In my last blog I visited Glen Avon and experienced the ease of which you could explore Boulders Beach and Cape Point. From Boulders we travelled back along the coast road, around False Bay. Here the scenery was wild, rugged and dramatic. The waves crushing against the shore and clear white sand swirling across the road. A paradise it would seem for surfers as there were plenty.
We started to travel inland and the scenery changed quickly. Now we were travelling through the fruit growing region and onward to the wine farms of Stellenbosch. We arrived early afternoon to our resting point for the night – Majeka House.
This was my second time and it was lovely to be back. Nicole greeted us with smiles and laughter and showed us to our rooms. We were staying in the new Mountain View Suites which were stunning, the trade mark Lavazzo coffee machines, homemade biscuits and attention to detail were evident once again.
I wanted to try the all day bar grill menu and to spend some time in the M Lounge as it is my favourite room in the building. The meal was the perfect size and choice for a late lunch. Paired with a fabulous virgin cocktail, an ideal way to spend the afternoon, Nicole however had other ideas. She wanted us to try the
complimentary Himalayan salt bed. Mountain View Suites and Pool Suites are entitled to a complimentary Himalayan salt bed treatment, so I gave it a go! As the only one in South Africa I felt I had to! The idea is to send you into a state of total relaxation – it seemed to work a treat!
From here I retired to my room to get ready for what I knew would be an amazing dinner. Dining in Makaron, one of South Africa’s top 20 restaurants, is not just about the food, but the whole experience. We were not disappointed! The fire was lit and the lights dimmed. The restaurant was full of atmosphere.
Esme, the sommelier, was looking after us, and after finding out the football scores (England won 3 – 2) she then proceeded to assess our wine preferences. We started with a stunning MCC and she explained how this particular vintage tasted much better if drunk from a red wine glass rather than a traditional
champagne flute. We tried it and yes, she was right. The fragrance came through before the taste buds got a look in and it gave a far greater experience. From there I moved onto a light Chenin which again she had chosen perfectly.
Makaron has won awards for its food and Chef Tanya and her team did not disappoint. We had a stunning meal – nothing less than expected!
The following morning we said our goodbyes to the owners, Karine and Lloyd, before taking the very short and simple 5 minute drive into the heart of Stellenbosch. We found easy parking on Plein and then started to stroll towards Church Street. Stellenbosch is a university city so this lends itself to more of a boho vibe conducive to a large student population. However Church Street and the streets leading from it give you the feel of a village nestled in the middle of this boho city. Beautiful ornate French wrought iron balconies adorn the buildings like, I imagine, you would find in New Orleans French Quarter. There is an eclectic mix of shops, bars, restaurants and art galleries. We came across Lebanese and North African restaurants along with Italian. You could easily while away an afternoon, having lunch and then pottering, which we did before heading off once again on our travels…