Since its appearance almost 40 years ago, IWC’s perpetual calendar has set the bar for efficiency and user-friendliness. All its displays are perfectly synchronised and can be conveniently advanced via the crown. What’s more, we’ve calculated the moon phase so precisely that it will only deviate by one day in 577.5 years. In the new Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44, we’ve packaged the ingenious complication in a case with a slimmer ring and box-shaped sapphire lenses that make it even lighter and more elegant. That being said, now it’s your turn to keep looking good for the next centuries.
Engineered.
ENTHRALLING ADVENTURE BEGINS.
Make every horizon yours. Own the GLE SUV from R 24 399 p/m* with an interest rate of up to Prime-2.25%, via Agility Finance.
FROM THE EDITOR
ISSUE
69 2025
MANY YEARS AGO when I was starting my career as a writer and editor, I was offered two jobs simultaneously: one in book publishing as a commissioning editor, the other as a subeditor on a magazine. Both were attractive prospects but there was something about the faster pace of the magazine environment, the ability to produce a creative product more regularly, that lured me in that direction.
Producing a magazine with captivating images and indepth articles turned out to be exhilarating. I’ve never regretted my decision, even with the cataclysmic disruption caused by digital. Many years later, I still feel the same excitement when putting together Private Edition. Contrary to ongoing chatter around the decline of print (decades old now) and the rise of AI, we continue to experience an appreciation for the values held in the printed pages of our magazine: exceptional journalism and beautiful photography presented on premium paper.
This appreciation for our magazine has resulted in our launching an additional edition this year and increasing the number of pages we print. We are grateful and excited to see our publication grow; perhaps even returning to the days when magazines had ‘thud factor’ (the noise a heavy magazine makes when it hits your coffee table).
This achievement feels like a positive antidote to a world in flux and could not have been done without a team of committed and talented writers, editors, designers and photographers. In this final issue of the year, we celebrate all forms of creative excellence, whether in the fields of writing, architecture, cooking, winemaking, design, hospitality or even car manufacturing.
In ‘Writing on Water’ (page 44), we invite you to a week-long writer’s retreat in the magical city of Venice, a place to perhaps kickstart that novel you’ve always wanted to write. We say bye-bye to beige and celebrate vibrant hues that are reclaiming their rightful place in architecture and interior design. ‘In Full Colour’ (page 36) is a nod to a world in need of the positivity reflected through brightness.
On the food front, there’s a quiet backto-the-farm revolution afoot. In ‘Tales of
Abundance’ (page 60), renowned chef Peter Tempelhoff celebrates the opening of his new restaurant, Arum, at Boschendal, where he’s created a menu crafted from the produce of the farm itself. At Spier there’s a similar ethos of going back to basics and creating dishes from what is farmed using regenerative methods. You’ll know it when you taste it.
Finally, we can’t possibly head into the silly season without a glass of something special in hand. In ‘Sips of Summer’ (page 66), we delight in an array of white and rosé wines from a few of South Africa’s favourite wine farms.
As the year draws to a close and 2026 approaches, we thank you, our partners and readers, whose engagement with Private Edition inspires us to continue aiming for excellence in everything we do.
Private Edition is published by The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, 8th Floor, Tarquin House, 81 Loop Street, Cape Town 8001. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2025. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from The Publishing Partnership or the authors. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of The Publishing Partnership or the editor.
Editorial and advertising enquiries: PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018
Tel: 021 424 3517
Email: privateedition@tppsa.co.za
Visit: privateedition.co.za
Printing: Novus Print
ISSN: 2218-063X
Vibrant
A
50
50 THE TALENTED MR LEXUS
The Lexus SUV family has a new member, a polymath that’s elegance itself in town and unequalled adventurer in the wild. We introduce the Lexus GX 550.
56 TIME CHANGER
Breitling’s CEO Georges Kern talks about leading the brand through a period of bold, intentional change.
60 TALES OF ABUNDANCE
There’s a back-to-the-farm revolution afoot. It’s a quiet one, but when you taste it, you’ll know.
66 SIPS OF SUMMER
It’s hard to imagine anything more satisfying than a glass of something chilled and dry at the end of a hot summer’s day. We present a few picks for a (mostly) dry white summer.
74 YOUR PRIVATE PLAYGROUND
From private heli to ‘Ginbledon’ tennis, a heart-shaped Tanzanian island is rewriting the rules of luxury.
The digital luxury guide
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Photos: Flavien Carlod and Baptiste
Quiniou,
THE BRIEFING
ACCELERATE
Blow the wind southerly
TOP DOWN, SUN IN YOUR FACE, WIND IN YOUR HAIR, THIS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER RIDE.
Fit for purpose if summer is top of mind, Aston Martin’s splendid Vanquish Volante has blown into town, and is the marque’s fastest, most powerful, open-top series production car to date. How fast? 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds. Thanks to the twin-turbo, 5.2-litre V12 engine, majoring in twist as much as brute power, some 1 000Nm of torque are available for velvet acceleration without even trying. Stash the roof (14 seconds), select ‘Sport’ and chase a horizon. No symphony is going to better the aural overture of 12 cylinders at full song in the back country, so, turn off, tune in and savour the drive. Orders currently open. astonmartin.com
STYLE
Redefining luxury
L’ATELIER PARIS FINE WATCH AND JEWELLERY BOUTIQUE OFFERS GUESTS AN IMMERSIVE, PERSONALISED EXPERIENCE IN AN INTIMATE AND ELEGANT SPACE.
Situated at Oceans Mall, Platinum Walk, Umhlanga, L’Atelier Paris offers both a physical and online boutique experience, inviting South Africans to indulge in exquisite timepieces from renowned brands such as Cartier, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Longines and Herbelin, and jewellery from FRED, Messika and Lepage.
Each maison’s story is told through unique décor elements. Cartier holds an inviting and luxurious Art Deco-influenced space whose design features clean lines, subtle lighting and elegant material contrasts, its emblematic panther sculpture a sign of strength and timeless sophistication. Warm wood, geometric patterns and touches of greenery further capture the essence of Cartier’s art of living.
L’Atelier’s honouring of heritage extended to the celebrated arrival of Panerai in a recent launch event that paid homage to the craftsmanship and elegance associated with the Italian brand.
The fine watch and jewellery boutique is equally honouring of clients – established and new – who are hosted to private watch or jewellery pairings, complete with a selection of French wines and champagnes.
When entering L’Atelier, one is transported to a 1920’s Parisian-inspired apartment filled with French art de vivre and savoir faire.
Established in 2023, L’Atelier goes beyond the transactional and offers a space where guests may begin – and continue – their luxury journey. latelierparis.co.za
TASTINGS
Winning fare
TANG SANDTON REOPENS ITS DOORS AMID A SHOWER OF RECENT AWARDS.
It’s been a busy year for TANG. Among the host of awards dished out during the year, TANG Waterfront was announced Best Luxury Waterside Restaurant and Best Magnificent Scenic Views at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards, and Best Luxury Waterside Restaurant and Best Head Chef by REVE Luxury Awards. TANG Sandton was honoured with the Best Culinary Experience accolade at the South African Restaurant Awards and Best Contemporary Japanese Dining Experience at the Leader in Luxury Awards.
Reflecting on these achievements, TANG’s founder and owner, Nicky van der Walt, says, ‘Winning these awards is a significant endorsement of our hard work, as well as the quality, service and innovation that TANG offers.’
