For the fifth consecutive year, a Cape Winelands hotel has taken the top spot in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, giving travellers another reason to look towards the Franschhoek valley when considering a luxury escape.
Babylonstoren has once again been named South Africa’s No. 1 hotel in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, with the latest results informed by more than 798 867 survey responses from travellers around the world.
The recognition places the working Cape Dutch farm, situated at the foot of Simonsberg Mountain and less than an hour from Cape Town International Airport, at the top of the South African hotel ranking for a fifth consecutive year.
What makes Babylonstoren stand out?
The property combines accommodation, farming, gardens, wellness and dining within its historic farm setting in the Cape Winelands.
At the centre of Babylonstoren is a five-hectare formal garden containing more than 300 varieties of edible and medicinal plants. The seasonal harvest feeds into the property’s farm-to-fork approach, with the gardens also shaping aspects of daily life on the farm.
For visitors, the experience extends beyond a traditional hotel stay, as guests can cycle through vineyards and orchards, participate in the morning harvest, visit the farm’s water buffalo or make their way to a secluded mountain pool.
The Garden Spa forms part of the wellness offering, while Soetmelksvlei recreates aspects of farm life dating back to 1897, including traditional skills that continue to be practised by hand.
Picture: Babylonstoren /Supplied
Accommodation ranges from Farmhouse Suites and Garden Cottages to Fynbos Cottages and larger family houses available for exclusive use.
The latest Readers’ Choice Awards mark the fifth consecutive year that readers have placed Babylonstoren at No. 1 among South African hotels.
Dalené Claassens, director of hotel and hospitality at Babylonstoren, attributed the recognition to the people working across the farm and hospitality operation.
‘This recognition belongs to the people who bring Babylonstoren to life every day,’ said Claassens.
She highlighted the contribution of the property’s gardeners, farmers, bakers, winemakers and hospitality team, adding that the guest experience is closely connected to what is grown and produced on the farm.
‘Luxury here is the freedom to explore, the generosity of what we grow and make, and the care with which it is shared. Every detail should connect guests more closely to the farm. To receive this recognition from our guests is a powerful endorsement of that approach,’ she said.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are based on feedback from travellers, with the 2026 edition drawing more than 798 867 survey responses.
The awards recognise destinations and properties that readers say they most look forward to revisiting, with the results published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website and featured in its November issue.
For Babylonstoren, the latest result adds another chapter to its run at the top of the South African hotel category, while also putting the Cape Winelands firmly into the international travel conversation.
A stay inspired by the award
Travellers wanting to experience the property can currently take advantage of Babylonstoren’s Award-Winning Stay, available for bookings from 7 October to 30 November 2026.
The package includes two nights at the farm, daily breakfast, farm activities and a complimentary drive to the secluded mountain pool. Guests have three hours at the pool, while a Babylonstoren picnic can be arranged separately at an additional cost.
Book the Award-Winning Stay at Babylonstoren
Situated close to Franschhoek, Babylonstoren brings together its hotel, spa, winery, restaurants, shops and gardens within a working farm environment, making its latest international readers’ award as much a recognition of its wider farm experience as its accommodation.
The full Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards list is available on the publication’s website.
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Picture: Babylonstoren /Supplied
