Babylonstoren

We were excited about visiting Babylonstoren, as we love the Newt. We stayed for two nights and enjoyed it a great deal. It wasn’t perfect, and although the reception staff were fantastic, it was difficult to see where reception was. When we found it, no one offered us a welcome drink, or to park the car. Although there was a green room next door with free wine etc, you didn’t feel very special on arrival I have to admit that we were were disappointed with the food, with the exception of breakfasts and the Italian evening. Our first lunch at the Greenhouse was pretty dreadful. My salad needed more dressing and the sliced raw beetroot was tasteless and cut too thick. The burger smelt very strong and after we asked them to check it they said we’d put too much chilli sauce in it (which we hadn’t). Dinner at Babel was okay, but the fish was slightly tasteless. The service was fantastic at every meal, and the staff overall were amazing. The coffee was amazing and the Babylonstoren wine, especially the Chardonnay, was delicious. The free wine and beer by reception was a lovely touch. The bedroom was well appointed with a lovely kitchen that we didn’t use apart from drinks. Really comfortable bed and lovely sheets. However in the second bedroom there was no mirror in the bathroom. Trying to turn the lights off or on was a complete mystery. And the lighting generally was a bit poor. Need to provide plug converters or USB sockets. For the high price of the room there should be an area to sit out, instead of just two sun loungers on the grass. Maybe a shared swimming pool for those rooms? Loved all the chickens wandering about and a huge turkey who was very friendly. The tours were fantastic. Great mountain ride with Axwin, who was brilliant, knowledgeable and charming. The gardens are incredible. Stretch and breathe class was wonderful. The spa was great, with a wonderful large swimming pool. It was a bit cold although I loved to swim in it. But no views anywhere, which was such a shame, and the hedges all round made it incredibly hot. Really weird round pool next door to it and strange entrance to the spa pool. I think that whole area needs reworking and modernising. The sun beds were a bit cheap for the quality of the hotel. The farm shop was amazing, as were the other shops. But it was very crowded, and where our bedroom was we went through the public area to get anywhere. The layout at the Newt works much better in that the hotel areas are very separate from the garden. Would I go back? I’m not sure, but I’m glad we went.

Disgraceful that you are being charged R150 per person entrance fee to then go and spend money in the farm shop or the restaurants / spa / hotel with no offer of the fee being deducted I saw lots of people turning away, what is your reason for such a high fee ? Used to be R10 pp and it went to a local charity , no other wine farm / destination in the area charges an entrance, pure greed

What a beautiful farm and hotel! We stayed for just 2 nights on our garden route holiday but wished we’d stayed 3 nights! The gardens are stunning, food totally amazing and the staff lovely and accommodating! It appears that most of the staff have worked there for years which in itself speaks volumes! The cottage we stayed in was fabulous with everything you needed to make our stay comfortable. We were also given vouchers to use in the scented room to make face masks or body rubs etc as it was my birthday! If you get a chance please go!! An experience we certainly won’t forget!