Babylonstoren

Beneath the Cape Winelands mountains, paths cross geometric garden beds at the farm in Simondium.

A week here, month by month

At Babylonstoren I’d leave room in the diary: harvesting with the gardeners and baking with the bakers can shape a day. Come to sleep on the farm; for daily sightseeing in Cape Town, I would stay in the city.

Book direct The hotel’s website

Is it for you?

For two, a Garden Cottage with a kitchen and fireplace gives you somewhere of your own for an evening in. Book a restaurant for the night when you want dinner looked after.

I’d ask for
One-Bedroom Cottage in the Garden Cottages, distinguished from the Fynbos category.
Worth knowing
Breakfast is included in the overnight stay; other meals are separate.
A lit fireplace in the cottage bedroom

Like a regular

A man carries a crate in front of a glass building surrounded by plants

11 min readHow we write the guide

  1. The house’s own lawn

    Manor House has games set up on its private lawn. I’d leave an afternoon gap for time outside together, without finding another activity on the estate.

  2. What to add to the bill

    A tourism levy of 1% per room per night is added to the rate. When comparing offers, I’d also allow for treatments, workshops and transfers according to the chosen inclusions.

  3. Dinner at the Bakery

    For dinner at the Bakery, wheelchair users need their own chair: the Farm Shop that lends them is closed by dinner time. For a closer approach to Greenhouse, I’d arrange the drop-off point beforehand.

What Babylonstoren is

Babylonstoren is a wine farm between Paarl and Franschhoek. The estate dates to 1692 and the manor house to 1777. Rooms occupy the Farmhouse, Garden Cottages and Fynbos Cottages among vineyards and orchards, with whole houses for a larger party.

Whitewashed walls and fireplaces meet contemporary furniture. Several cottages put the kitchen in a glass cube added to the building, keeping the garden in view while you sit indoors. Shared living space matters as much as bedroom count when you travel together.

Day visitors come into the garden, while overnight guests have access at all times. I would use that freedom for a walk before the visits begin. Lunch and dinner change with the day of the week, so settle restaurant bookings alongside the nights.

In the Lumina Guide

Lumina Guide 2027

We choose the hotels of this guide ourselves, one at a time: no one pays to be in it.

How we choose the hotels

The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them

What do Babylonstoren’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.

  1. Location

    Nearly every guest who mentions it is happy with it. The gardens and paths among the plants are a reason to come, even just for the day.

  2. Room

    One guest remembers a clean, well-placed cottage, but a more spare interior than hoped for.

  3. Staff and service

    9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Gardens, the cellar and shops can fill a visit without an overnight stay.

  4. Breakfast

    One visitor fondly remembers breakfast at the Greenhouse on a rainy day.

  5. Price

    One guest finds the stay worth every cent; for another, extras with meals make the bill less convincing.

How we count
Babylonstoren in numbers
WhatGuests’ scoreGuests who mention itHappy
Location8.84495%
Room7.3250%
Staff and service8.38585%
Breakfast7.3580%
Price–250%

143 guests said so on Google, from 25 July 2026 to 3 November 2026. The farm’s Google profile includes overnight stays and day visits, including gardens, restaurants and the cellar. This section reads 143 texts dated from 4 November 2024, excluding one account solely about farm admission without a stay or meal taken. The bounded collection does not represent every review. It describes Babylonstoren alone, without a comparison with other hotels. Rooms have 2 voices, breakfast 5 and value 2. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.

Price: for 2, the night of 2 May 2027, from R10,850 on Google Hotels on 4 November 2026.

When I would change dates

Among the observed nights, May costs less than November. I’d compare the available dates before deciding how long to stay on the farm.

PeriodRand a night
November 2026 · 4 observed nights25,186–33,078
May 202710,850–19,217
July 2027 · 28 observed nights12,444–13,523
September 2027 · 29 observed nights18,155–27,236

One night for 2 adults, searched separately. Room, meals, taxes and cancellation depend on the chosen quote; dates without a price are excluded.