These accolades set the stage for the grand reopening of TANG Sandton. Guests can expect a revitalised sensory escape: an elegant fusion of sophistication and contemporary design. The revamped space features a striking onyx-lit bar, elegant booth seating, and custom imported lanterns, mirroring the refined aesthetic of TANG Dubai. Rich black marble with delicate white veining adds depth and allure, creating an atmosphere that embodies the essence of modern Asian luxury. Certainly worth a visit. tanghospitality.com
STYLE
The scent of a fashion icon
KARL LAGERFELD’S NEW DISTINCTIVE FRAGRANCE DUO PAYS HOMAGE TO ITS ICONIC FOUNDER.
Maison Karl Lagerfeld shares the iconic vision and design aesthetic of its founder, Karl Lagerfeld, in conjunction with a contemporary and forward-looking spirit. Featuring a classic Parisian rock-chic aesthetic, the Karl Lagerfeld collection includes prêt-à-porter pieces for women, men and children, as well as bags, small leather goods, fragrances, shoes and eyewear.
A new chapter in Karl Lagerfeld’s scent story has been announced with the introduction of a fragrance duo that resonates with the legendary personality of the designer.
Karl Ikonik pour femme, a luminous woody amber floral, and Karl Ikonik pour homme, a bold ambery fougère, each embody a modern scent presented in innovative and emblematic bottle designs that reflect Karl Lagerfeld’s unmistakable silhouette, one of the most renowned in the world of fashion.
These bottles encapsulate the designer’s quintessential attitude, his poised stance, distinct posture, recognisable fingerless gloves, and the renowned ponytail. Achieving this noteable design involved numerous refinements, making these more than just fragrance bottles but coveted collector’s items.
The fragrance is also available paired with a Karl Lagerfeld watch – a timepiece classic with true Lagerfeld attitude. This silver-toned watch with chain-link bracelet and signature-embellished dial is designed to complement any look – day or night. superbalist.com
NURTURING IS IN THE DNA OF CAFE SOFI BY TASHAS, A WONDERFUL NEW ALL-DAY RESTAURANT IN CAPE TOWN.
It’s difficult to imagine that after introducing 13 food and hospitality brands to the world, a new café in Cape Town could be such a source of emotion for Natasha and Savva Sideris. The siblings are best known for the Tashas chain, which spans three continents, but the project closest to their hearts is their latest venture, Cafe Sofi, a handsome Victorian-style heritage house on Park Road in the recently rejuvenated Longkloof Precinct in Gardens.
‘We’ve been in the food business for more than 30 years,’ says Natasha at the launch of the restaurant named after her and Savva’s mother, Sophia Electra. ‘As Savva and I walked into this space, we both said, “We’ve got to do this one for Mom!” It just feels like her.’ Inside, the house (formerly occupied by Rick’s Café Americain) reflects the family’s Greek heritage – almost entirely white with blue accents – and there’s a pretty courtyard, too.
Part of a thorough neighbourhood refurb that includes a Hilton-owned hotel and an array of boutiques, Sofi looks the part: an elegantly attired matriarch ready to welcome and serve. Aesthetically, the space celebrates Sophia’s assorted interests, from her fascination with Pac-Man and The Pink Panther to her love of listening to the great Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar on the radio. ‘She was a beautiful contradiction,’ says Natasha of her mother. ‘She loved all things classical, but also all things funky. We’ve juxtaposed the pared-down interior with some modern pieces that she loved.’
Foodwise, it’s Tashas with a Sophia Electra twist: flavourforward, indulgent without being overly fancy or pretentious, nothing stuck-up or ‘elevated’ or elaborately plated. Instead, the focus is on scrumptious, tasty fare.
‘It’s all about really good, honest cooking and amazing flavours,’ says Natasha, highlighting her mom’s love of wellmade, classic comfort food. ‘Uncomplicated, nostalgic and deeply satisfying, our menu represents our mom’s favourite dishes; things she made often, not just for special occasions.’
And while you’d be forgiven for jumping straight to desserts like the tiramisu or the pineapple heaven cake, there’s plenty of reason to first steady yourself with more substantial offerings like rösti and beef ragu, steak rolls with horseradish crème fraîche, pickled beetroot and watercress or a substantial chicken pot pie.
‘I’m so proud of this place,’ Natasha says. ‘It’s been a very emotional journey for me. We can’t get our mom back, but we can honour her by serving beautiful food every day.’ cafesofi.com
ACCELERATE
Drive it, live it
THE JLR EXPERIENCE CENTRE OFFERS A STATE-OF-THE-ART DESTINATION WHERE JLR CLIENTS AND ENTHUSIASTS CAN BECOME INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH THE COMPANY’S LUXURY BRANDS.
In addition to a display of its latest products, the JLR Experience Centre in Lonehill, Johannesburg, offers a variety of tracks to test drive the JLR range of vehicles.
The Kingsley Holgate Expedition Trail is an exciting 3km off-road track named after the long-time friend of the brand. There’s also a series of tailor-made obstacles that are designed to put the world’s most capable off-road vehicles to the test, as well as a dynamic handling platform that allows for more enthusiastic drives in a controlled environment.
Offering the best vantage point to view all the action, TLC on the Track restaurant is situated in the main building’s upper level, is open for breakfast and lunch, and specialises in South African-inspired dishes.
The centre also features a range of facilities that can be booked for events, conferences and meetings, including an intimate cinema room, conference rooms and private boardrooms with seating for between eight and 50 guests. landrover.co.za/experience
DEPARTURES
It’s a vibe
HYDE JOHANNESBURG OFFERS A SOPHISTICATED YET DOWN-TO-EARTH HOTEL EXPERIENCE FULL OF JOZI VIBES.
HYDE is a global lifestyle brand of hotels, lounges and residences. Launched in 2005 in Los Angeles with the HYDE Lounge on the Sunset Strip, it has since expanded internationally with HYDE Hotels in Miami, Dubai, Ibiza and, now, Johannesburg. Introducing a bohemian sensibility to the heart of Rosebank, HYDE Johannesburg enjoys a landmark position in the iconic The Bank building.
A choice of 131 rooms styled in urban sophistication offers a relaxed destination for business or leisure in one of Johannesburg’s most vibrant locations. Rosebank Mall and various businesses are within comfortable walking distance.
Enjoy the warm hospitality of HYDE Johannesburg’s restaurant, Proud Mary – an elegant yet relaxed setting for a business meeting or romantic dinner.
Enquire about the on-site workspace, Workshop17, which features 29 private offices, 10 boardrooms and a number of hot desks.
If you’re still not sold, there’s valet parking, a 24/7 gym and an in-room handheld clothes steamer to ensure you stay smart. This is one of those places that makes Johannesburg feel like home.
hydehotels.com/johannesburg
LONGINES PRIMALUNA
DESIGN
As cool as ice
ELEVATE YOUR SUMMERTIME ENTERTAINMENT WITH AN ELEGANT SPHERE-SHAPED ICE MAKER.
The Solenco Life Sphere Ice Maker is designed to elevate home entertaining. Creating perfectly round 50mm ice spheres that add a touch of sophistication to any drink, the icemaker combines beauty with performance. With its sleek stainlesssteel design that’s both modern and functional, intuitive touch controls and an automatic self-cleaning function, it offers effortless, hygienic operation. The drawer-style design with a viewing window makes it easy to monitor ice levels, while the option to run with or without plumbing ensures flexibility for both permanent and portable setups. It produces four crystal-clear ice spheres every 35 minutes, up to 140 per day, and stores up to 40 spheres, keeping them fresh for up to 10 hours.
