Spier Hotel
Spier, a historic wine estate in Stellenbosch, has 153 apartment-style rooms. Although one of the larger hotels in the Cape Winelands, the property layout gives Spier the relaxed feel of a small village with private courtyards, lovely gardens and a peaceful riverside walk.
Go on a Segway tour through the vineyards, try chocolate and wine pairing, picnic under shady trees or book a treatment at the spa. Spier’s wide choice of activities makes this winelands estate a top choice for families: Eagle Encounters offers unforgettable interactions with birds of prey, there’s a Kids’ Clubhouse, and even grape juice tasting so youngsters won’t feel left out as you sip and swirl the award-winning wines.
Spier was one of the first hotels in South Africa to be ‘Fair Trade in Tourism’ accredited. You can clearly see the passion and care that goes into farming here, and taste it too when you sit down to a farm-to-table feast at the estate restaurant Eight. A great destination for art lovers, Spier has one of the largest contemporary art collections in South Africa, as well as a lakeside craft market selling beadwork, jewellery, textiles and ceramics.
With so much to see and do, Spier is more of a destination than a hotel. Although the rooms themselves are spacious and well equipped: pick a Riverside Room or Garden Terrace Room which opens onto a shaded patio – perfect for an afternoon glass of wine. Breakfast can get rather busy, but there is always a delicious choice including freshly baked scones with berry compote, and perfectly poached free-range eggs with parma-style ham.