Around the farm

Gardens and farm buildings in the 2018 film.

YouTube
1:00
The farm from abovefrom 1:00 · Babylonstoren · 28 August 2018Watch on YouTube
YouTube
2:30
The gable above the lawnfrom 2:30 · Babylonstoren · 28 August 2018Watch on YouTube

Good to know before you book

  • Families of 3 or 4 book a 2-bedroom cottage. Farmhouse is excluded from family accommodation.

  • Gravel and peach pips make several paths difficult for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Babel is closer to parking.

Beside the garden or among the vines

Farmhouse Suite · BabylonstorenFarmhouse Suite2 guests · one bedroomA king four-poster, marble bathroom, walk-in cupboard and cast-iron stove. Farmhouse accommodation does not take families with children.View accommodation Red Studio · BabylonstorenRed Studio2 guests · one bathroomA private entrance faces the pétanque courtyard. A fireplace and kitchenette sit inside, with another shower in a secluded garden.View accommodation Garden · One-Bedroom Suite · BabylonstorenGarden · One-Bedroom Suite2 guests · one bedroomAn open-plan suite with sitting area, fireplace and en-suite bathroom. Thick walls and filled bookshelves give the room its character.View accommodation Garden · One-Bedroom Cottage · BabylonstorenGarden · One-Bedroom Cottage2 guests · one bedroomThe kitchen occupies a glass cube beside the cottage. A bedroom, bathroom and sitting room with fireplace complete the layout.View accommodation Garden · Koornhuis · BabylonstorenGarden · Koornhuis4 guests · 2 bedroomsNear the garden and Manor House, with a fireplace and en-suite bathroom for each bedroom. The glass extension holds the kitchen and dining space.View accommodation Garden · Two-Bedroom Cottage · BabylonstorenGarden · Two-Bedroom Cottage4 guests · 2 bedroomsEach bedroom has its own bathroom. A glass cube houses the kitchen and dining area, beside the sitting room’s fireplace and bookshelves.View accommodation Garden · Fowl House · BabylonstorenGarden · Fowl House2 guests · one bathroomA cottage for 2 with kitchen, dining table and seating around a fireplace. Bedroom and bathroom flank the central living space.View accommodation Fynbos · One-Bedroom-cottage · BabylonstorenFynbos · One-Bedroom-cottage2 guests · one bedroomAmong vineyards and orchards, with a bedroom, bathroom and sitting area. The kitchen sits in the glass extension.View accommodation Fynbos · Two-Bedroom Cottage · BabylonstorenFynbos · Two-Bedroom Cottage4 guests · 2 bedroomsAn en-suite bathroom for each bedroom and a glass extension for cooking and dining. The sitting room has a fireplace and bookshelves.View accommodation Fynbos Family House · BabylonstorenFynbos Family House10 guests · 5 bedroomsAn exclusive-use house with a fireplace and en-suite bathroom in each of 5 bedrooms. A private pool occupies the central courtyard; the kitchen opens from the sitting room.View accommodation Manor House · BabylonstorenManor House10 guests · 5 bedroomsA whole house with 5 king bedrooms, 2 convertible to twins. Breakfast and a personalised larder are included; availability and price are by enquiry.View accommodation

Getting there

AddressBabylonstoren Road, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
ArrivalCheck-in 2pm

The entrance is at Simondium, on Klapmuts–Simondium Road; the postal address uses Franschhoek.

Babylonstoren · Simondium, Cape Winelands

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A day here

Morning

Join the harvest

One morning I’d join the gardeners before deciding the rest of the day.

Daytime

Cycle around the farm

Included bicycles offer another way to explore the estate.

Afternoon

Time at the spa

Give the treatment a place in the diary before adding a workshop.

Evening

Dinner at the bakery

On Monday, Tuesday or Friday I’d consider the Old Bakery’s Italian dinner, with pasta and wood-fired pizza.

Babylonstoren reviews

The profile also includes day visits to the farm.