Every element of the Solenco Life Sphere Ice Maker has been carefully engineered, from its premium materials and quiet operation to its intuitive interface. This is a reliable, refined appliance that blends style and performance to enhance any kitchen or bar. A must for summer! solencostore.com
DEPARTURES
A safari of small things
A NEW TOUR AT GROOTBOS PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE REIMAGINES THE SAFARI BY ZOOMING IN ON THE CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM.
While the word safari (from the Arabic safar, meaning ‘journey’) conjurs up images of the Big Five, it encompasses more than just wildlife on a large scale. It speaks instead to an experience of landscape – and of discoveries that shift your perspective of the world. The new ‘Botanical Art & Safari’ at Grootbos – a 70 000-acre private reserve overlooking Walker Bay, 30 minutes from Hermanus – taps into this spirit of the safari.
Here, the 4X4 game drive becomes a guided exploration of endemic fynbos, the flora that carpets the region’s mountains and dunes. Led by an expert guide (in our case, the poetically named Shiluva, which means ‘flower’ in Tsonga), guests explore terrain that changes almost daily as proteas, ericas and restios bloom fleetingly, some within a few kilometres of each other, and only at Grootbos. The pace is unhurried, the focus precise: a chance to stop, zoom in, and notice what most safaris overlook.
The journey ends at the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery, home to the celebrated Grootbos Florilegium. A living archive in art, the florilegium invites botanical artists from around the world to paint the flora of the Cape Floral Kingdom. The botanical illustrations capture not only the plants at Grootbos, but also their pollinators and habitat, thus preserving a fragile ecosystem in exquisite detail for generations to come.
Framed by sweeping mountain and ocean views, this is a safari of small things, a return to the word’s true meaning, and a reminder that the greatest journeys begin with attention.
Offered by Wilderness Touring Cape Town in partnership with Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, this full-day experience combines a guided 4x4 flower safari with a visit to the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery. It includes lunch at Grootbos, return transfers from Cape Town, and a private Wilderness guide. wildernessdestinations.com
MASTER OF MATERIALS
TRUE SQUARE OPEN HEART
A STAR IS BORN
An ode to the excellence that has defined Montblanc since its early beginnings, Montblanc Star Oud eau de parfum introduces a sensorial way of experiencing the Maison’s unique savoir faire. Revealing a woody, ambery oud fragrance, this Montblanc perfume opens with cardamom and mineral spices. A heart of vetiver and sandalwood deepens the powerful fragrance before revealing an oud accord. Shaped like a Montblanc glass ink bottle, Montblanc Star Oud features a metal strip along the side that recalls the clip of the iconic Meisterstück writing instrument. bacherco.co.za
LUXURY UNWRAPPED
We present unique and beautiful objects; timeless treasures that will delight those who are lucky enough to receive them.
AUDACIOUS FORCE
In 2025, luxury jeweller FRED began a new chapter in its iconic Force 10 line. Force 10 Rise is a new radiant and feminine jewellery collection, including a necklace, earrings and ring (pictured here), with a unique design that highlights FRED’s bold creativity. It expresses itself through a combination of powerful, assertive codes: the emblematic cable and buckle. This time, they are presented together in a new duo, the buckle adorned with a diamond pavé and highlighted with a row of diamonds. Available exclusively at L’Atelier Paris. latelierparis.co.za
SUBTLE STYLE
Crafted in supple grain leather in an earthy khaki shade, the Document Case echoes the details of a fountain pen nib through its stitching, zip pullers and handle detailing. With top handles and a detachable shoulder strap, it offers a blend of practicality and sartorial refinement. montblanc.com
NOT FOR SALE TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18, DRINK RESPONSIBLY
A MASTERPIECE
There is brilliance – and then there is legend. This 57.95ct V-AAA Flawless Tanzanite, surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds, glows with the deepest violet-blue, found only once beneath the earth. To wear it is not merely to own a jewel, but to hold a moment that can never be repeated. Discover the world’s most exceptional Tanzanite, exclusively at Shimansky. shimansky.com
LIGHT OF MY LIFE
Inspired by the festive lightness of cotillions, Fabrice Berrux’s Confettis lamp is like a suspended burst of joy. Five coloured, grooved, tempered glass discs dance around a luminous pole, evoking shared memories and promises of festivities to come. The Confettis floor lamp also features an aluminium frame and footoperated dimmer switch, and stands 207cm tall. rochebobois.com
The pool at this Miami home was designed by Studio Proba, and includes more than 8 000 handcrafted coloured tiles. Founder Alex Proba positioned complementary colours alongside each other for increased vibrancy.
IN FULL COLOUR
Bye-bye beige. Neutrals and browns have had their fleeting 15 minutes of fame. Vibrant hues are reclaiming their rightful spot in architecture and interior design, and if the work of these creatives is any indication, it’s colours bold and daring that are here to stay.
WORDS MARTIN JACOBS
FROM SOUTH AFRICA’S centuries-old Ndebele dwellings and the façades of Mexican architect Luis Barragán’s buildings to the multi-hued balconies of Le Corbusier’s ideologically-rooted Marseille Unité d’Habitation apartments and the over-the-top interiors of Verner Panton’s Der Spiegel publishing house, colour in architecture and interior design has long been a tool for storytelling. While today’s interiors often steal the spotlight when it comes to colour, a shift is happening in the architectural world.
Recent years have seen architects creatively embracing colour and transforming structures into candy for the appreciative eye.
Take Japanese architect Shigeru Ban’s Simose Art Museum in Otake, Hiroshima, which was crowned The World’s Most Beautiful Museum by UNESCO and Prix Versailles last year. The accolade (awarded by a jury including renowned architects David Adjaye and Daniel Libeskind) suggests a craving for vibrancy in an era shadowed by uncertainty and fear, and in which architecture’s embrace of colour appeals to our sense of hope and resilience.
Ban, recipient of the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize, and who has offices in Tokyo, New York and Paris, has created eight 10m2 movable exhibition rooms at Simose, each enclosed in coloured glass. Inspired by the offshore islands of the Seto Inland Sea, they float on a water basin, creating a landscape of their own. The structures sit atop submerged barges, allowing each cube to be moved by two people, so that the exhibition rooms can be reconfigured (adjacent to one another or linked by bridges) to enhance an exhibition’s narrative. Most striking after dark, the cubes are illuminated from within, imbuing their pastel colours with subtle ombre gradations.
Similar pastel shades are used for material homogeneity at Educan on the outskirts of Madrid. Designed by Spanish architects Lys Villalba and Enrique Espinosa, founder of Eeestudio, the building is described by its owners as a ‘school for dogs, humans and other species’. A centre for dog trainers and training, the building was also designed to house birds of prey as well as small birds and bats (both feeding on insects that carry canine diseases). Arranged over a single storey, with high ceilings
creating perches for birdlife, Educan was constructed from extra-large shipping containers. Additional materials include steel beams, corrugated metal, foam insulation and exposed service ducts, and it is these industrial materials that Villalba and Espinosa wished to unite. Mint green homogenises the upper half of the structure both indoors and out. The result is a visual harmony of surfaces that include patterned pyramidal insulation and the undulations of corrugated sheeting.
