At Mila at Doolhof, which occupies an original, 19th-century wagon house on the Wellington wine estate, linger over shared plates like roasted kingklip fish in curried mussel broth and roasted butternut salad with pickled beetroot and harissa. Another spot worth the short drive is Noop in Paarl. Here, dishes celebrate the simplicity of flavors from seasonal and local ingredients, like herbs plucked from the onsite garden, meat handpicked daily from local butchers, and venison sourced from the restaurant’s farm in the Namibian Kalahari—plus, the restaurant boasts an extensive wine list with more than 350 options (a third of which hail from Paarl).
At Kraak’s pop-up farm events in Wellington, dubbed Kruijd (of Dutch origin meaning “herb” or “spice”), linger over an all-day feast of freshly baked mosbolletjies (sweet, brioche-like buns) served with chicken liver pâté and onion marmalade and whipped feta with roasted tomatoes, followed by open fire-roasted beef tenderloin rubbed in a local herb salt and drizzled with homemade chimichurri. If you can, time your trip around one of the seasonal Kraaktafel long-table dinners, themed soirées held in surprise locations throughout the Western Cape with playful dress codes and entertainment like a pianist playing on a stage propped up in a field of cacti.
Where to stay
Newly opened Kokos Huis is a six-bedroom boutique hotel housed in a 200-year-old, whitewashed Cape Dutch farmhouse with three separate cottages (complete with built-in brick braais) that frame a palm tree-lined pool and cabana. Each room in the main manor home comes with its own personality, with a loft-like space showing off views of Kasteelberg mountain under the vaulted roof and an old farm room filled with antique armoires and a wood-burning fireplace, with a front door opening onto the stoep and pool.
At farmhouse-chic hideaway Kalmoesfontein, the handful of accommodations include a former winemaker’s cottage tucked amongst old Cinsault vines and a converted grain silo with an open-plan bedroom lined with windows showing glimpses of the mountains in the distance. On Thursdays, join locals and winemakers from around the region for wood-fired pizzas paired alongside an eclectic collection of bottles brought by the producers themselves.
In Franschhoek, Sterrekopje Healing Farm sprawls across more than 120 acres on a 17th-century Cape Dutch estate, with 11 sanctuaries and suites outfitted with a mix of rich tapestries and carpets, pastel-hued murals, natural elements like stone sinks and wooden stools, and outdoor soaking tubs and garden showers. Stays include bathhouse rituals performed by holistic practitioners, private yoga and qigong, and plant-based plates created from more than 60 varieties of indigenous and heritage plants grown on the farm.
On the Boschendal Estate, also in Franschhoek, Camp Canoe is a playful, Wes Anderson-inspired version of glamping, with seven secluded tents with wood-fired hot tubs, built-in hammocks for stargazing, and jars of marshmallows ready for the braai. In Wellington, the team behind whimsical event planning company Kraak recently debuted a set of suites that blend raw yet elegant Mexican and Japanese aesthetics. Sitting at the foothills of the mountains, farm-to-table is equal parts lifestyle and philosophy here, and everything is curated as beautifully as if it were a setting for a photoshoot.
