Western Cape, South Africa

Western Cape South Africa

We went back to one of our favorite countries in January 2014:  South Africa.

Highlights

  • Lodging
    • Lovane Boutique Wine Estate & Guest House
  • Restaurants
    • Mont Marie
    • The Pot Luck Club
    • Asara Wine Estate
    • Bread & Wine Restaurant at Môreson.
  • Things to do

We stayed at LovanE Boutique Wine Estate and Guest House in Stellenbosch.


Western Cape

Western Cape

We loved the peaceful wine farm experience this small working wine estate had to offer.

Western Cape

Western Cape

LovanE is also conveniently located for exploring the Winelands and Cape Town.

Western Cape

And the views are spectacular!

Western Cape

Western Cape

The night we arrived, we went to dinner at Mont Marie in the heart of the Blaauwklippen Valley.

Western Cape

Be sure to go in time to watch the sunset over the Cape Winelands.

Western Cape South Africa

Right about then I heard the Western Cape whisper: Welcome back, Kristi!

Mont Marie was the perfect start to our trip.

Western Cape

Western Cape

The next morning, we drove to The Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town.

Western Cape

Every Saturday, The Neighbourgoods Market hosts over 100 specialty traders at The Mill featuring local farmers, fine-food purveyors, organic merchants, bakers and distributors, grocers, mongers, butchers, artisan producers, celebrated local chefs, and micro enterprises.

Western Cape

Western Cape

The Old Biscuit Mill is also where you’ll find Chef Luke Dale-Roberts’ restaurant, The Pot Luck Club.

Western Cape

Read all about our lunch with them HERE. Every bite was paradise.

Western Cape

Dinner that night was at Asara in Stellenbosch.

Western Cape

We were originally going to keep it simple and go to their lounge, Sansibar, but the full moon rising over the lake encouraged us to sit outside at Raphael’s.

It was another wonderful evening in the Winelands — excellent food, wine, and atmosphere.

The next morning we woke up to a crystal clear blue-sky day perfect for exploring Table Mountain!

You can see all of those pictures and read about the best morning of our trip HERE.

Western Cape

Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, is at the foot of Signal Hill in Cape Town.

Western Cape

The township is known for its brightly colored houses and is worth driving through.

We were going to eat at Bo Kaap Kombuis Restaurant, but they were closed for an event that afternoon.

Instead, we went to the famous V&A Waterfront.

Western Cape

Quay Four had a crowd and a good sounding band, so we gave it a shot.

Western Cape

We ordered a couple of beers and a big pan of prawns:

Western Cape

Great choice!

Western Cape

We were heading back to our car when we heard some amazing sounds coming from Ferrymans Tavern, so we stopped in for a closer look.

Western Cape

That’s the day we met The Fancy Galada Band.

Western Cape

Lead vocalist Fancy Galada’s energy is infectious.

Even the bartenders were dancing!

Western Cape

We loved every second and ended up staying all afternoon.

Western Cape

The energy that day was everything I adore about South Africa.

Western Cape

Western Cape

One love. One heart.

Western Cape

Thank you, Fancy! I’m thrilled we found you, and I look forward to the day when we see you again.

The next day we drove to Franschhoek and ate lunch at Bread & Wine Restaurant at Môreson.

Western Cape

I loved their courtyard.

Western Cape

I also love that they offer food cooked on a Big Green Egg.

Western Cape

Thee Karoo Lamb is smoked on The Egg for 12 hours and the Bacon Wrapped Springbok was equally delicious.

Western Cape

Before heading back to Stellensosch, we picked up a few dinner supplies from their deli: meat, cheese, bread, and jams.

Western Cape

Western Cape

Sometimes a picnic dinner “at home” is exactly what you need when traveling.

Western Cape

The next day we went for a drive down the coast.

Western Cape

Western Cape

In 2011, we drove the Cape Peninsula making stops at Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope.

You can see all of those pictures HERE.

Western Cape

This time we drove all the way to Rooi-Els on the eastern shore of False Bay.

Western Cape

Western Cape

Western Cape

On our way back up the coast, we stopped at Bikini Beach and ate lunch at The Thirsty Oyster.

Western Cape

Such a perfectly peaceful day.

Western Cape

I told you about our best morning at Table Mountain, our best afternoon with the band Masala, so now for our best night of the trip:

Big Green Egg-Cademy with Bertus Basson at Hidden Valley Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

BGE - Bertus Basson

SO MUCH FUN!

You can see all of those pictures HERE.

Western Cape

Please put South Africa and the Western Cape on your list of things to do.

Western Cape

It is one of our favorite countries, if not my all-time favorite.

Western Cape

I love it so much I could see myself living there.

Table Mountain

Really!

Bye for now, Western Cape.

Western Cape

No doubt . . . I’ll see you again!

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For more on South Africa, click HERE.

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