FYNBOS COTTAGES, BABYLONSTOREN, SOUTH AFRICA

If there is one hotel in South Africa that you need to know about it’s Babylonstoren. In the heart of the Winelands, this Cape Dutch farmstead consists of manicured kitchen gardens, working vineyards and rustic yet refined interiors. There is plenty of choice in terms of rooms and houses to rent across the estate, but travellers in the know will choose the Fynbos Cottages that were built just last year. Broadbeamed pine floors and thick walls make reference to the property’s 18th-century heritage, but all else is contemporary purity: crisp white paintwork and the textures of linen, jute and fine cotton. The bathrooms are large, minimalist spaces, rich from the opulence of space and marble underfoot. Bicycles are provided so you can explore the estate. Indulge in land-to-table dining at celebrated restaurant Babel or head to the farm shop to stock up on supplies to cook in the chic modern kitchen.