Cape Town alone is definitely worth a visit; however, if you are there already, I suggest you rent a car and explore South Africa along and around the Garden Route. There is so much to see and do! I have already introduced you to my top 6 activities in and around Cape Town; today, the focus shifts towards wine – because, after all, South Africa is world-famous for its wine, and the wineries with their in-house restaurants, spas, hotels and / or shops are definitely fun to explore!
These are my top 4 wineries on the way from Cape Town to Franschhoek; I have added a beautiful farm, which also grows and produces their own wine, to the list, too.
Wineries in South Africa – top 4: Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia is only a 20-minute car ride away from Cape Town, with a beautiful view over the endless vineyards. I particularly loved the outside seating area of the restaurant: We were sitting underneath huge trees while sipping on a glass of Chardonnay. I ate fresh pasta with homemade pesto, vegetables and cheese, a simple, yet outstanding meal, which still – months later – is on my mind! We did not even do a wine tasting here; the location and restaurant worth enough visiting!
Wineries in South Africa – top 3: Tokara Wine Estate
An hour from Cape Town is Tokara Wine Estate, with a breathtakingly beautiful restaurant, Tokkata Restaurant! The views: wow! We enjoyed a fabulous lunch here, which turned out to be totally doable with a baby, too, as the staff was so friendly!
The wine tastings take place with that same beautiful view over the vineyards, just next to the restaurant. Again, we skipped the tasting, as the wine, which we had for lunch, was enough already. 🙂
Wineries in South Africa – top 2: Delaire Graff
Delaire Graff is likely to be the most over-the-top winery among this entire list, it possibly is THE vineyard in South Africa. 60 minutes (by car) from Cape Town, Delaire Graff has an impressive restaurant with great views from the terrace. The wine tastings take place on a separate terrace with the same amazing view. I can’t really decide whether I found the view from top of the vineyards (walk up there! It is so worth it!) More impressive or the interior of the entire place. There is water running through the hallway, there’s a shop, there are massive bouquets of flowers, there are high ceilings, etc. It is quite the spot!
Wineries in South Africa – top 1: Boschendal Wine Estate
50 minutes from Cape Town is Boschendal, located on a beautiful green site, which is divided into two parts. There are picnic baskets available for both areas, which must be booked ahead! We enjoyed our picnic basket, filled with delicatessen produced on the farm as well as with wine, in the „Rose Garden“, where we sat underneath huge trees between rose trees. That part of the winery is also where the wine tastings take place, and it is particularly nice to walk around here.
The second part of Boschendal Wine Estate is the Werf. Here, the „werf farm picnic“ takes place, plus there is a deli, a butcher and a restaurant.
From all wineries among this list, Boschendal was the one which I loved best!
Wineries in South Africa – a farm worth a visit: Babylonstoren
Oh my, Babylonstoren! A truly wonderful place, if you ask me, I would go so far to say that everyone who is in Cape Town HAS TO come here at least for a day. I don’t think it is necessary to book a room in the – honestly ridiculously expensive – hotel; we just came for a day and got a pretty good idea of Babylonstoren! We wandered through the gardens, where fruit trees, palm trees, pumpkin plants, flowers and grapes are growing. Everything that grows here, is used for the restaurants „Babel“ and the restaurant of the bakery. plus, there is a butcher and a cheese farm; chickens walk around, and kids will love the ESEL and goats.
It is best to book a table at the restaurant Babel beforehand!