ABOVE Cinematic after dark, it’s easy to understand why the movable exhibition rooms of architect Shigeru Ban’s Simose Museum were voted The World’s Most Beautiful Museum by UNESCO in 2024. Illuminated from within, the floating pastel cubes can be reconfigured.
RIGHT At Educan, a ‘school for dogs, humans and other species’, architects Lys Villalba and Enrique Espinosa used colour to unify industrial materials. Pastel green makes the combination of corrugated metal, foam insulation and steel in the upper half of the building easier on the eye.
Below, a bolder blue is used to frame apertures and openings, with yellow demarcating space dividers and pops of orange softening the industrial atmosphere.
Bold hues and pastel shades combine for effect in the work of German multidisciplinary designer Alex Proba too. Founder of Brooklyn- and Portland-based Studio Proba, she studied Spatial Design at Akademie Mode & Design Hamburg, followed by Contextual Design at Design Academy Eindhoven, before moving to New York in 2011. Proba’s celebration of colour is intended to stimulate the senses. Clients including Nike, Google, Louis Vuitton and Samsung tellingly reveal a desire on the part of global megabrands to inject colourful energy into their identities.
No stranger to conceptualising and painting murals, including those on the bottom of swimming pools (like projects Hill House and Marrow House), Proba’s most recent residential project – which took close to a year to complete – marks a shift in her practice. Rather than working with paint, Proba handcrafted a bespoke swimming pool for Fernandez Pool comprising over 8 000 organic ceramic tiles made in partnership with Mexico’s Ceramica Suro. The curvilinear forms of her design were inspired by coral reefs, with white grouting echoing the caustic patterns cast on the pool’s bottom by light refracted through water. Proba combines her signature use of lavender, peach and rust with strong warm tones, an informed use of complementary colours that makes for a design that’s energising and enthralling.
While on the subject of pools, in Lisbon – a city with a high count of sunny days per annum – the effect of temperature and time (in other words, light) on colour was the conceptual starting point for interior designers Nuno Gusmão (of Atelier P06) and Barbara Neto (of Lemon Variance) when designing Lumen Hotel. The rooftop pool is tiled in a rich and varied orange mosaic.
‘The pool plays with sunlight, its penetration intensifying and reddening the colour of the tiles,’ says Gusmão. If the bold red hues of the pool represent sunlight at its most intense, dawn and dusk were the inspiration for the hotel’s rooms. ‘When booking a room, guests can choose between Golden Dawn, its yellows reflecting the vibrant tones of sunrise, or Copper Nightfall, with oranges and reds reminiscent of the warm colours of sunset,’ explains Neto. Nuances in the colouring of the leather headboards, tinted mirrors, ombre artworks and upholstery differentiate the two room types, with the sunlight coming from floor-to-ceiling windows intensifying the effect.
In another hotel, in New York’s Soho district, glamour and gloss make for a jewel box of interiors. Milan-based multidisciplinary designer and architect Hannes Peer partnered with Verena Haller, Global Head of Design & Creative Services at Hyatt, on the design of the recently-opened The Manner. Looking around the lobby and The Apartment (a guests-only lounge), the influence is undeniably Brutalist, with ceramic wall art by Giovanni De Francesco, totems by Nicholas Shurey, and glass-and-steel chandeliers by Peer himself. His use of colour in these communal spaces tends to the darker and dirtier, with tans and teals offset by mahogany tones and marbled and burl surfaces. The effect is sophisticated ’70s, a look that’s really embraced in The Manner’s suites and penthouse.
The duplex penthouse is a study in red, drawing inspiration, as Peer words it, ‘from Halston’s modernist, monochromatic offices in the Olympic Tower’. Deep crimson tones come into their own in plush carpeting, velvet upholstery and lacquered surfaces. Paired with gold accents, they combine to evoke a bygone era of the city’s hedonistic social scene. These same gold accents take on even greater significance in the rooms and suites on the floors below. As Vogue USA describes them, ‘Every wall is either mirrored or painted in an eye-popping shade of shiny, egg-yolk yellow, accented with glossy mahogany, hot red cabinets, and
slivers of gold. Think Gio Ponti on acid, with a dash of classic New York, Studio 54-worthy glitz.’ Add to this sofas, armchairs, doors and hallways in jewel tones like emerald green and midnight blue, and shine everywhere, and Peer’s mastery at evoking a vintage era through colour is entirely apparent.
Mayela Ruiz, founder of Mexico’s Maye Estudio, embraces a similar use of jewel tones – here paired with pastels – for the interior design of Casa Coa, a residence sited on one of San Miguel de Allende’s most iconic streets. Inspired by snake motifs that adorned the original structure, Ruiz’s furnishings and hardware for the home repeatedly favour curvilinear forms, like serpentine doorhandles and the scalloped edges of wicker lampshades crafted by Mestiz. Ruiz’s use of colour takes on an unquestionable sophistication in Casa Coa’s living room, in which the muddied green walls and ceiling are complemented by burgundies, reds and pinks, all offset by two ochre-hued armchairs.
Considered by many to be clashing colours, pink and red sit adjacent to one another on the colour wheel so, in fact, complement each other. Ruiz’s use of shades of these colours exclusively in the master bedroom reflects the vibrancy of the palette and how utterly modern it can feel, while referencing the intensity of colours we’ve come to expect from Mexican design.
By comparison, when conceptualising the newly redesigned Morukuru River House in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve,
TOP The interior designers of Lumen Hotel in Lisbon were inspired by the subtle changes in the city’s warm daylight, with rooms suggesting dawn (pictured, left) and dusk, and the red-tiled pool a reflection of sunshine at its strongest.
OPPOSITE PAGE When designing the penthouse (pictured, top) of New York’s The Manner, designer Hannes Peer selected saturated crimsons in homage to American fashion designer Halston’s offices. In the hotel’s guests-only lounge, rich tans and teals offset deep mahogany tones for a modern take on retro.
ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS ARE REEMBRACING COLOUR AS A MEANS OF STORYTELLING. THESE TALES MAY BE CULTURAL REFLECTIONS OR STORIES OF HEYDAYS OF STYLE.
TOP Long regarded as clashing, pink and red are combined in the living room of San Miguel de Allende’s Casa Coa. Wanting a modern palette, Maye Estudio intentionally paired the two, and offset them with warm green walls and ceiling. The warmth of these surfaces harmonises with the pink and red.
ABOVE At Morukuru River House in Madikwe Game Reserve, Hinterland Studio’s redesign of the living room includes a palette of vibrant colours that draw from the villa’s surroundings. Seating in burnt orange is a close match to the reserve’s red earth, while greens in the coffee table are matched to the leaves of the tamboti trees outside.
interior designer and founder of Hinterland Studio Amy Kidger avoided the stereotypical colour palettes – often browns and beiges – associated with African safari style.
While the dark tones of thatch ceilings and varnished door frames were unavoidable, Kidger’s decorating palette colourfully draws from the surrounding terrain in a manner that feels refreshing.
Upholstery and fabrics in rust and burnt orange tones unmistakeably reference the colour of the earth visible on game drives, with murky green accents – noticeable in scatter cushions and woven pendant lamps by Ashanti – chosen for their close match to the many leadwood and shepherd’s trees in the area. These complementary colours intensify each other, their impure tones harmonising to full effect in the living room. It’s here that a Boogie Nights coffee table by Egg Design encapsulates so many of the natural hues Kidger has incorporated into her scheme. With its verdigris copper top and handmade ceramic tiles (in a green that’s similar in tone to the leaves of the tamboti trees surrounding the house), the table’s patinated surfaces speak to an African aesthetic without turning to clichés.
