Babylonstoren is a beautiful and historic Cape Dutch farm situated in the scenic Franschhoek wine valley, only minutes from Stellenbosch and Paarl. Visitors to Babylonstoren can enjoy a unique and real working South African farm experience.
The farm is renowned for its extensive gardens, free-roaming farm animals, vineyards, the hotel & spa, and most of all, their restaurants.
Unwind and indulge in fine cuisine at Babel, one of the restaurants housed in an old cowshed. Babel sets the tone for their farm-to-fork philosophy, with the menu based on the organic fruits and vegetables found in the farm’s gardens. The whitewashed walls, large windows, and simplistic and elegant finishes highlight the vibrant and fresh seasonal dishes prepared by Chef Simone Rossouw.
The farm is perfect for families looking for a day out in the country. You may stumble across chickens, turkeys, peacocks as well as donkeys. Take a stroll through blocks of berries, stone fruit, aloes, figs, and many more.
A coffee table book featuring pictures and a detailed description of the gardens was published in 2018 and can be found in your favorite book store or online retailers, eg. Loot.co.za and TakeAlot.com.
“As co-author Franchesca Watson says, The way Babylonstoren expresses itself visually is inordinately charming. Every material is simple and intrinsic, nothing is smart or clever or tacky, everything is understandable and filled with sincerity; it is a generous place.” This visually stunning coffee-table book covers every aspect of the 3.5-hectare garden: its design, Cape Dutch history, plants, cultivation methods, and the people behind it all. – Extracted from Loot.co.za
Follow the pathways through the garden that leads to a Garden Spa as well as the Greenhouse restaurant. The spa sets the tone for a relaxing treatment in nature, including a spa lunch with only the freshest ingredients.
The Greenhouse restaurant situated under oak trees offers a tranquil environment with seating around their conservatory, perfect for sampling some of the farm’s unique dishes including their pot pie, jar salad, and buttermilk scones. The farm’s restaurants provide a day out in the country, bursting with healthy and sumptuous food.
Shards of delft pottery have been found throughout the grounds during the building and shaping of the gardens. Some of these pieces, dating back hundreds of years have been placed on display in a glass cabinet in the gardens. The farm was inspired by the delft pieces and based their image on this luxury item of days-gone-by.
The farm is also famed for its wines which are grown from 13 variants of vines on the farm and produced in the farm’s private cellar.
“Our wines are best exemplified by the Babylonstoren logo, which consists of the pipe (representing the farmer), the flower (representing the garden) and the bird (representing nature).” – Charl Coetzee (Cellar Master)
You are also able to join the Babylonstoren Wine Club which gives you access to their unique benefits. All you need to do is buy 12 bottles of their wines annually.
The farm is reachable by car (free parking provided), via tour operators and the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
The opulent Babylonstoren hotel features include free Wi-Fi, breakfast, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. The rooms boast fireplaces and all other luxury amenities that you would expect from a 5-star hotel.
The farm shop, located at the entrance to the gardens is a one-stop shop for fresh farm bread, jams, fruit & vegetables, meats, wines, cheese, and gifts. Adjacent to the shop is a bakery and a cheese room.
Babylonstoren’s shop is now also available online for those wishing to have their wines and other items delivered straight to your door. Visit https://www.babylonstoren.com/shop
Babylonstoren | Klapmuts |Simondium Road | +27 (0)21 863 3852