The Vineyard Hotel is the Southern Suburbs' garden retreat, a large and leafy property on Colinton Road in Newlands, with lawns running down to the Liesbeek River and Table Mountain filling the sky behind. The hotel grew from a house built at the end of the eighteenth century for Lady Anne Barnard, and the original building still anchors a much larger complex of wings and gardens. The page shows it as a four-class property with 211 rooms and a review score of 9.6 out of 10 from 830 reviews, one of the strongest guest-score records in the area. Facilities include two restaurants serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, a coffee shop, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with sun loungers, a spa offering facials, manicures, pedicures and massages, a terrace, gardens and a library, plus free in-room Wi-Fi, free self and valet parking, laundry and concierge services. A round-trip airport shuttle and supervised childcare are available for a surcharge. The setting is quiet and green, with birdsong and mountain views, and the city centre is about fifteen minutes away by car.
Choosing a room. Mountain-view rooms are the draw, and the best of them look straight up the slopes of Table Mountain across the gardens. Garden rooms are quieter; river-facing rooms have a gentle outlook. With 211 rooms, standards vary in age and layout, so ask for a recently refreshed room and a view of the mountain. Suites provide extra space for longer stays and families. Rooms close to the main building are convenient for the restaurants, while those at the far end of the gardens are the calmest.
What to know. Newlands is a residential suburb with a sporting heritage, home to the Newlands rugby and cricket grounds, and the hotel is a good base for match days if you book far ahead. Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is close enough to visit in the morning, and Constantia's wine estates are a short drive.
You will need a car or ride-hailing to reach the Waterfront and the beaches, which are 20 to 30 minutes away in normal traffic. Pets are not allowed other than service animals. Parking is free, which is a real plus. Check seasonal garden and restaurant hours, which can vary.
Who it suits. The Vineyard suits families, who will like the space and the pools, couples who prefer greenery to nightlife, garden lovers and people planning a visit to Kirstenbosch or the winelands. It is also good for travellers who want a calm base after busy days of sightseeing.
If you want to walk to restaurants and beaches, choose a Waterfront or Camps Bay hotel; if you want to wake up to birdsong and Table Mountain, this is the place. For wine-focused guests, pair a stay here with a day in Constantia and the Stellenbosch tour for variety.
Why stay here
- ✓211 rooms and suites
- ✓Indoor and outdoor pools
- ✓Spa treatments
- ✓Two restaurants and a coffee shop
- ✓Gardens, terrace and library
- ✓Table Mountain views
- ✓Free self and valet parking
- ✓Free in-room Wi-Fi
Good questions
Where is the Vineyard Hotel?+
In Newlands in the Southern Suburbs, on Colinton Road, close to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and about fifteen minutes by car from the city centre.
Does the hotel have pools?+
Yes. The page lists both an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with sun loungers.
Is there parking?+
Yes. The page lists free self and valet parking.
