Schoone Oordt

Style

Tranquil Victorian homestead

Setting

Foothills of the Langeberg Mountains

Among the neat trees and quiet streets of historic Swellendam, you'll find the pretty Victorian facade of Schoone Oordt Country House, a boutique hotel set among clipped lawns, fountains and rose gardens on the doorstep of the Garden Route. Stay here en route to Plett, or escape the bustle of Cape Town for a few days' R 'n' R in the idyllic Western Cape countryside.

Facilities

Rooms

11 rooms, including two suites.

Checkout

11am. Check-in, from 2pm.

More Details

Rates include taxes, home-cooked breakfast, and afternoon tea with freshly baked scones.

Also

Pets unfortunately cannot be accommodated (the owners already have five cats!).

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

At the Hotel

Lovely gardens, swimming pool, conservatory restaurant, free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen satellite TV, embroidered bed linen, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer, tea- and coffee-making kit. Bathrooms have underfloor heating and luxe, locally made bath products. All but the family rooms have fireplaces, too.

Our Favourite Rooms

The Luxury Rooms are set away from the main building; they all have similar decor, with pale walls and dark furniture, open fires and Victorian-style claw-foot bathtubs. Tall Smiths will enjoy the extra-length beds. The Honeymoon Suite, in a separate cottage on the edge of the forest, has a handsomely carved wooden four poster and a giant bathroom, as well as a sitting room and large hearth.

Poolside

The outdoor saltwater swimming pool is big enough for a lung-busting swim or lingering float, with deckchairs and parasols for poolside lounging.

Spa

There's no spa, but in-room massages can be arranged on request.

Packing Tips

Comfy shoes, for the spectacular walks on your doorstep; binoculars, for bird- and beast-spotting; bikinis, for swimming and sunbathing; books, for reading on the patio or by the fire.

Also

Swellendam has become a destination in its own right over the last few years with food, wine, art & adventure. You can request the curated experiences menu in advance.

Children

Welcome. There are two dedicated family rooms at the hotel. Cots and highchairs are available, babysitting can be arranged for around SAR150 an hour.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Your private patio is the perfect place for a sundowner. Or sit by the Conservatory Restaurant's window, which overlooks the garden and koi-filled pond.

Dress Code

Totally relaxed.

Hotel Restaurant

Breakfast is treated seriously here: fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit are plucked from the garden, and local farm produce fills any gaps. The hotel's efforts to source ingredients ethically, as local as possible, have paid off – the Overberg area is rich in suppliers: meat comes from the WildKalahari, fish from B’Bos Trout and pork from Lowerland Farm. Breads, cheese biscuits, cakes and truffled are handmade onsite. So, the intimate dinners served in the Conservatory Restaurant are delicious and authentic taster of the region and season. All dietary requirements can be met too. As you’d expect, the wines are also wonderful, sourced from the celebrated regions of Robertson and Hermanus.

Hotel Bar

There’s a fire-warmed lounge/chill-out room with a wide-screen plasma TV and bar for unwinding in the evenings. Afternoon tea is served here too.

Last Orders

Depends on when the last guest retires for the evening…

Room Service

Not usually, but there is a tea/coffee tray in your bedroom with home-made biscuits for snacking, and drinks can be served on your patio.

Planes

Schoone Oordt is half way between Cape Town International and George Airport, both of which are two and a half hours away.

Automobiles

The nearby N2 will get you to Cape Town in two and a half hours. Parking at the hotel is free. To reach Plettenberg Bay, you’re looking at three hours and 40 minutes.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Your hosts are experts on the area and can arrange a range of bespoke experiences in and around Swellendam, from local wine flights and cheese pairings at The WijnBar to fragrance-and-flavour workshops at Grace+Merci. Further afield, enjoy a day trip to De Hoop Nature Reserve, Cape Agulhas or Hermanus, sip Chardonnay and sparkling wines over lunch at Weltevrede Wine Estate, or head out on a game drive at Mont Eco Game Reserve. In summer, guests can also book striking underwater portrait photography sessions with local artist Gabriela Slegrova.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .