The Majeka House is a five-star boutique hotel in Stellenbosch, a lively university town in the heart of the Cape Winelands and about a 40-minute drive east of Cape Town, South Africa. This owner-managed and blissfully private hotel is an ideal base from which to explore the historical town of Stellenbosch with its interesting shops, galleries, museums, and alfresco café culture.
Historical Cape Dutch architecture in Stellenbosch
Numerous famous vineyards and award-winning restaurants, dotted along the Stellenbosch wine route, are within striking distance. Majeka House is conveniently close to town but a good enough distance away to be able to enjoy the quiet of a residential suburb. Stellenbosch is home to historical landmarks, art galleries and nature reserves and Majeka House serves as a perfect base for exploring the town’s well-preserved Cape Dutch architecture or hiking in the nearby Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, while guests can also easily access the Winelands without lengthy travel times.
A Warm Welcome and Luxurious Accommodation
After spending a moment or 3 trying to find the correct entrance into the Stellenbosch-based grounds, Majeka opens to you with the flourish and security of a gated suburban community. It’s limited parking bays, perfectly manicured towering trees and bushes, and 2-storey townhouse-style design layout, speaks to providing its visitors with privacy. The hotel has undergone extensive renovations and a designer makeover transforming it into an ultra-luxurious boutique property with just 22 rooms and sophisticated yet witty interiors giving it real personality and warmth. Each room and suite is individually designed to have a unique and beautiful interior - whether in color or simplicity, and even a combination of both.
The 21 rooms offer accommodation across four categories:
- 10 Premier rooms, ideal for small groups
- Three Gardens rooms with an exclusive-use plunge pool
- Two Poolside Rooms, also with a pool
- The Mountain View selection, which looks out onto the Helderberg Mountains
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All rooms are fully air-conditioned with private patios or terraces and contain thoughtful extras, such as comfy Crocs instead of hotel slippers, a Lavazza espresso machine, FREE Wi-Fi internet, flatscreen TV’s with satellite channels and a DVD player with a wide choice of movies. I wont even lie: Earthtones and gem colors are my Kyrptonite (see what I did there?), so entering my suite and seeing the fresh greens and golds coloring everything, was warm and cool simultaneously. The spacious and cleverly designed en suite bathrooms are fragrant with local Moya toiletries made with indigenous plant extracts. Large comfy beds, a flat-screen TV visible from the bath and the softest bath robes make room service on a cold day a rather good idea.
Dining at Majeka House
MAKARON RESTAURANT LATEST DISHES.mp4
There is a restaurant for your dining pleasure - and a damn fine one at that. After a morning swim in my (semi)private pool, I headed to the Makaron Restaurant for breakfast. I gasped as I entered the restaurant. There was a separate menu on the table and I ordered the Eggs Benedict. As I waited for the eggs to arrive, I treated myself to fresh fruits and a few fruit/veggie shots (these are freshly-blended by the kitchen staff and served in small bottles). Breakfast on the patio is an elaborate buffet-style, and a-la-carte mix. There’s everything from Salmon to yogurt, smoothies and cheese plates.
Majeka Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch. With a laden table of freshly baked pastries and bread, preserves, smoothies, yoghurt, cereals and fruit salad, there is no shortage of tasty continental options, but a hot breakfast is also highly recommended (the Vegan Breakfast - brown mushrooms, avocado, cherry tomatoes, rocket, chickpeas, peppers and crispy ciabatta bread - was exceptional). The dining area opens up onto the pretty gardens, which is also the perfect place to enjoy a selection of burgers, salads, sandwiches and poke bowls under the umbrellas at lunchtime, while the bright blue loungers set the scene for afternoon cocktails.
The award-winning (Eat Out 2012 top 10 Restaurants finalist) Makaron Restaurant led by Head Chef Tanya Kruger, is light, airy and overlooks the lush gardens. Tanya is passionate and committed to serving cutting-edge, ethically sourced, farm-to-table cuisine. Makaron offers an á la carte menu for dinner whilst lunch can be enjoyed around the pool or in the MLounge from a lighter floating menu.
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Chef Lucas Carstens, who took the helm of the Makaron kitchen in 2015, says the small plate tapas-style dining is a trend globally. “The idea here is flexibility, and we want guests to decide for themselves how they discover the menu,” says Carstens.
Relax and Restore at Majeka Spa
Majeka House had one more ‘wonder’ in store for me: the Majeka Spa! The elaborate spa features a large indoor pool, steamroom, jacuzzi and sauna, and offers a wide variety of treatments from relaxing massages to facials, hot stone therapy, body wraps and scrubs, and the intriguing Himalayan Crystal Salt Bed!
The elaborate spa features a large indoor pool, steamroom, jacuzzi and sauna
The Majeka Spa has two single therapy rooms, a room for couples’ treatments, a magnificent heated indoor swimming pool, a steam room, and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Facial treatments make use of the renowned QMS Medicosmetics and Nautilus skincare. Guests are encouraged to chat with the spa therapists to tailor-make their package or check in for the three-hour Total Renewal package which includes a 60-minute herbal massage, 60-minute Nautilus facial, mini manicure, mini pedicure and lunch.
Facilities include a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy heated indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi (with retracting roof), and outdoor pool. A team of gracious, well-trained and experienced therapists offer a wide range of treatments. It is the first spa in South Africa to offer the Himalayan Crystal Salt bed - combining colour therapy and deep relaxation. Treatments can also be enjoyed in an outdoor gazebo.
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Quirky Touches and Unique Charm
A highlight when at Majeka is seeing how many pigs you can spot. Owner Karine Dequeker has the quirkiest collection of porkers of assorted sizes and colours scattered throughout the hotel which have become a trademark of the establishment. In addition to the posse of pigs, there are several quirky touches that exude a unique charm.
Tall cacti, bright blue loungers, printed ceilings in the rooms, a grand piano, a large model of an 18th-century French ship and the considered mix of traditional French and English décor and high-spec finishes all contribute to an eclectic appeal. I love the M Lounge with its oversized, comfortable chairs and couches, ambient lighting, fireplace, wallpaper, books … and pigs. It is the perfect place for a drink and snack with a book in a quiet corner or a more social perch at the bar where the barman serves delicious cocktails.
M Lounge It’s always such a pleasant surprise to experience a hotel that serves up something a little different. Majeka House ticks the luxury boutique hotel boxes, but also delivers those extra touches that get a smile - and therein lies the joy of travel.
Awards and Recognition
Already a recipient of a string of awards and accolades over the years, Majeka House & Spa has clinched Best Design Hotel in Africa & the Middle East at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2017. Praised as a ‘wining, dining and super styling destination’, the award comes at the end of a successful and exciting year; owners Lloyd van der Merwe and Karine Dequeker-van der Merwe have been working on various upgrades and tweaks since last year, calling in the expertise of designer Etienne Hanekom to work on the hotel’s rooms, Makaron Restaurant as well as the photogenic MLounge.
Interior design wunderkind Etienne Hanekom is the talent behind the award-winning interiors at Majeka House including Makaron Restaurant, the lobby, bar as well as the new Premier, Mountain and Garden suites, which are dramatic and bold with rich textures and eye-catching custom-designed wallpapers but are also comfortable, inviting spaces for complete rest and relaxation.
Majeka House is located at 26-32 Houtkapper Street, Stellenbosch. For the best rates, book online: www.majekahouse.co.za
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