Whether it be colours drawn from a landscape so as to harmonise with it, or, like Ban’s exhibition cubes, those intentionally chosen to contrast with their surroundings, architects and designers are reembracing colour as a means of storytelling. These tales may be cultural reflections or stories of heydays of style.
Whether they’re told in primary hues or in murkier tones, in soft pastels or complementary colours, they contribute dynamism and vibrancy to a world in need of rose-tinted glasses.
WRITING ON WATER
It is said everyone has at least one book inside them, yet few get around to writing it. A writer’s retreat in one of the most magical cities in the world might just provide the necessary inspiration.
WORDS
SUSAN NEWHAM-BLAKE
AH, VENICE! The city of shimmering water, gliding gondolas, and pastries and cappuccinos before 11am. The city of alleyways leading you past cafés, trattorias and storefronts with colourful displays of gelato, handmade books and iconic Murano glass – it’s impossible not to get lost. An old city filled with stories and boasting a rich literary history, one that inspired Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and was the stomping ground of many writers from Byron to Hemingway.
It’s here that I’ve booked a week-long writing retreat, something that has long been on my bucket list. A combination of an unfinished novel in my office drawer and a well-timed newsletter arriving in my inbox that read: ‘Ever dreamt about being a writer at work in Venice?’ has been the catalyst to me finally being here.
There’s only one way to arrive in Venice and that’s by water taxi. While buses and vaporettos (water buses) travel from the airport and train station, a private water taxi with its gleaming wooden deck is what will ultimately navigate the maze of canals to effortlessly deliver you as close to your hotel as you can get. In this case, I’m taken to Ca’ della Corte, a charming 16th century Venetian palazzo. The hotel is occupied entirely with participants for the retreat’s duration – 15 of us housed in 12 rooms. While retaining the essential flavour of Venice, the hotel has been tastefully renovated by its passionate owner, Caterina Pensa. The en-suite bedrooms are simple with a touch of Venetian décor and either look out onto their own courtyards, or offer a tantalising peek into the neighbourhood.
The palazzo’s location in a quiet street in a less busy part of the city means it provides the necessary sanctuary for writers seeking a serene space to work. Many popular tourist destinations are, however, a comfortable walking distance away. A 15-minute stroll, for instance, will take you to Rialto Bridge and San Marco Square.
The Grand Canal in Venice bustles with gondolas and vaporettos (water buses), and is the largest water channel and main thoroughfare of this magical city.
FOR THOSE SO INCLINED, A SUNRISE WALK THROUGH VENICE IS A MAGICAL HOUR OFFERING A PEEK INTO A CITY STIRRING AT THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAY.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Piazza San Marco with St Mark’s Basilica at dawn; the Venice Music Project provides an opportunity to listen to classic baroque music in the magnificent historical building, Scuola Grande dei Carmini; Damocle Edizioni is a highly-regarded independent bookshop and publisher, a place book lovers will fall in love with.
OPPOSITE PAGE Rialto Bridge arches over the Grand Canal and is one of Venice’s most famous landmarks. Connecting the San Marco and San Polo districts, it is renowned for its distinctive architecture and lively atmosphere.
On arrival, there’s a one-on-one meeting with the two writing coaches, Jo-Anne Richards and Richard Beynon, who run the All About Writing retreat. The hour-long informal consultation is an opportunity to talk through your goals for your writing project. Later, all participants gather on the first floor of the palazzo for a glass (or two) of prosecco. Our group is a wonderful mixture of people from around the world – England, Canada, the US and South Africa – who all have one thing in common: the desire to write. As we move around the room, we hear from those working on memoirs, others on a collection of essays or a screenplay, and a number of us who are either starting or are mid-way through a work of fiction.
We are assigned a mentor for the week: half of us are with Jo-Anne, while Richard takes care of the other half. Jo-Anne is a South African author of five novels. Her most famous, the bestselling The Innocence of Roast Chicken, has been reissued as part of the Picador Africa Classic Heritage series. Richard Beynon is an award-winning film and television scriptwriter who lives with his partner, Trish Urquhart, on a houseboat in England. Trish is the writing retreat’s organiser and is on hand to answer any travel enquiries or issues that may arise. Jo-Anne’s partner, Fred de Vries, is also a multiple published author and offers guidance specifically around non-fiction.
The days fall into a predictable pattern. For those so inclined, there’s a sunrise walk through Venice, a magical hour offering a peek into a city stirring at the first light of day: traders unpacking fruit at the market, delivery men pushing carts along bridges, and water buses ferrying people to their workplaces in the city.
Breakfast is at 8am, a continental spread of croissants, baked bread, boiled eggs, cheese and fruit. Afterwards, the group
gathers for a discussion on a particular writing theme. From the courage to write and how to plot to genres and writing styles, the schedule is designed to provide skills, tools and inspiration every writer needs to craft a story.
Afterwards, the day is yours to write and explore. There are numerous coffee shops from which to work like Caffè Florian, a historic coffee house in Piazza San Marco, famous for being the oldest café in continuous operation in Italy since its establishment in 1720.
Or you can while away the hours in the famous Harry’s Bar, the place where writers, painters, artists, aristocrats, kings and queens were known to meet, among them Katharine Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Peggy Guggenheim, Orson Welles, Joe di Maggio and Ernest Hemingway.
If yours is a more solitary process, writing in your room or one of the communal spaces in the palazzo is also an option. But perhaps the most valuable part of the retreat is the daily one-onone session with your writing coach. This offers vital feedback on your writing but is also useful in developing your story, fixing any plot holes and providing the inspiration to keep going even when doubt about your work invariably creeps in.
Each day ends with aperitivos at 6pm where you can share notes on the day with fellow writers. The evenings offer further opportunity to explore Venice. One evening we wander along the canals under the moonlight and visit the Venice Jazz Club where we sip limoncello and listen to jazz music. Another night we eat traditional Venetian cicchetti, small savoury bites rich with flavour, at a traditional wine bar. There’s a night of baroque music in the historic Scuola Grande dei Carmini, known for the incredible frescos adorning its ceilings and walls.
In between writing, it’s easy enough to pop out for pizza or gelato or to visit a museum or art gallery. On Sunday morning, we wander down alleyways in the rain to experience a traditional Roman Catholic mass under the opulent vaulted ceilings of St Mark’s Basilica.
Afterwards we enjoy coffee and croissants overlooking San Marco square. There is also the option of a custom guided tour to the nearby islands of Murano, with its traditional Venetian glass factories, and Burano, famous for its lace-making heritage (both organised by the hotel).
American writer Truman Capote visited Venice in 1948 and said that the city was ‘hopelessly beautiful’ and ‘the most enchanting thing on earth’.
I would only add that being in a walkable city surrounded by such historical beauty, stories and words is a life-affirming experience and one I will be doing again.
Now best I get back to finishing that book!
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Burano is a colourful island in the Venetian Lagoon famous for its brightly painted houses and lace-making tradition; Richard Beynon and Jo-Anne Richards lead the group of writers at the All About Writing Venice Writing Retreat; early morning walks at dawn offer a unique view of a city waking up before we settle down to a day of writing.
READY TO WRITE?
The annual All About Writing Venice Writing Retreat will run from 5 to 26 November 2026. You can book to stay one, two or all three weeks.
