The Vineyard Hotel

The Vineyard Hotel is built around a house constructed in 1800 that was once the home of the Scottish writer and socialite Lady Anne Barnard, and it is regarded as the first English-style house built in the Cape Colony. It became a hotel in the 1890s, Rudyard Kipling stayed here for a long period during his visit to the Cape in 1898, and the building and grounds were declared a national monument in 1977. Since 1980 it has been owned and run by the Petousis family.

The hotel sits in Newlands in the Southern Suburbs, with expansive gardens running down to a river and views of the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The gardens are a major part of its appeal, with a riverside walk, a Japanese-inspired courtyard garden, ponds and resident tortoises, and the hotel offers guided garden walks of about 90 minutes.

There are 175 rooms, divided between main hotel rooms and garden rooms set among the greenery, and many rooms and suites look towards the mountain; you can request this view when booking. Dining options include The Square Restaurant, which serves seasonal dishes, Morii with Eastern Mediterranean flavours, The Garden Lounge and Patio for relaxed meals, and Long Café for coffee and light bites. The hotel also has a spa.

The Vineyard suits families, couples and travellers who prefer a calmer base away from the city centre while still being close to the main sights. It is particularly convenient for Kirstenbosch, the Constantia wine farms and the Newlands sports grounds, and the Cavendish Square shopping area in Claremont is close by.

The city centre is about 15 to 20 minutes away by car, depending on traffic, and the V&A Waterfront and Atlantic Seaboard are a little further. The Southern Line railway runs through Newlands towards Muizenberg and Simon's Town, but most guests use taxis, ride-hailing services or a hire car to get around. Ask the hotel about parking when booking if you plan to hire a car.

The Southern Suburbs are greener and leafier than the City Bowl, with old oak trees and views of the back of the mountain, and they tend to be cooler and wetter in winter. If you are visiting between May and August, bring a warm jacket and rain gear, and plan indoor options for wet days.