The Vineyard Hotel, a landmark in Cape Town's Newlands suburb, boasts a history spanning nearly two centuries. Celebrated for its tradition of romance, elegance, and history, this family-owned institution has evolved from a simple English country house into the heart of Cape Hospitality, nestled in the shadow of Table Mountain.
Table Mountain provides a stunning backdrop to The Vineyard Hotel.
The Barnards and the Birth of 'The Vineyard'
Lady Anne Barnard and her husband, Andrew Barnard, colonial secretary to the Governor at the Cape, built the first English country house in Southern Africa in 1800. General Dundas, acting governor of the Cape Colony, remarked on the ambitious project, saying, “Upon my word, this is a dashing thing to build a house such as this at the Cape, Lady Anne”. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the Barnards named their house 'The Vineyard', a name that has endured through the years.
In 2008, the Vineyard hotel resurrected a part of the property that had initially drawn the Barnards to it by re-establishing a small area with 110 vines. Soon after the Barnards originally established the homestead, a long line of visitors began to arrive, from family and friends to naval and military officers and a whole range of interesting people.
From Homestead to Hotel
‘The Vineyard’ initially became a hotel in 1894 with its first general manager - Mrs O’Sullivan. Over the years, however, the hotel has come a long way and has grown to include 207 state-of-the-art luxury rooms, restaurants and spa facilities. Through most of its life, it has remained a family-owned institution that has endeavored to involve the local community.
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An interesting anecdote involves appealing at one time to the community to help the Hotel raise funds for a new swimming pool. Once the pool had been built - under the supervision of the Turkstra’s, who owned the hotel from 1946 - 1980 - the locals who had assisted with fund-raising were invited to make use of the swimming pool indefinitely. This time-honoured agreement survives now through only one person who remains alive and, until recently, still made use of the swimming pool.
“Their vision and skill has enabled them to advance into the future whilst nourishing and nurturing the past, maintaining that feeling of personal warmth and welcome which only comes from a close family enterprise” writes Jill Baikoff, in her book, History of the Vineyard.
Notable Guests and Enduring Appeal
The English writer Rudyard Kipling stayed at the hotel for significant period during his 1898 visit to the Cape Colony and wrote about his stay noting its gardens and views of nearby Table Mountain.
The Vineyard Hotel is a good-value, upmarket hotel in a beautiful green setting, which works well for families, couples or single travellers. It's fairly large, which perhaps helps it to run very smoothly and professionally, and has a central location, close to many of Cape Town's sights. The Vineyard remains independent and family-run; it's not part of any chain. What's perhaps most impressive about it is that it continues to reinvent itself - by updating and upgrading its rooms and facilities.
The Vineyard Hotel is located in the leafy suburb of Newlands and has spectacular views dominated by Table Mountain. The Vineyard Hotel is around the corner from the upmarket Cavendish Square shopping mall, and within walking distance of the world-renowned Newlands cricket and rugby grounds. A ten-minute drive will take you to the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and a 15-minute drive will take you to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Cape Town's city centre.
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Nestling in six acres of beautifully landscaped indigenous gardens, it's possible to stroll along pathways in the Vineyard's grounds which follow the Liesbeeck River, and spot hadeda ibis and giant tortoises (a huge hit with children) on the lawns. A 'Garden and Bird Guide' is available in each room for you to take as you amble through the gardens, helping you to identify the local flora and birdlife. The Vineyard Hotel is a mix of modern contemporary design built around an old historical house dating back to 1799 and is constantly being updated to keep up with current hotel trends.
The Vineyard estate originally belonged to Lady Anne Barnard, and over 200 years later still retains its original charm. Its seven acres of garden are particularly lovely and set against the fabulous backdrop of Table Mountain. Guests can breakfast or lunch on the terrace outside, watching the occasional family of guinea fowl wander by and feasting their eyes on Table Mountain above - it is a wonderfully relaxed setting.
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The Gardens: A Legacy of Beauty
With seven acres of beautifully landscaped, mostly indigenous gardens, The Vineyard Hotel has the feel of a country estate or resort.Yet it is within a few minutes’ walk from Kildare Road in Newlands and its many restaurants, or Cavendish Square - one of the southern suburbs’ first shopping centres. In fact, from this location you have the most notable schools and Genadendal, the president's official residence, in close proximity.