The retreat includes:
Accommodation at Ca’ della Corte in Dorsoduro
Daily group writing discussions and readings
Daily one-on-one mentoring with Jo-Anne and Richard
Breakfast daily
Four lunches and three dinners, including wine and soft drinks
A complimentary drink every evening
Tea- and coffee-making facilities and a fridge in each room
Excellent wifi.
When booking, please quote Private Edition. Our readers receive a complimentary water taxi transfer to the palazzo as well as a gift bag on arrival.
For more information, visit allaboutwritingcourses.com/ venice-retreat or email trish@allaboutwritingcourses.com
THE TALENTED MR LEXUS
The Lexus SUV family has a new member, a polymath that’s elegance itself in town and unequalled adventurer in the wild. Ladies and gentleman, the Lexus GX 550.
WORDS PETER FROST
GYDO PASS, up into the Koue Bokkeveld. Anyone with an adventurous heart will know this stretch of tar linking Prince Alfred Hamlet in the Western Cape to the hidden, cherry-rich highlands of the Bokkeveld. In just seven kilometres the world changes – switchback hairpins, magical outlooks, a world transformed. In Lexus’s new GX 500 Overtrail, it feels like Pinotage and smoked brisket, car and environment in sync, an ideal pairing.
The heavens open, the views disappear and Eden morphs into something less edifying: a Damoclean chaos of horizontal rain, plummeting temperatures and unseen 22-wheelers around hidden bends. In the GX 550 the metamorphosis means little; so insulated is the big SUV, there’s only a sense of ‘I’ve-got-this’ permeating. It’s in moments like this that a history of exhaustive engineering makes all the difference.
At the top of the pass, above the clouds, another transformation. The day is bright, washed clean. Ahead is a lattice of roads, tar as well as dirt; left down to the orchards of Witzenberg, right to the Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve. And straight on, arrowing towards the Cederberg, where tar finally runs out and falls off Middelberg Pass towards Citrusdal.
Lexus GX is available in South Africa as the SE and the Overtrail (left). While the SE is aimed at a sophisticated urban driver, the Overtrail adds technology and accessories that give it a definite edge in the wild.
It’s this challenging pass that the GX 550 is interested in, good for testing its many offroad aids and dirt-road manners. But, first, the elegant high-speed dash across the Bokkeveld hogsback, surely one of the country’s most beautiful roads. There’s time to look around, enjoy the GX, absorb its depth.
DYNASTIC DEPTH
The GX is a new name to the South African Lexus stable, but its international roots extend to 2002. It’s raison d’être has always been the same: to offer a combination of luxury and off-road prowess, each new iteration upping the ante in both aspects. The latest version fuses the best digital technology with the toughest mechanicals available. Inside, it is limousine advanced, while underneath the Cubist skin beats the heart of a tough-as-hell all-roader.
It completes the Lexus SUV range – the compact hybrid UX, mid-sized NX and RX, and full-sized LX – in the Lexus line-up. Additionally, the full-sized RZ SUV offers an entirely electric vehicle, melding the quiet elegance that is a Lexus standard with the efficiencies and power of the electric experience. The five-model SUV offers a wide range of choices to the discerning driver who demands exclusivity and will not compromise on reliability.
THERE CAN BE FEW MORE SATISFYING WAYS OF SPENDING AN AFTERNOON, AND AS THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY LOOM, THERE’S AN URGE TO TURN AROUND AND REPEAT THE ENTIRE ROUTE.
ELEGANT, BULLETPROOF
The GX in South Africa is offered in two guises, the five-seater Overtrail currently bulleting across the Bokkeveld, equipped with extra off-road equipment, and the more luxury-focused seven-seater SE, which puts the accent firmly on outright luxury, even as it retains its bulletproof chassis and underpinnings. Overtrail is a clever idea, slotting into an increasingly popular niche for high-end luxury SUVs that have genuine off-road ability. Both Overtrail and SE models use the same powerplant, the 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that has been so successful for Lexus recently.
And as the Cederberg’s otherworldly eruptions get ever closer and the black ribbon starts to snake, it’s easy to see its appeal. With 260kW and 650Nm of torque available, it has a muscularity rare in this sector. And elasticity; the 0-100km/h time of seven seconds might be impressive, but it’s the in-gear acceleration that stands out. Overtaking is a thought process rather than a planned manoeuvre, fast, efficient, elegant, just the distant roar of the butter-smooth V6 and an immediate surge of power. The twin turbochargers are beautifully set up to deliver both low- and high-end boost, with little lag.
MIDDELBERG PASS, THE GREAT TEST
Fast sprint behind us, Middelberg Pass looms. It falls off the Cederberg ridge to the coastal belt, a vertiginous drop, dirt all the way, barrierless, steep, demanding. The GX arrives ready for the challenge. Sensible 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tyres with
a 20mm wider tread take care of the rubber requirements. A reinforced under-protector means no damage to the undercarriage and the Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS), working in conjunction with the Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), provides traction and stability whatever the pass throws at it.
There are six modes – Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow and Rock – and we choose Dirt, leaving the heavy lifting to the sophisticated electronics, though we could involve ourselves manually from the cabin if we wanted to, the electronic chassis selections being adaptable from the centre console.
Inside, of course, it’s all Lexus, a digital masterclass wrapped in carefully crafted detailing. Middelberg is as involving – or not – as we want, simply by opening or closing the windows and moonroof. Closed, with Mark Levinson seeing to the symphonic accompaniment, the fridge consol box offering chilled softs and the 12.3-inch infotainment screen translating outside conditions, it’s about as elegant as the wilds can get. Wilderness, reimagined.
Down in Citrusdal, descent safely accomplished, the GX 550 makes for Cape Town along the N7, another beautifully cambered national route. Its speed-limit manners are impeccable, whisper quiet, solid in the crosswinds of summer, ergonomic seating painstakingly engineered, a master of the long road.
There can be few more satisfying ways of spending an afternoon, and as the outskirts of the city loom, there’s an urge to turn around and repeat the entire route. Next week. Or, perhaps, the Richtersveld...
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT GX’s interior leans into the digital age, equipping it for both leisure and adventure. The various drive modes and chassis aids are managed from the cockpit, while premium sound, bespoke seating and vast space make overlanding a joy.
GX boasts an electronic suspension system, four-wheel-drive as well as two lockable differentials, confirming its place at the off-road high table.
The Overtrail’s happy place is where the road ends and challenges multiply. Comfort and luxury may be its primary appeal, but genuine ability in the bush is its bedrock.
OPPOSITE PAGE The five-seater Overtrail provides enormous capacity behind the rear row for extra kit on an overland trip. The more urban-centric SE model features seven seats.
TIME CHANGER
At the official opening of Breitling’s new boutique at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, we asked CEO Georges Kern about leading the brand through a period of bold, intentional change.
WORDS PAIGE DORKIN
WHEN GEORGES KERN took over the reins at Breitling in 2017, the Swiss watchmaker was at a crossroads. Known primarily for its aviation chronographs and masculine aesthetic, the brand carried a loyal following but faced the challenge of remaining relevant in a shifting luxury landscape. Eight years later, Kern has not only doubled the company’s turnover, but also redefined its identity – all while keeping its 140-year legacy very much intact.
