Brookdale Estate: Manor Suite

In a valley encircled by the Klein Drakenstein mountains, Brookdale Estate is a place to slow down and enjoy the pastoral rhythms of the seasons, big African skies, birdsong and serenity. The whitewashed walls of the Cape Dutch-style Manor House enclose five suites, with a sixth suite in an adjacent building. These can be booked individually for a romantic getaway, or the entire house can be rented for exclusive use.

The rooms are lofty, and elegantly dressed in a mix of contemporary and period furnishings, and a muted colour palette that does not detract from the breathtaking views of sprawling vines, flourishing orchards, undulating multi-hued hills and dramatic mountains from every single window.

Additional rooms include a dining room, breakfast room, private study, lounge, library, fitness room and a view-drenched kitchen. There’s also a garden and swimming pool, and several courtyards and terraces from which to soak up the spectacular views.

Meals are exceptional – served in a different location each day. From the beautifully conceived and executed dishes to the superb service and impeccable setting, it’s the  kind of food we’d happily eat every day for the rest of our lives: healthy, flavourful, delicious, with ample variation and surprising ingredients to keep us rapt.

THE LODGINGS

Five Manor Suites offer beautiful views of the vineyards and mountains.

Indoor living

• King-size bed (split into twin beds on request)
• Ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
• Roll-away beds for 2 children under 12 years sharing the suite with their parents, plus a baby’s cot
• In the Manor House: a dining room, breakfast room, private study, lounge, library, fitness room and kitchen.

Outdoor living

• Swimming pool with sun loungers and pool house
• Several courtyards and terraces from which to soak up the spectacular views

Catering

• Breakfast is included in the rate
• The services of a private chef for lunch and dinner
• The Bistro at Brookdale is open for lunch (Tuesday – Sunday) and dinner (Friday + Saturday)

THINGS TO DO

On the property

• Unwind next to the pool or snuggle up with a book in one of the lounges
• Book a pampering in-room massage
• Vist the Tasting Room to sample the estate’s two ranges, Brookdale and Mason Road
• Reserve a table at the Brookdale Bistro
• Ramble through the orchards or take a tractor ride and picnic in the vineyards
• Follow cycling, running and horse-riding trails through fynbos and along streams
• Bird watching

In the area

• The wine routes of Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Wellington, with myriad estates, restaurants, galleries and boutiques
• Nature trails in the Paarlberg Reserve
• Mountain biking