The gardens have enthralled visitors for over 200 years. Lush lawns and pristine pathways meander throughout the diverse and beautifully-tendered gardens. The magnificent grounds were originally home to diarist and artist Lady Anne Barnard and her husband, Andrew. Lady Barnard took pride and inspiration from her garden, ensuring that it flourished year-round. Indigenous species of flowers and shrubs were planted, such as protea and keurboom, alongside trees like fir. Her watercolour paintings of the garden still exist as proof of her love for the space. One painting done from the stoep of the original house refers to her garden as “growing, growing, growing!”.
Beyond the gardens lay the original vineyards from which the house took its name. There were almost 22 000 vines on the original property when Lady Anne Barnard moved in. These vineyards grew and produced grapes for centuries. To mark the 350th anniversary of winemaking in the Western Cape, the vines were completely replanted in 2008. The Vineyard Hotel has partnered with five wineries (Meerlust, Klein Constantia, Simonsig, Warwick and Waterford) who take turns every year to produce wine from the hotel’s grapes.
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The Vineyard Hotel also boasts its own herb garden and vegetable garden that produces just enough food for both restaurants on site.
Modern Amenities and Sustainable Practices
While the original bones are historic, over the years three floors of accommodation have been added and, later still, a conference centre and contemporary indoor pool, gym and spa complex. The Angsana Spa at The Vineyard Hotel is operated by therapists trained by the Banyan Tree, one of Asia's most celebrated spas. This hotel is chock-a-block with quality art and crafts, including matriarch Kitty Petousis's fabric art. Important ceramics, antiques and pieces from the original homestead are displayed with more contemporary pieces.
The Angsana Spa offers a tranquil retreat within the hotel.
With over two centuries of history, the Vineyard Hotel, originally built in February 1800, has evolved to now be one of the most environmentally-friendly hotels in Cape Town. Perhaps the leading light of the hotel’s sustainable operations stands in combining luxuries with innovative energy-efficient solutions. Impressive numbers stand to confirm the hotel’s commitment for setting high targets when it comes to ‘living green’.
The hotel takes a holistic approach towards saving energy to not only minimize operating costs, but also make efficient use of the resources it has. In terms of using renewable energy, 2400 kWh per month are generated through solar panels, whereas the conference rooms are well-designed to make the best use of natural light and ventilation whenever possible. Furthermore, the hotel has replaced light-bulbs with LED lights, and has also installed timers for outdoor lights, thus cutting down 75% off energy consumption.
When it comes to guest rooms, Vineyard is using energy-cards as room keys in 84 of its dormitories, has placed sensors to stop the air conditioning from functioning when the bedroom doors are open, and has also provided bedrooms with energy-efficient mini-bar fridges. To further save on energy, chemicals and water, the hotel has installed new laundry machines which are 34% more energy efficient that previous ones, and washes guest linen and towels only upon visitors’ request.
These measures represent only a glimpse of all the investments Vineyard Hotel does to minimize its environmental footprint.
Accommodation Options
The Vineyard Hotel offers guests four types of accommodation, called courtyard, mountain, suites and apartments.
The Vineyard Hotel's room types are:
- Courtyard-facing rooms - these rooms are 30m² and have separate en-suite bathrooms.
- Deluxe Courtyard-facing rooms - these rooms are similar to the above rooms, with en-suite bathrooms, but are slightly bigger (34m²). The downstairs rooms have sliding doors leading out on to the courtyard.
- Mountain-facing rooms - these rooms are 30m² with an en-suite bathroom. They have views of the beautiful gardens and Table Mountain beyond.
- Deluxe Mountain-facing rooms - these rooms have the same outlook as the mountain-facing rooms, mentioned above, are also (30m²) and have en-suite bathrooms but they boast a private balcony or patio.
- Mountain-facing Voorkamer - these rooms also overlook the gardens and Table Mountain but are located on the 2nd floor of the Manor House. Very different in style, they have a Victorian theme and large king size four-poster bed, as well as an en-suite bathrooms.
- Junior Suites - some of these rooms (the smallest being 55m²) are located longside the spa overlooking the river (River Facing Junior Suites); while others are in the main building with views overlooking the gardens (Garden Facing Junior Suites). They comprise a bedroom/living room, en-suite bathroom and private balcony or patio.
