TRAVEL
A deft introduction to brandy goes hand-in-hand with a stay at one of the most beautiful luxury boutique hotels in Paarl: The Grande Roche Hotel. At the foothills of Paarl Rock, the hotel is the perfect blend of country escape, colonial decadence and African charm. It’s a five-star stay worth splurging on.
The rooms are steeped in character. Many are part of original outbuildings that have been converted into thatch-roof suites. I stayed in one of the duplex suites, which offers a downstairs living space with a second bathroom, and an upstairs bedroom and bathroom.
The beauty of this side of the Cape, with its vineyards and blue skies means you can soak in the beauty from the luxury of your room. But The Grande Roche’s Bosmans Restaurant is its real selling point.
Situated in the Manor House, the 70-seater has been named one of the top ten restaurants in SA and one of the top 100 in the world.
The black-and-white tiled floor and the massive wood-panel doors and gold touches give the space a manor feel.
Dining here is a sparkling introduction into good food and even better surroundings.
But book ahead and check the restaurant menus ahead of time.
On warm mornings the doors of Bosmans are opened, and the soft breeze makes the curtains billow playfully as hotel guests sit down for the breakfast buffet. It’s an important time to be at the Grande Roche, when you can truly take time to enjoy your food.
If you listen carefully you might even hear the angels whisper from the Paarl Valley.