Spier Hotel
Hotel
At the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands, an enchanting, authentic African experience awaits the discerning guest: the historic Spier.
Indubitably, Spier is unique in many ways. Steeped in the turbulent Cape history, the style is a curious blend of innovative chic and quaint country flair. Conveniently located, the Spier Hotel is situated a mere 10 minutes’ drive from Stellenbosch, 20 minutes from the Cape Town Airport and 30 minutes from the city centre.
The Spier Hotel is more than just read more » accommodation. Stir in the charm of the world-famous Wine Route, the tantalising smells of African spices and, first and foremost, the warm and sincere African hospitality and you cook up the matchless Spier atmosphere.
The Spier deserves a short review of history. Native tribes settled here as early as the Stone Age. Historic artefacts of this period are still regularly discovered today.
The first European settlers arrived at what is known as the Stellenbosch District towards the end of the 17th century. In 1692, the Cape governor assigned the estate’s property to a German settler named Arnout Janz who sold the farm to Hans Heinrich Hattingh in 1712. It was then renamed after Hattingh’s home town Speyer – the origin of the today’s name despite the different spelling.
The years passed and the estate was handed down through the centuries until, in 1993, a South African businessman by the name of Dick Einthoven bought the property. Extensive renovations renewed the ancient Dutch buidings’ resplendence. As a result, a place of extraordinary beauty, living history and refined ambience was created.
A legacy infused with a turbulent history characterised by different cultures, countless families, traditions and epic events.
Living
At the Spier Hotel every accommodation category spells luxury. The units have been constructed in the fashion of a small village. 155 rooms, four suites and nine villas all congregate around a sweeping
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garden, neat footpaths and even a small river.
The rooms have been set up in small clusters. Six sub-sections can be distinguished, each featuring a central swimming pool. During construction, special care was taken to integrate the village most harmonically into the natural surroundings.
Featuring more than 60 square metres, the Spier Hotel’s rooms offer plenty of space to spread out and have been designed in an unobtrusive but elegant country style. The suites and villas follow the same design line but offer even more space (110 square metres) and fine comforts. A villa consists of three rooms and a lounge.
No less than four superb restaurants will fulfil all of your culinary desires. The Figaros is situated amidst the startlingly beautiful landscape of the Helderberg and Simonsberg Mountains. It serves the most remarkable à-la-carte dishes.
Fresh and local ingredients enjoy top priority. The culinary creations are served either in the elegant dining room or on the terrace next to the pool. The fine wine accompanying your meal is served by the adjacent Toto Bar which is where you can sample the entire range of the celebrated Spier Private Collection.
The other first-class restaurants on the Spier Estate are the Jonkershuis Restaurant, the Spier Deli and Picnics and the Moyo (only open in the winter months). The Spier Hotel’s range of facilities furthermore includes a golf course, wine centre, boutique shops and a playground.
Activities
The Spier Hotel boasts a 3 square kilometre large golf course on its estate: the De Zalze Golf Club. Registering record bookings ever since it opened in 2002, the De Zalze Golf Club ranks among South Africa’s
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most popular golf courses.
In 2006, the course hosted the World Amateur Team Championship (WATC). The facilities and services include professional golfing lessons and a shop selling equipment and accessories.
Another of the hotel’s highlights is the convivial Wine Centre offering tastings. Accommodated in a historic barn dating back to 1856, the quaint Dutch architecture and, of course, the fine produce attract scores of visitors.
Nothing stands in the way of an unchecked shopping spree. Apart from the golf shop and the wine centre, a jewellery outlet is located on the hotel premises. Daneel Diamond, needless to say, sells diamonds and assorted jewellery from the own factory located in Stellenbosch.
Of course, you should extend your range beyond the hotel’s boutique shops and explore the enticing region. Our recommendations are the scenic Winelands, the posh Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, historic Robben Island, a trip along the Garden Route to the Cape of Good Hope or into the mountains and whale watching in Hermanus.
As you can plainly see, the options are infinite. A low-key alternative would be to stroll down the river and along the lake, keeping your eyes peeled for the diverse birdlife along this route.
A nearby Cheetah Park and the Eagle Encounter may be included into your stroll. Those who are determined to stay shape during their holidays will be pleased to learn that the tracks are also perfectly suitable for jogging. Horse riding is available for a small fee.
Kinds will be kept busy and happily entertained by both the huge playground and the Kids Club House which regularly hosts educative and entertaining activities for the small guests.
