In Cape Town, we’re blessed to have some of the world’s top picks – from beaches like Camps Bay, to rooftop bars like Chinchilla. However, in a recent listing, a hidden gem just an hour East of the Mother City has been honoured with the accolade of Best New Hotels in the world.
You might be thinking that it has to be something in the heart of the city, or shining along the Atlantic Seaboard Board coastline. After all, most tourists seem to think before visiting, that Cape Town is much smaller than it is mapped as just Camps Bay or town.
In a refreshing note, the ‘world’s best’ ranking has been awarded to a down-to-earth local pick boasting just 11 hotel rooms at none other than a Franschhoek farm.
The local pick stands tall with a Miami spot by Pharell Williams and even a former 14th century palace in Sicily. However, as Travel + Leisure expresses: “we’ve aimed to showcase the properties that are at the top of their game and adding something new to the conversation.”
Travel + Lesiure’s editors added Sterrekopje in Franschhoek to its list of finest choices. This was partly due to the picturesque setting of the accommodation, “framed by mountains and the fertile Franschhoek Valley” as per the editors, but more so the peaceful feeling that a stay there invites.
Read more: 20 restaurants in Franschhoek to visit
Beyond the tantalising views and escape from the bustling city, Sterrekopje prides itself on a holistic and healing stay. Its all about slowing down at Sterrekopje, and focusing on re-centering and reconnecting with others, oneself and Mother Earth, a much needed outlook in a world obsessed with clout.
The farmland is one of the oldest in Franschhoek and spawns over 50 acres that have been cared for in their nourishment preserved. Think olive trees, grapevines, fresh fruits, cleansing rituals, mindful journeys and touch therapy, all at the landscape’s refreshing accommodation.
The fragrant medicinal gardens, hiking trails and crystal pools that dote the farm were praised by the editors, but the healing and peace factor of the stay stood with shining radiance.
Perhaps in the modern era, its not always about how luxurious a stay is, nor how much overt glamour it boasts, but rather how much a setting and its hospitality inspires soft landings and peace of mind.
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Picture: @sterrekopje