Cape Town, South AfricaConstantia
The Alphen Boutique Hotel & Spa
Cape Dutch manor
Constantia Cape Town, South Africa
Renovated
2021
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LocalOutside the door
The house
Kove CollectionCape Dutch manor
The 1753 wine estate centers on its historic gabled homestead, where afternoon drinks spill onto terraces beneath ancient oak trees.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A 1753 Cape Dutch manor house preserving the Cape Peninsula's oldest surviving mill.
Notable
Bold contemporary accents and antique furnishings fill whitewashed suites designed by Antoni Associates.
Notable
Shaded garden pathways beneath ancient oak trees in Constantia's historic wine-growing valley.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Paul Kovinsky reopened it as a 19-suite boutique hotel on 11.5 acres, rooms in white with vivid accent colors and period antiques.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Centuries-old vineyards and oak-shaded trails wind through Constantia, with Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens a short drive away.
1 of 5
The rooms
Whitewashed suites place centuries-old Cape Dutch antiques next to gold-lacquered nightstands and bold modern accents.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The 15-meter heated pool stretches across the lawn, flanked by cushioned loungers and tall cypress trees.
The spa
Two rooms host BABOR and QMS Medicosmetics facials, and massages move out to the gardens during warmer weather.
At the table
Blanko serves Italian dinners beneath the manor's dark timber beams. Incognito Bar hosts cocktails and Thursday evening jazz.
How it began
The 1753 estate was the first in the Cape to bottle wine commercially, sending sweet vintages to European monarchs.
Cape Town
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.