Babylonstoren

It is very unfortunate that there are very bad road works to and from Babylonstoren, queuing for long periods of time. It is obviously very frustrating for them too. The gardens, farm shop, ice cream shop, orchards, parking areas are all very well tended and the gardens, especially are stunning. I visited the garden restaurant for lunch, which has quite a limited menu and ordered a beef burger with home made potato chips. It looked really good when it arrived but the burger was inedible, chewy, could not cut it, did not have a good taste at all. To be honest, I had more tasty burgers at McDonald's. The vegan mayonnaise is also not a great addition. I felt very let down. Most of the staff were lovely, professional and friendly.

What an amazing afternoon. We joined the oil tasting and learnt so much about olive oils and we even blended our own to take away! The grounds are beautiful and the food in the outside restaurant was delicious. We were blessed with a glorious sunny day too!

What an amazing place. A farm and winery (with cellar we didn’t have time to see) dating back to the 17th century, producing its own vegetables and exotic fruits (available to purchase) set in absolutely magnificent gardens – I’ve not seen better in South Africa. It is set in the Franschhoek wine valley with it’s unsurpassed back-drop. The is a hotel and cottages dotted around set in the Dutch style. There is beautiful greenhouse housing all manner of plants and herbs (with Myna bird squawking away!) and 4 hee-hawing donkeys to greet you as you pass. Also a spice house that time constraints sadly forced us to miss. Lovely outside restaurant serving scrumptious fayre. Best check the website to savour the full picture - it will whet your appetite if I haven’t already! The gardens are the jewel however and they alone are worth the visit.