Angala Boutique Hotel: Our full report

Angala Boutique Hotel is a luxurious and very contemporary guesthouse which has an impressive position in ...

... the heart of the Cape Winelands – between Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch. Beside the mountainous Simonsberg Nature Reserve, Angala has panoramic views across vineyards reaching as far as the Boland Mountains.

Angala is more formally known as ‘Angala Boutique Hotel & Guest House’, but when we arrived here it felt delightfully informal – with a warm welcome that instantly made us feel at home. It has nine suites all of which have wooden floors, some with the occasional rug, and are decorated in tasteful neutral tones of browns and creams. All have remote-control air conditioning, a flat-screen TV including South African cable channels, a complimentary minibar and a tea tray including a Nespresso coffee maker, and a digital safe. Each room also has its own small private garden.

The rooms are divided into five different types, plus the recent addition of a cottage:

Two Deluxe Rooms can have either a king-size bed or twin beds, as required. Each of these rooms leads onto a private veranda and garden, and has a roomy en-suite bathroom with a smart, glass shower, double basins and a free-standing bath, as well as an extra outdoor shower.

The four Luxury Suites are rather larger than the Deluxe Rooms, with space for a sofa and small dining table. They also a fireplace and a ‘super king-size’ bed rather than just a king-size, and have spectacular views from their secluded gardens.
The Executive Suite is similar to the Luxury Suites, but the lounge/dining room is large and completely separate from the bedroom.

Two-Bedroomed Deluxe Suite

The Luxury Garden Suite has all the same features as the Luxury Suites, with the addition of a combined lounge and kitchenette, where a pull-out sleeper-couch would suit two small children. It has a fairly large terrace with views over the Simonsberg Nature Reserve.
The River Cottage is slightly removed from the rest of the rooms and offers more privacy – perfect for honeymooners or families. The bedroom has a super king-size bed, and opens out onto an outdoor bath and seating area. An entirely separate en-suite bathroom boasts an elegant free-standing bath, plus an additional outdoor shower. There is a small kitchen/dining area, as well as a lounge with a pull-out sofa bed, and on the terrace is a private pool with views overlooking the dam and mountains.

Angala’s main house is large, relatively open-plan and minimalist in design. The main dining room has hardwood flooring, and is decorated in neutral greys, beige and very pale green. To one side there is a bar and a cosy lounge area with wood burning stove, and to the other are individual dining tables. Wrapped around this on two sides is a second, open-sided dining area with a long communal table, additional individual tables and another seating area with a massive open fireplace. With natural stone floors and sweeping views of the valley and mountains, it flows continuously onto the wide veranda where there are more comfy seating areas.

As well as breakfast, Angala offers guests the option of evening dining from Monday to Saturday, but this must be booked in advance. On Sundays, with advance notice, they are happy to make a cheese or deli platter to eat on your veranda or in the main area.

In front of the main building is a lovely lawn with loungers, and at the end is what Angala’s team proudly refer to as their eco pool. This freshwater swimming pool isn’t chlorinated, but uses a natural filtering process (through filter-beds and locally occurring water plants) to keep the water clean. The views from here are beautiful.

In-room spa treatments can be organised by prior arrangement, usually with an external masseur/masseuse.

Although Angala feels fairly remote and tranquil, it is only an hours drive from the centre of Cape Town. There are lots of activities possible in the vicinity, from discovering the beautiful Franschhoek vineyards, to the adrenalin rush of skydiving off the southern Cape’s coast.

Our view

Angala is a peaceful, relaxed guesthouse with a simple, chic design and an idyllic backdrop of vineyards and mountains. The rooms vary, but all are smart, airy and reasonably spacious, with private verandas and little gardens. The ‘eco pool’ is a lovely feature – even if swimming in it won’t be to everyone’s taste. We think the guesthouse makes a good base for exploring the wine region for design-conscious couples and families with older children.

Lucy Copson

South Africa expert

Geographics

Location: Winelands, South Africa
Ideal length of stay: We’d happily relax here for three or four nights as part of a self-drive trip around the Cape.
Directions: Angala is about 33km north-east of Stellenbosch, 16.7km south-west of Paarl and 23.4km from Franschhoek. It’s about 1 hour’s drive from Central Cape Town.

Take the N1 north-east out of Cape Town and after about 60km turn right onto the R45. Drive for about 6km then turn right into Klapmuts-Simondium Road (signpost for Vrede en Lust Wine Estate). Continue up this road for about 2.4km, following the signposts for Angala.
Accessible by: Self-drive

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: Angala offers breakfast, consisting of cereals, yoghurt, fruit, breads etc as well as cooked options.

With advance notice, guests have the option of evening dining on Monday to Saturday (but not on Sundays) from a small à la carte menu. (Do ask us if you want to arrange it for your first evening in advance.)

On Sundays they are happy to make a cheese or deli platter to eat on your veranda or in the main area – you just need to ask for this in advance.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room Service is available on request
Drinks included: The minibar in the rooms is included, but other drinks are extra.

Children

Attitude towards children
Property’s age restrictions: Children aged 9 years and over are welcome.
Special activities & services: None
Generally recommended for children: Yes, especially the suites/cottage with kitchenettes.

Communications

Power supply notes: There is no alternative power supply.
Communications: Direct-dial phones and WiFi are available in rooms.
TV & radio: South African DSTV is available in all rooms.
Water supply: Mains

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: No
Medical care: The closest medical care is in Paarl, which is approximately 17km from the hotel.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There’s a guard on duty outside the property at night.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in every room and main areas, plus hoses available around the property.

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Available at an extra charge, between Monday and Friday only.
Money: Digital Safes are installed in all rooms.
Accepted payment on location: South African rand in cash is accepted, as well as most credit cards, except for AmEx and Diner’s Club cards.