Meerendal Boutique Hotel

I stayed at Meerendal while in Cape Town for work, partly as an excuse to do some reconnaissance for an event we’re hosting next year. A friend who supplies the property had recommended it so highly, so I arrived with fairly high expectations. Unfortunately, what a let-down. I genuinely feel I may have been given the worst room on the property. It felt more like a cheap Airbnb or staff accommodation than a room at what I expected to be a premium wine estate. The towels and linen were nice, and there was a small complimentary bottle of wine, but that was about where the positives ended. The room itself felt incredibly tacky and poorly thought out. There were bizarre voile curtains with no proper block-out, no air conditioning in the bedroom (you had to rely on the air from the sitting area), and there wasn’t even a door separating the bedroom from the sitting area. This meant that any lights in the sitting area shone directly into the bedroom. There was also a bright blue bathmat that didn’t match anything else in the room, which was otherwise white. It all felt very mismatched and strange. Perhaps the property was full and I was put into some sort of staff cottage — although I didn’t see another hotel guest during my stay, so I’m not sure. I also arrived late on Sunday evening, and the lady who checked me in sent me walking across the grass to the cottage in the dark. Not exactly the warmest or most welcoming arrival. The one positive was Bossa. The service and food there were fantastic. However, it seems to operate separately from the accommodation, so unfortunately that didn’t make up for the stay itself. Ultimately, I left a night early and won’t be returning. Given how highly Meerendal had been recommended to me, I was genuinely disappointed.

I recently stayed at the Meerendal Boutique Hotel at Meerendal Wine Estate in one of the new Chapel rooms. Although I was traveling for work, I enjoyed exploring the estate and highly recommend the wine tasting room and the handcrafted chocolates at Cocofair. The rolling lawns and views are stunning and I cannot imagine a more beautiful and serene setting for conferences or weddings. As a selective traveller, I found the room exceptional, it was well designed and the best sleep I’ve had away from home in a long time. I highly recommend the entire estate for both leisure and business travel and cannot wait to return with my family.

The stay was exceptional with the reception staff being very polite and helpful. The setting is also very picturesque and tranquil.