KNOWING WHAT NOT TO CHANGE
‘The point is not what you do, but what you shouldn’t do,’ Kern says about the delicate art of evolving a heritage brand. Upon his appointment, one of his first moves was to bring in collector and advisor Fred Mandelbaum to help identify what elements of Breitling were sacrosanct. ‘There are things you don’t touch, or you destroy everything,’ he explains. For Kern, that meant preserving the visual codes and history of iconic lines like the Navitimer and the Chronomat while reassessing the rest of the catalogue for clarity and focus.
He also moved Breitling beyond its narrow identity as a pilot’s watch brand, reviving more classic lines like the Top Time and the Premier. The result is a more complete offering – still masculine, still technical, but with broader appeal in 2025.
Take, for example, the updated Top Time, released this year in a 38mm case – a deliberate shift from the large-format dials that have long defined Breitling’s aesthetic. ‘It's the first smaller watch I’ve worn, and it’s incredibly comfortable,’ says Kern. ‘We expected a niche success. But it turned out to be much more.’
A BOLD SHIFT FINDS FORM IN CAPE TOWN
The recalibration didn’t stop at product. While Breitling was never short on technical credibility, Kern sought greater cultural relevance. That shift is evident both in the brand’s boutique design – industrial, tactile – and in its tone of voice – modern, informal and confident.
Breitling’s Cape Town store, newly opened in March this year, is a clear example of this. Indeed, it’s a spatial expression of what he calls the brand’s ‘modern retro’ philosophy.
Styled as an industrial loft, with exposed brick and ribbed timber panelling, there's a deliberate absence of the traditional Swiss formality often associated with heritage watchmaking. It’s welcoming and experiential rather than intimidating and transactional. ‘There’s an anchor in the past, but it has to be modern,’ says Kern. ‘We didn’t want to become a vintage brand.’
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LUXURY
Beneath his strategy is a nuanced understanding of luxury consumption. Kern speaks plainly about the psychology of high-end purchases: ‘Nobody needs another piece of jewellery. You have to make it so interesting that it becomes a need.’
He sees Breitling’s role as a creator of desire, particularly during moments of uncertainty or transition. ‘Luxury is often a reward,’ he explains. ‘A diploma, a business deal, or sometimes just a frustration. Post-Covid, people wanted to enjoy life again. You had revenge buying, travel, tourism, luxury – it all came back.’
That desire for experience also informs Breitling’s retail approach. While many luxury brands have focused heavily on digital, Kern remains adamant that physical stores play a vital role. ‘A luxury product is tactile,’ he says. ‘You want to try it on. You want to feel reassured. And you want the human interaction.’
NOT JUST ANOTHER STOREFRONT
Despite South Africa’s relative market size, the Cape Town boutique carries the full breadth of Breitling’s offering, from limited editions to core collections – the same selection you’d find in Madison Avenue or Milan. That choice reflects a longerterm view of the city’s trajectory. ‘I was shocked by the amount of five-star hotels being built,’ Kern notes, citing growing investment, tourism and infrastructure. While he describes a ‘positive sentiment’ around South Africa more broadly, he believes Cape Town in particular is poised to boom.
But the decision to open a boutique at the V&A Waterfront is also consistent with Breitling’s repositioning: less about prestige for its own sake, and more about cultural alignment. Cape Town, with its outdoor lifestyle and luxury tourism base, fits the brand’s current ethos – what Kern describes as ‘colourful, relaxed and confident’.
Breitling today is not the brand it was a decade ago. It’s more cohesive and better attuned to what customers want now. Yet its core identity – the commitment to craftsmanship and bold design language – remains.
More than another point of sale, the Cape Town boutique confirms that Breitling, under Kern, knows how to respect the past without being trapped by it.
ABOVE The new Breitling boutique at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
OPPOSITE Breitling CEO Georges Kern.
BELOW Breitling Superocean Heritage timepieces on display in the
Cape Town boutique.
RETREAT TO THE
EXTRAORDINARY
With its sophisticated charm and luxurious amenities, Steyn City Hotel by Saxon offers unforgettable urban breaks. A convenient drive from Sandton and just 15 minutes from Lanseria International Airport, it provides the perfect base from which to explore Johannesburg.
STEYN CITY and Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa have partnered to bring you Steyn City Hotel by Saxon, a space that offers guests a truly indulgent and luxurious experience. Choose from a range of 50 apartments, including one- and two-bedroomed accommodation, the opulent three-bedroomed Penthouse, or the deluxe fourbedroomed, double-storey Presidential Suite. Enjoy exclusive use of the hotel rooftop pool, where you can relax or sip your favourite cocktail at the pool bar while taking in views of the lagoon. Alternatively, visit the hotel’s sophisticated bar and lounge area to savour an exquisite selection of fine wines, craft cocktails and light bites.
The vast space available at Steyn City allows for an extensive range of facilities, including the estate’s Nicklaus-designed championship golf course, clubhouse, floodlit tennis courts, fitness centres, cycle tracks, and a 45km floodlit promenade, ideal for running and walking anytime of the day or night. The magnificent Steyn City Lagoon precinct is a highlight of the estate reserved for residents and hotel guests only, and includes a 300m lagoon with water slides, the Mediterranean-inspired Family Table restaurant, and padel courts. This well-designed venue has a wonderful holiday atmosphere, encouraging guests to try out kayaking, SUP boarding, riding a pedalo or simply to relax waterside. The estate’s backdrop, a unique 2 000-acre indigenous parkland, is a wonderland for children, featuring several play areas throughout.
Further to these facilities, the newly opened Saxon Spa Steyn City truly sets the estate apart. One of the largest spas in Gauteng, its architecture – envisioned by Amanda Elliott and Matthew Fogg of Design Collective – echoes nature’s elements with soft curves, a palette of warm whites and greens, and a design philosophy that brings the outdoors inside. Water, fire, earth and air are all subtly woven into the spa’s identity, creating a space that is embued with peace and presence.
Guided by spa manager Tanya Lopes, the spa embodies a belief in holistic, meaningful healing. Every therapist is handpicked and trained to deliver not only treatments, but also transformative experiences. The spa’s guiding principle, inspired by Maya Angelou, is simple yet profound: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’
From ancient healing rituals to cutting-edge therapies, an exceptional array of world-class amenities and signature treatments are on offer, and tailored to individual wellness goals. The spa menu is meticulously curated by a team of expert therapists and practitioners who bring indepth knowledge and intuitive care to each experience.
Nine treatment rooms are complemented by serene relaxation lounges, luxurious changing suites, and a hydrotherapy circuit that includes a plunge bath, sauna, steam room, heated vitality pools, and a flotation pool designed to promote deep muscle release and meditative stillness.
Designed to be both a personal sanctuary and a shared wellness space, the spa is well suited for small group experiences. Whether it’s a bridal party, a wellness day for friends or colleagues, or a private celebration, the team can design bespoke journeys that include exclusive access to treatment areas, hydro facilities, and nourishing refreshments. This flexibility makes it an ideal destination for meaningful connection and collective restoration.
The hotel and spa at Steyn City go beyond the ordinary, delivering a superlative guest experience, designed to ensure comfort, and nurture body, mind and spirit. steyncityhotel.co.za; steyncity.co.za
OPPOSITE PAGE Guests can enjoy sundowners from the rooftop pool.
BOTTOM LEFT The Saxon Spa Steyn City is designed for quiet reflection and deep relaxation.
LEFT The opulent three-bedroom Penthouse offers a luxurious stay at Steyn City Hotel by Saxon. BELOW The Saxon Spa Steyn City embodies holistic, meaningful healing.
