Arriving at d’Olyfboom Family Estate in Paarl will leave you a bit distracted. Distracted because the view is unlike any other, the towering Paarl mountains bathed in the late afternoon sunlight, and slowly turning the most fantastic shades of grey, blue and purple as the sun sets over the valley – you will be utterly spellbound, I can promise you that.
We were delighted to have made it from Cape Town in roughly an hour, and that’s in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic no less, and arrive in time to enjoy the scenery and unwind a bit.
Set against the incredibly majestic Paarl Mountain d’Olyfboom overlooks the town, vineyards and surrounding countryside, and is really perfectly located as a base to explore the town or an overnight stop en route to your next destination.
They have 5 comfortably appointed en-suite guest suites, all with incredible views and amenities such as TV, air-conditioning, a private pool for guests, a coffee station as well as Wi-Fi. I loved the fact that they have their very own freshwater spring on the farm, and all tap water is fresh and ready to drink as is.
The farm is owned by Danny de Witt and his wife and not only do they offer accommodation but they also produce wine and olives, with the farm being able to host events, conferences, team buildings and weddings and the like for up to 80 people – and I honestly cannot think of a better backdrop. The entire farm is child-friendly, which makes a big difference for families travelling – I can imagine.
The original old farmhouse serves as the reception and breakfast area and even boasts some of the old wooden doors and original brickwork – while the outbuildings such as the stables etc have been converted in to function venues and of course the 5 rooms.
Our beautiful twin room was elegantly decorated but nothing over the top, the room was large and boasted a comfy built-in wall couch, authentic old armoire and work desk with a coffee machine.
The bathroom was my favourite, the shower wall creating a focal point with beautifully patterned tiles, a beautiful quote written artfully on the toilet wall and the large bath had a superb view through the slatted windows to the garden and pool area.
As the sun sets the town lights start to twinkle like fairies in front of you, and we happily sipped on a bottle of wine, settled on the comfortable deck furniture and watched the valley come alive in so many different ways from day to night, really really spellbinding.
As d’Olyfboom does not supply dinner on-site, we popped out for dinner to the nearby Blacksmith’s Kitchen at Peal Mountain, which came recommended and is worth a visit if you are in the Paarl area -the same sort of view as d’Olyfboom, and beautiful big tables spread out under the trees, you are literally eating your dinner in the vineyard, superb!
After a good nights rest, and a walk around the neighbourhood – fitness does not rest, even on holiday, we had worked up a great appetite to tuck into a hearty, homecooked, farm-style breakfast in the main reception and kitchen area located in the original farmhouse.
The breakfast deck looks out of a beautiful dam and we watched a family of ducks going about their morning routine as we sipped on piping hot cappuccinos, enjoyed tasty bacon and eggs with all the trimmings and thick slices of delicious homemade bread with dollops of jam – just what you need before hitting the road for another day of travelling.
What a magical stay and a huge thank you to Danny and his team for hosting us, everyone was so kind and thoughtful, and we can’t wait to return again to enjoy that beautiful mountain view.
d’Olyfboom is a member of Cape Country Routes, who supply upmarket accommodation for the discerning traveller – find out more here…
A: 14 Napier Street, Paarl, 7646
T: +27(0) 21 870 1080
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