Photo: Brian Berkman
Sometimes it is the old-word charm of yesteryear that really makes one feel warmly at home. Located in a Stellenbosch Cape Vernacular double-storey house with a corrugated steel roof and classic broekie-lace iron filigreed balcony, Evergreen Manor & Spa is a high-quality place to stay.
As a Cape Country Routes property, this refined, owner-managed five-star boutique hotel speaks to its location in the heart of beautiful Stellenbosch.
Historic Stellenbosch University buildings are directly opposite, and it is very close to the Botanical Garden. Expect photos of Stellenbosch in the past, quality antiques and other period furnishings in the guest and public rooms.
Heritage pieces have been updated to hold a bar fridge and a filter coffee- and tea-making tray as well as a flat-screen TV.
An elegant round table offers complimentary sherry and two glasses. The room has two large armchairs and a Juliet balcony with French doors.
Each of the 15 rooms is large, air-conditioned and includes a small safe. A drawback is that the safe isn’t large enough to store a laptop computer. Secure off-street parking is available, which is hugely beneficial in Stellenbosch.
Farmer’s Weekly stayed in Room 9 on the upper level, which has its own outdoor staircase for access. A very large and perfectly pristine bathroom has an extra-long and deep tub and a standalone shower. Double vanity basins and quality bathroom amenities, which are dispensed into refillable containers, are available for guest use.
A large wall-mounted mirror outside the bathroom is useful for a full-length view. Having robes and slippers available added to the comfortable relaxation.
Public areas include a lounge and reading room as well as a small sitting room next to reception on ground level. An adjacent property has family-sized rooms and its own pool.
Breakfast in the garden
Only breakfast is served at Evergreen Manor. The breakfast room’s glass doors open onto the pretty garden, which has high-quality wrought-iron outside furniture and canvas umbrellas. Evergreen has a lap-swimming pool with sunloungers, too.
Floor-length white Damask napery covers the breakfast tables. A buffet of freshly cut fruit, cereals and a selection of breads along with yoghurts is available for self-service. The cheese and charcuterie selection, contained in a closing server, is also welcome.
A few home bakes, such as rusks and muffins, are on the side. Butter, marmalade and a strawberry preserve are on the tables. Hot breakfasts, available to order, are well cooked and hearty in size.
There is an on-site spa offering a variety of treatments; however we didn’t get to experience it during our stay.
e-Bike to Franschhoek
Adventure Shop’s Severiano Tamboer and Johan Nepgen guided the e-bike excursion from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek’s Boschendal, a 25km route with a 600m elevation.
Although basic fitness and some mountain-biking experience is suggested on Adventure Shop’s website, the writer has no mountain-biking experience and on the two steep downhills, walked the bike rather than rode it.
Both Tamboer and Nepgen are qualified tourist guides and greatly improved our experience with their local knowledge. This included a story about the first recorded white-collar crime, some 100 years ago, which happened in Kylemore, through which we cycled. Ask them about the silver bullets.
The e-bikes are cycle-assist models rather than motorised on their own. But by using the power setting throughout, the peddling required was effortless.
If you want more exercise, there are four other cycling-assisted options to select from, including one which only compensates for the additional weight of the e-bike but in other respects feels like a regular bike. For this first-timer, the gears and e-settings were easily understood.
At one point, changing down too many gears at a time, the chain caught. Tamboer came to the rescue and seconds later we were on our way again.
With only a few metres on busy roads – mostly when leaving Stellenbosch and at one point while crossing Hellshoogte, the route is off road, much of it on private property, such as the handsome Zorgvliet Estate and later on Boschendal.
The latter is large and includes a river with smooth stones that needs to be crossed.
Tamboer took the bikes across. While it was a little tricky not to slip on the river stones and required a bit of dexterity, shoes off and trousers rolled up to the knee, the crossing was without incident.
The guides will wait near Boschendal’s deli and restaurants so you can enjoy coffee, lunch and/or wine tasting following the cycle. They also carry a backpack with extra water and are happy to keep any wine purchases made along the route.
Nepgen was in the backup vehicle, which ferried us back to Stellenbosch after leaving Boschendal. He popped up at a few points during the route so if someone wanted to continue the journey by car or needed assistance, both may be possible.
Adventure Shop also operates the Vine Hooper, a forerunner to the Franschhoek Wine tram, which drops and collects folks along predetermined Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine estates, along with other activities. It is also a member of Cape Country Routes.
Eating out
The Fat Butcher, an acclaimed steak-focused restaurant and De Warenmarkt, a market-style food and drink emporium, are both recommended and close by. Decameron, one of Stellenbosch’s most established Italian restaurants, is also in easy proximity.
Church Street and Dorp Street are both popular destinations and within easy walking proximity. They offer plenty and varied places to eat and enjoy the area’s fine wines. Java Bistro (javabistro.net), which offers affordable food options and is especially popular with Stellenbosch’s students, is on Church Street.
While not accessible from the hotel on foot, the Rupert Museum should not be missed. This free-to-enter gallery space offers access to some of South Africa’s most notable artists including Irma Stern, JH Pierneef, Maggie Laubser and more contemporary artists too.
Most of the fêted Pierneef Johannesburg Station panels are undergoing cleaning until September but two remain on display. The museum has an extensive and family-friendly programme on the last Saturday of the month, which includes talks, workshops and live music and their cafe serves coffee and light bites.
Reservations for Evergreen Manor & Spa and Adventure Shop can be made by emailing Cape Country Routes at [email protected], phoning 021 023 3611 or visiting capecountryroutes.com.
Tour the area
Stellenbosch is hosting an exciting lineup of new restaurants, tasting rooms, outdoor adventures, Travelstart travel packages, and luxury accommodations.
The Stay and Play Winter campaign returns, inviting you to delve into the region’s vibrant hospitality and wine culture with special offers that encourage longer stays and richer experiences.
Visit stayandplay.visitstellenbosch.org, evergreenmanor.co.za and adventureshop.co.za.
