Durbanville Experience

By Nontando Mposo

Sometimes exploring Cape Town means getting out a little bit further. The quiet suburb of Durbanville, which is about a 45 minutes’ drive from the Cape Town city centre, is perfect for a lazy weekend away. Initially I thought there wasn’t much to do, but my view on this is has definitely changed.

I made the trip with a friend from Cape Town to Durbanville on a sunny Saturday afternoon with the aim of having a combination of relaxation with a bit of adventure. Our home for the weekend was the Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Durbanville located on 99 Jip De Jager Drive.This hotel is a short drive to most of the vineyards and restaurants in the area. The word that comes to mind for the room is comfort. The bed was soft and comfy with extra blankets provided for those of us who can get a bit chilly. Two highlights worth mentioning, are the private balcony area which was perfect for sundowners, and the wooden table and chairs that complement the white wall exterior making it the perfect Instagram aesthetic for pictures.Another highlight is the pool terrace area with a scattered eating area around the dazzling pool. With its very own pizza oven, it’s ideal for grabbing a bite to eat for lunch or dinner.

The lounge, bar and pool terrace is also buzzing with day visitors, adding to the ambiance. Their daiquiri cocktail won me over, icy and sweet, it’s delicious on its own or paired with a meal while you cosy up next to the fire place. We had dinner at the hotel’s Buonvino Restaurant. I had a wood fired Carbonara pizza which was loaded with creamy mushrooms, spicy sausage and Italian Herbs.

Overall experience: The establishment is perfect for a quiet getaway for couples or friends who are looking for a ideal escape from the bustling city life. For corporates who are looking for a comfortable stay while handling serious business or parents who are looking for a family friendly hotel that is safe and ideally located. The staff and the concierge are very helpful and offer ready advice on where to go and will even go as far as assisting with ordering you a taxi or uber.

The hotel is also best for solo travellers who are seeking some downtime. Best thing is that you don’t have to leave the hotel unless if you choose to as it offers just about everything you will need, from a well-equipped wine cellar to good food, a lounge area and free and fast unlimited Wi-Fi.

What to do in the area?

Dining Out:

Bon Amis Restaurant on Bloemendal Street in Durbanville. Offering a combination of seafood, sushi and good old bistro classics. This is a casual and family friendly restaurant that has a lovely outside seating area overlooking a small lake.The portions are huge and perfect for sharing should you be wanting a light snack. Their refreshing and vibrant Bloemendal MCC Brut Nature is my favourite…just perfect for toasting to life.

Wine Tasting:

Durbanville Hills Winery in Tygerberg Valley Road, Durbanville. This vineyard is about a 15 minutes’ drive from the Protea Hotel. The drive is worth it, the winery offers amazing scenic views of the vineyards.

There are several types of pairings for you to choose from such as the chocolate and wine pairing and the biltong and wine pairing. Visit around noon and stay for a leisurely pairing followed by a lazy lunch, here time stands still, enjoy the pace and experience.

Top tip:

The sleepy town of Durbanville keeps to its own time. Most people you will encounter, at the hotel and in and around the neighbourhood are friendly and are up for a chit chat. Breathe in and go with the flow.

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