoeing on the farm dam.
Two nights are just not enough. You need time to explore the Winelands but to really appreciate the farm for what it is worth a minimum of 3 nights for any stay.
Thank you Babylonstoren! We will definitely be back!
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
Head office: 7 Bree Street, 6th Floor, Touchstone House, Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (0)21 201 2484
[email protected]
United Kingdom: Sportsman Farm, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent
Ker & Downey® Africa is compliant with COVID-19 Industry Protocols.
