STYLE COUNSEL
KARIN WRIGHT takes a relaxing step back in time at a stunning Hotel in Montagu, Western Cape, South Africa
THE VIBE
The Montagu Country Hotel is in the centre of the lovely small town of the same name, 2.5 hours inland from Cape Town, which is reached via sprawling vineyards, orchards and beautiful mountain passes.
The laid-back hotel may be in town, but it has a relaxed country vibe, with lush gardens and cool pools at the back. Guests include Brits on road trips, locals on weekend breaks, and (well-behaved) bikers from Germany.
The owners champion local artists, and there are regular exhibits. Coco (as in Chanel, of course) the resident Maine Coon cat patrols the property.
The staff are absolutely wonderful – most of them have been working here for years, which is always a good sign.
THE STYLE
Art Deco, Art Deco and more Art Deco – it’s the only original hotel of its kind in South Africa. From the splendid façade to the lampshades, chairs and artwork, every detail is period chic and beautifully restored.
Each en-suite room in the main building is uniquely decorated, and there are two self-catering villas and a quirky African hut in the gardens. Most of the rooms have views of the Langeberg mountains which surround Montagu.
THE FOOD
Enjoy breakfast cooked to order under the huge trees on the garden patio, light meals or home-made cakes on the terrace or in the bar of the Feathers & Flatcaps lounge.
You can feast on rib-sticking local specialities – roast venison loin, Karoo lamb pie, oxtail stew, malva tart (SA’S answer to sticky toffee pud) – in Charlestons Restaurant in the evening. There are also great cocktails and plenty of world-beating wines from the area.
THE ACTION
Watch the world go by from the terrace, wallow in the pool (it gets rather warm in summer here), or have a spa treatment in the on-site wellness centre.
Have a mooch around the great little town, which is stuffed with coffee shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and places selling the dried fruit for which the region is famous. Go on a bicycle tour with the wonderfully wacky Marchelle at Flying Feet. She also does ghost tours.
But top billing goes to the hotel owner and his pair of classic American cars.
Friendly PJ – sporting a fetching flat cap, obviously – will take you on a tour around the nearby Robertson wine route in a gleaming 1956 or 1964 Cadillac. Not something I expected to be doing in rural South Africa!
THE SIGHTS
Montagu sits on the increasingly popular Route 62, which takes in the interesting towns, tasty vineyards, stunning mountains and fascinating wildlife inland from the more famous coastal N2 Garden Route. The hotel is part of the Cape Country Routes collection, which connects privately owned hotels and activities.
Just pick a route (from four to 12 days) and enjoy a cracking road trip to discover some of South Africa’s hidden gems.
This is a great way to experience the country’s amazing hospitality away from the big cities and regular tourist haunts. Combine a stay here with a longer tour of the area.