Google2240 ratings4.5/5

Guest voices

Google

A honeymoon on the farm

A honeymoon guest remembers the team and farm walk, which introduced them to the estate’s plants and animals. They hope to return.

Google · 2026-10-11Read on Google
Google

The cottage and meal service

A guest finds their cottage clean and well placed, but reports waits and missed items during meals. They also feel day visitors affect the peace.

Google · 2026-10-16Read on Google
Google

A visit without staying

A visitor explicitly says they did not stay overnight. They praise the cellar tour, gardens and shops during a day on the estate.

Google · 2026-11-02Read on Google

Before your stay

What does a night cost?

For 2 adults, a night started at R25,186 on 9 November 2026, R10,850 on 2 May 2027 and R18,155 on 28 September 2027. Each night is searched separately; check the chosen quote for room, meals, taxes and cancellation. Prices from Google Hotels, 4 November 2026.

What is Babylonstoren?

A wine farm with a hotel, restaurants, garden and spa in the Cape Winelands. Rooms occupy several groups of buildings, with larger houses available for exclusive use.

When do Babel and Greenhouse serve food?

Babel serves breakfast from 8am to 9.30am, lunch Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 3.30pm, and dinner daily from 6pm to 8.30pm. Greenhouse opens at 9am; from September to April I’d plan to visit before 6pm and confirm the last service.

What is in the Garden Spa?

Bamboo and water channels surround a hammam, sauna, salt room and Hot Spa pools. Massages, facials and hammam treatments are available; the spa opens from 9am to 6pm, with booking required.

Is spa access included, and can day visitors use it?

Garden Spa access is included in the hotel stay, with treatments charged separately. Day visitors booking a single treatment can use the outdoor pool, gym and Hot Spa, including the sauna, heated indoor vitality pool and salt room.

Which pools are there?

The shared outdoor swimming pool occupies a restored farm reservoir. Hot Spa adds indoor pools; Fynbos Family House has its own pool in the courtyard.

Should I choose Garden or Fynbos?

Garden Cottages stand beside the cultivated garden; Fynbos Cottages adjoin vineyards and orchards. Both have one- and 2-bedroom accommodation, so decide on position before fitting the bedrooms to your party.

Is there parking?

Yes. The parking area is close to Babel; reaching Greenhouse involves uneven garden paths. Confirm the cost, availability and overnight arrangement for the actual booking.

Is it in Cape Town?

The estate is at Simondium, between Paarl and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands. Use Babylonstoren Road and the mapped entrance for navigation; the postal address is given as Franschhoek 7690.

How many wedding guests, and what does it cost?

Old Cellar seats 100 at a long table; Wheat Barn seats 46 and White Studio 38. The 2027 Old Cellar package starts at R503,000 in the May–August low season and R752,000 in high season. Drinks and additional items belong in the event quote.

Do the reviews describe hotel stays?

The same Google profile includes overnight stays and farm visits. Before using an account to choose a room, I’d check whether it describes a stay, a meal or a day visit.

What could I do during the stay?

Included activities range from guided walks and bicycles to fishing, rowing, harvesting, bread baking, a cellar tour and wine tasting. The mountain drive requires at least 2 nights; workshops are a separate charge.

Is there a New Year’s Eve dinner?

For 31 December 2026, I would book only with the evening’s programme, menu and price in the quote, rather than assuming a gala dinner is included in the stay.

When is the hotel open?

For a Christmas stay, I’d have the hotel nights confirmed first. The farm is closed to day visitors on 25 December.

Which current offer would I compare?

Garden in Bloom requires at least 2 nights and includes breakfast, included farm activities, a Farm Shop gift and a 2-course Babel dinner per guest, through 30 November. A third night gets 25% off, or the fourth gets 50% off in a 4-night stay. Late checkout is subject to availability.

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6 photographs

A woman in a robe on the path among the spa’s bamboo
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Breakfast laid on the table
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A lit fireplace in the cottage bedroom
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A white bedroom with a four-poster bed
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A bedroom with a high ceiling and sofa
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The bathroom with a freestanding bath and chequered floor
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