Majeka House was once a farmhouse but now boasts individually furnished rooms and suites in the heartland of the Cape's wine country. It spills across gardens, with leafy passageways and porticoes linking different parts of the property, and offers guests tranquil and secluded corners. Here is a space in which to laze on a chaise and enjoy good weather against the dramatic backdrop of Stellenbosch's mountainous landscape.
Majeka House has plenty of charm, as well as four swimming pools and an in-demand spa that includes a glorious, indoor pool accessible to all guests. You feel as if you are beckoned to stay put and relax.
We were invited to stay and were put up in a poolside suite. Our spacious room spilt into a pretty, enclosed courtyard with a private pool, shared with one other suite. Check in with friends or family, and you get to have this space to yourself.
Founded and owned by a Swiss couple, one of whom we were told has had a love of pigs since the age of eight, Majeka House is filled with her collection, from small piglet sculptures to a giant porker at reception (no actual pigs were harmed in the writing of this review!). The décor is quirky, mixing statement furniture pieces by local South African design talent with Moroccan influences, and bolts of electric blue furniture brighten up the gardens. There is a fun mix of colours, creating vibrant-looking spaces that make you want to explore and then linger.
All rooms have balconies or terraces, and Majeka House offers the benefit of indoor/outdoor living. If you are a fan of taking a long soak, you are in luck, as most of the rooms come with a bath and shower, but there are shower-only rooms too. You also have the option of facing poolside or mountainside, so consider this when making your booking.
This is an utterly tranquil retreat in the Cape Winelands. At the entrance to the reception area, a map mural shows your proximity to an incredible array of wine farms, and regardless of your grape preferences, you will be spoilt for choice. The town of Stellenbosch and its charming historic streets, heritage buildings, and excellent choices of restaurants and cafés are less than 15 or so minutes away by car.
We loved the library, with its fireplace (unlit, as we visited at the start of summer in early January), plush interiors, and sexy bar. Easy to see why it’s a favourite in winter when guests vie for comfortable seats near the roaring fire, which is kept burning all day. There's also a selection of board games to keep you busy. If you fancy a bit of piano playing to add to the ambience, just head across to the restaurant where the ivories await.
We didn’t visit the spa for a treatment – in summer it appears to be super busy and is just as popular with the local residents as it is with hotel guests, so you need to book ahead. Try one of the day packages that include lunch or breakfast.
If you are looking for privacy, this is the place to check in. With so many garden spaces, there is always a spot to secret yourself and not be disturbed.
The heated pool is open 24/7 and the spa has a steam room and a hair salon, making this a popular spot in Stellenbosch for wedding groups.
Several accommodation options with inter-leading rooms make this a comfortable family stay, plus a kids' menu for children under 12, and games and movies designed specially to keep younger ones entertained. Majeka House is mostly about leisure, but if you need to convene a meeting, there is one boardroom that seats 12. Family meeting anyone?
Majeka House has a homely feel. The restaurant, Majeka Kitchen, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The breakfast buffet was impressive, full of fresh options, and for our hot breakfast, we enjoyed the vegan option – grilled brown mushrooms, slices of avocado, ripe cherry tomatoes, rocket, chickpeas, and peppers, with a slice of ciabatta toast. We ate at a table outside on the pretty tiled terrace surrounded by an attractive wall of cacti.
The service at Majeka House is friendly and unobtrusive, and the hotel is a playful and welcoming space.
We enjoyed the special touches – our room key card granted not only entry to our poolside suite, but an offer of free entry to a chocolate and wine tasting at nearby Waterford Estate in the Blaauklippen Valley, and in our room, a woven basket awaited with neatly wrapped pool towels, beckoning us to head outdoors. It's what we appreciate in a hotel – that personal touch, and that someone has put the guest at the centre of the experience rather than just the bed for a night.
Rates vary by season at include breakfast, ranging from around R2,700 p.p. (single, out of season) to R10,800 (peak season) p.n. for two people sharing. Kids under 15 stay free.
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