Stellenbosch, Hermanus, Darling & Durbanville

Notes from our visit to South Africa in 2010

This year’s tour of South Africa took in:

Stellenbosch - ½ day

Hermanus - ½ day

Darling and Durbanville - 1 day

Itinerary, Dinner and Accommodation

Itinerary

We based ourselves in Kalk Bay, a small village on False Bay, ½ to ¾ of an hour south of Cape Town.  Although about an hour's drive from the vineyards it has decent beach access, great walks along the coast and into the mountains and many restaurants, galleries and craft shops.

For the Darling Durbanville trip we overnighted in the Darling area on the winefarm of a friend of ours.  However we located a good hotel in the area and there are many B&Bs.

Dinner

Olympia Restaurant, Main Road, Kalk Bay; really good gastro-pub style food in the middle of the village.  Always busy so get there late-ish, after 8.30 pm for a table

Societi Bistro, 50 Orange Street, Cape Town, +27 21 424 2100; very popular SA / French bistro style cooking focusing on seasonal produce and accessible food.

Theresa’s, Boyes Drive, Kalk Bay, +27 21 788 8051; a number of traditional South African dishes; laid-back atmosphere.

Harbour House Restaurant, Kalk Bay harbor, +27 21 788 4133; specialises in seafood given its position.  Get a window table to watch the waves crashing on the rocks.

Buitenverwachting Restaurant on the wine estate, Klein Constantia Road, Constantia, +27 21 794 3522; has deservedly been a ‘top 10’ SA restaurant for years.  Try to get their during daylight hours as they have a superb view of the surrounding Constantia mountains.

Taste Restaurant, Corner Klein Heidelberg Road, off R44, Somerset West +27 21 855 3686; really good French bistro style within 30 minutes of the airport.  Get there for sunset for a great view of table mountain in the west.

Accommodation

Cape Town - The Inn at Castle Hill Guesthouse, 37 Gatesville Road, Kalk Bay, +27 21 788 2554  www.castlehill.co.za  A great B&B on the hillside with a superb veranda with direct views of the sea and within walking distance of several local beaches and seawater pools and, about, 5 good restaurants in the village.

The Royal Hotel in Riebeek Kasteel.  +27 22 448 1378 www.royalinriebeek.com A real old colonial hotel that has been recently refurbished and upgraded.   There are also plenty of B&Bs in Darling itself.  The hotel restaurant appears good and local wine farmers recommend Bar Bar Black Sheep (+27 22 448 1031) in the small shopping centre opposite the hotel.

If you want to buy wine and or ship some home we can recommend The Vineyard Connection, a boutique wine shop and warehouse on the picturesque Delvera Farm on the R44 north out of Stellenbosch towards Paarl.  They are open 7 days a week.   www.vineyardconnection.co.za We use them to buy some older reds and wines from areas that we are not going to visit.