- Suites - these suites are bigger at 57m² or more, with a separate lounge and en-suite bedroom and some have doors leading out on to a private terrace or balcony. Again there is a choice of either River or a Mountain Facing Suites
- Deluxe Suites - these suites (85m²), have been newly designed and incorporate large bedrooms, a separate lounge with 6-seater dining table and small bar, and en-suite bedroom. Doors lead out on to a spacious balcony with great views of both the gardens and Mountain.
- Francois Suite - in memory of the late owner, Francois Petousis, overlooking the garden he created, this 82m² suite has a bedroom with en suite bathroom as well as a lounge area, large patio and an additional visitors bathroom.
- Kitty Suite - is the Vineyards premier suite located on the third floor affording great views of Table Mountain. This luxury suite has a large bedroom and an en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower. From the lounge, floor to ceiling glass doors open out onto an impressive 18m² rooftop balcony, with loungers, chairs and table.
- Cottages - there are also six self-catering cottages located in the gardens of the Vineyard Hotel, each having two bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge, dining room and kitchen and are ideal for families traveling together or guests planning a longer stay in Cape Town.
All the rooms at the Vineyard Hotel have en-suite bathrooms with shower and/or bath or both, air-conditioning, free highspeed internet access, complimentary tea making facilities and Nespresso coffee station, mini bar, satellite TV, hairdryer, electronic wall safe and international electrical sockets.
Dining Experiences
There are two amazing restaurants at the hotel; Myoga and The Square Restaurant.
The Vineyard has a large and spacious foyer with ceramic-tiled floors and a central antique table topped with a large arrangement of fresh flowers. To one side of this is large a comfortable seating area and business centre. Located just off the foyer is Vineyard Antiques, a small shop specialising in antiques, silver and porcelain, as well as a separate shop selling local curios and jewellery. Adjacent to the foyer is Long Café - a coffee drinkers paradise. The Café has a touch of old and new design features, including an impressive locally made blown glass chandelier and original artwork. Directly behind the foyer, in the glass-roofed central courtyard, The Square restaurant is furnished with modern high and low-backed padded chairs. Lush green plants and tall trees give it a light and tropical feel. Here you are served breakfasts; lunches and dinners, and there is also a sushi bar which is open in the evenings. The dinner menu here changes every 3 days and uses fresh local produce.
Myoga restaurant, which is independently owned, is also in the main building, overlooking the gardens with views towards Table Mountain. Here you will be offered lunch and dinner in more modern surroundings, sampling 'global fusion' cuisine ranging from Mediterranean mezes to eastern style. The Garden Lounge is a wonderfully relaxed venue to enjoy light meals or snacks and afternoon tea, either inside by the bar on comfy sofas, or head outside via the large floor-to-ceiling windows onto the terrace overlooking the gardens and Table Mountain beyond.
Activities and Amenities
The Health and Fitness Centre at the Vineyard is a modern extension to the hotel built of glass and steel. It has two heated swimming pools, one large outdoor and one small indoor, as well as a fully equipped gym. Here you will also find the Splash Café which serves healthy snacks, soft drinks and smoothies. Housed in the Fitness Centre is one of the Vineyard's shops, selling a wide variety and gifts and curios.
Adjoining the Fitness Centre is the Angsana Spa which is run by the international Banyan Tree Group. Here you will find a peaceful and relaxing environment to enjoy a variety of pampering treatments for body and mind!
The outdoor swimming pool at The Vineyard Hotel.
On-site activities include a guided walk around the lush gardens followed by afternoon tea, plus during the summer months there are various activities laid on for children including treasure hunts in search of the tortoises, arts and crafts and movies.
Mainly over the summer months, there are a variety of supervised activities for children, including treasure hunts in search of the Vineyard tortoises, outdoor activities and a supervised Games Room (open mid Dec-Jan) with arts/crafts, indoor games and films daily.
Babysitters are available (additional cost) to look after children. The Vineyard Hotel accepts children of all ages and they are welcome here. The cottages are ideal for accommodating families.
There is a direct-dial phone in all the rooms as well as free WiFi. There is also a separate Business Centre with computers, fax machines and printers for guests to use.
The Vineyard Hotel: A Blend of History and Modernity
The Vineyard Hotel is a mix of modern contemporary design built around an old historical house dating back to 1799 and is constantly being updated to keep up with current hotel trends. During COVID-19, The Vineyard underwent a significant upgrade of its reception area, which now benefits from much more natural light and views into the gardens. As cavernous as its entrance lobby is, it also feels cosy with conversation settee setups throughout.
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