There’s an art to a fine welcome. A sincere bienvenue is often all it takes to turn an average experience into a superior one – no matter the star rating – and the owners and staff at Majeka House have got it down.
Stylish decor & design
Majeka House, a 23 roomed hotel in Stellenbosch that recently scooped the Conde Nast Johansens award for Best Design Hotel (Africa & the Middle East has an unassuming facade that belies its stylish interior. Curated by Etienne Hanekom and combining just the right amount of quirkiness, opulence and elegance, MH exudes unpretentious luxury and comfort that prevails throughout, and has an ambience sans the stuffiness that too often accompanies many a multi starred establishment. It is a managerial coup when a high end hotel succeeds in making all guests feel equally at ease and special, so kudos to Karine and her husband Lloyd van der Merwe and their dedicated teams for achieving precisely that.
A deep tissue massage is an indulgence few can resist and I love that the spa uses Africology, a proudly South African and eco conscious brand with a commitment to fair trade ethics and environmental awareness. The hydrotherapy heated pool alongside the spa, complete with a floating jacuzzi is the perfect place to dip then sip a glass of Billecart-Salmon, one of those silky French champagnes I frequently covet- and yes, your mini bar fridge will have a bottle waiting but pop with caution as the price matches the quality, as it should.
Makaron Restaurant
Chef Lucas Carstens heads up a talented team at Makaron, a restaurant that has garnered many accolades both for its food and the chic dining space. His new small plates menu showcases an innovative combination of flavours and textures and is delicious.
Beaucoup des cochons…lots of piggies everywhere
Adding to the eclectic design elements throughout MH are les pigs, not real porkers of course but a diverse array of ornaments, and sculptures, two of which are by Stoop and MOOI, dotted around various parts of the hotel – like a gallery for the curly tailed creatures. Owner Karine has been collecting piggies since she was a young girl and has an impressive collection of 400 that she keeps at her homes in Stellenbosch and France.
Proximity to the Mother City
Only an hour away from the Cape Town CBD, there is loads to do and see near to the hotel: top notch golf courses, the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, wine farms and tastings, walks and the vibrant university town of Stellenbosch, to name but a few options.
Frankly though, once checked in I’d never leave. It’s too gorgeous to waste a minute elsewhere, so if I were you, I’d book a room toute suite (that’s French for immediately) and indulge in the perfect staycation in the heart of one of the most beautiful areas on the tip of Africa.
Exploring can wait – what better than flopping down into a comfy couch next to the fireplace in the gorgeous MLounge, sipping slowly on a fynbos mojito and absorbing the moment.
As Conde Nast Johansens so aptly put it – Majeka House is “full of character and high-spec finishes with the warmth of a private home… undeniably seductive…”
And so say all of us!
To book: reservations@majekahouse.co.za |+27 21 8801549/8801512 | PS, if you’re headed to Switzerland, why not visit the sister Hotel Schonegg in the village of Wengen.
I was a guest at Majeka House courtesy of Karine Dequeker-van der Merwe and Manley Communications.
Until next time,