BOTTOM The hotel reception, bar and lounge – guests can enjoy a business stay or an indulgent and luxurious urban break.
There’s a back-to-the-farm revolution afoot. It’s a quiet one, but when you taste it, you’ll know.
WORDS KEITH BAIN
TALES OF ABUNDANCE
IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS,’ says celebrated Cape Town chef Peter Tempelhoff as he talks of plans for Arum, his new restaurant at Boschendal. He calls the wine-focused but widelydiversified farm, established 340 years ago, a ‘chef’s playground’ due to its rich history as an agricultural groundbreaker.
Arum occupies Boschendal’s historic Werf, once the wine cellar for its 1812 manor house, and quite the landmark – the space first operated as a restaurant in 1977 (the first to open on a South African wine estate), kick-starting a culinary movement that’s now pretty much synonymous with the Cape Winelands.
Tempelhoff says Boschendal was also one of the first South African farms to export fruit, and its restaurant the first to serve malva pudding. ‘It was Henry Kissinger’s favourite memory during a visit to the Cape – malva pudding and brandy snaps at Boschendal. Maybe we’ll do an updated version of that dessert. Who knows?’
Aside from the gorgeous setting, the sense of a countryside escape, and the playful contrast of Cape Dutch architecture with contemporary interior design by Tristan du Plessis, what’s really fuelling Tempelhoff’s excitement is access to the farm’s abundance. There’s tremendous produce, meat reared the old-fashioned way, regenerative agriculture and traditions that link humans to the soil in ways that are easily forgotten in this age of supermarkets, fast food and online deliveries.
‘They have over 400 Angus cattle and the farmer’s been developing the marbling and the tenderness precisely to our specs,’ Tempelhoff says. ‘There are Duroc pigs, which are, in my opinion, like the Wagyu of pork. And they’ve got Dormer sheep, which produce highly marbled, beautiful fat-to-meat ratio lamb.’
Proteins aside, ‘they’ve got all the vegetables you can think of’, and Tempelhoff says his team has been working with the growers for over a year to ensure there’s a good supply, supplemented by specially planted heirloom vegetables
Freshness is everything at Arum, where executive chef Travis Finch is working hand in hand with Boschendal’s growers to create dishes that give diners a taste of the earth’s abundance. This deliciously simple dish features stracciatella cheese, fire-roasted beetroot, hibiscus vinegar and hazelnut.
OPPOSITE Arum’s interiors were designed by Tristan du Plessis, who is responsible for the equally eye-catching look of Peter Tempelhoff’s other restaurants, including FYN and beyond.
using seeds sourced from far and wide. ‘They also have a sunsheltered mist-doused forest at the end of the garden where they grow mushrooms, so we have fresh-picked eringi, oyster, enoki, shiitake and wild indigenous mushrooms – all the edible fungus we could want.’
Tempelhoff says his vision for Arum is as a place where ‘you can come and just taste the farm, get a very real sense of what this earth is producing. I want folks to walk out with a sense of real connection to the place they’ve tasted. To do that we’ll be showcasing the ingredients to the best of our ability.’
He says what’s served will be dictated by what the earth provides. ‘Nothing’s set in stone. Our menus are inextricably based on what’s coming out of the garden. It’s right there underneath our noses – our chefs can walk out the back door and 20 feet away grab something to put on the plate. Each menu will be in use for maybe three weeks, according to what’s being picked and harvested. We’re prioritising meat and vegetables, fewer carbs like potato and rice, more small heirloom crops. And a little bit of fish – trout from down the road in Franschhoek, some Lambert’s Bay oysters, not too much seafood because we want people to eat the farm, get a true sense of place.’
Overseeing Arum’s operation, including its coal-to-soul wood-firing programme, is Travis Finch, a chef who first cooked alongside Tempelhoff in 2009, and has since worked at two- and three-star Michelin restaurants overseas. ‘He comes with a wealth of ideas, and this really is his baby,’ Tempelhoff says.
After living in London and working on ultra-luxury private yachts, Finch is now based on the Boschendal estate, making it possible for him to cycle to Arum each day. He says it’s the garden that’s had the most significant impact on his plans for the menu, something which has developed ‘monumentally’ as he’s started to
become familiar with the farm, understand its rhythms and see its potential.
‘We talk directly to the growers about our ideas, so there’s an intimate relationship with the garden,’ he says. ‘Regenerative cooking is one way of describing what we’re doing, which is aligning our kitchen with the operation out in the garden. While we aim to utilise every single bit of the vegetable, whether through our fermentation programme or in simple preparations on the plate, if there’s any vegetable waste, it goes into compost that is transferred directly back to the garden as fertiliser.’
Finch says that, internationally, there’s also a move towards simpler, more gastronomically manageable menus that are becoming more and more the norm at many Michelin-star restaurants. Part of that shift, he says, is the return to à la carte, which also makes dining more accessible. ‘We wanted to create an elegant but casual environment where, if someone wants to come and have a fantastic Negroni and then share a 1.2kg ribeye on the bone, or tuck into a beautifully prepared aged Black Angus steak with a couple of sides, we’re there for them. We don’t want Arum to be a starched environment.’
Rather, it’s the beauty of Boschendal’s outdoor environment with its stellar views of rugged mountains that both Finch and Tempelhoff say they’re taking daily inspiration from. Finch says the opportunity to cook within the heart of this agricultural setting ‘is an absolute dream come true’.
It’s no ordinary farm-to-table restaurant, of course, with plenty of distinctive elements: custom-designed plates by local ceramicists, and bread- and meat-boards handmade by woodworkers. It’s designed to be a bustling space, with three meals a day, seven days a week.
THERE’S A MOVE TOWARDS SIMPLER, GASTRONOMICALLY MANAGEABLE MENUS THAT ARE BECOMING MORE THE NORM.
While fare at Arum is predominantly straight from the farm, there’s local seafood, too. This lip-smacking dish combines Cape octopus and crispy guanciale with smoked corn, brown butter, habanero and yellow tomato.
BELOW FAR LEFT At Arum, the communal Vineyard Table is framed by a curved cloth canopy, inspired by the grow tunnels in which Boschendal’s sustainable produce is cultivated. Although secluded, the table is not exclusively for private use, but is ideal for larger groups.
BELOW LEFT At Veld, a roasted beetroot salad made with feta, spekboom, maple Rozendal dressing and crushed hazelnuts pairs well with a glass of Spier’s Farmer Angus Rosé.
There’s also a tremendous synergy between the way Tempelhoff and Finch think about food and the approach to farming practised at Boschendal. ‘They’re so entrenched in regenerative farming and sustainability; they’re leaders in the field,’ Tempelhoff says. ‘Everything we as chefs aim for in terms of sustainability and ethical sourcing is similar to what Boschendal does, so we’re very aligned. When you sit out there on the deck, outside the restaurant, and look out over that massive garden, you witness the extent of that shared passion.’
There’s a similar passion of embracing the land and its produce happening on the far side of Stellenbosch at Spier, where much culinary bravado revolves around an embrace of back-to-basics practices such as the regenerative farming methods espoused by a former Goldman Sachs investment banker named Angus McIntosh, known to lovers of high-quality meat as Farmer Angus.
McIntosh farms chickens, pigs, cattle – and now vineyards too – for his Farmer Angus brand. He uses no antibiotics, hormones or pesticides, and he farms holistically, treating the farm as a selfsustaining ecosystem and prioritising the sacrosanct relationship between soil health and human health.
It’s not only proteins from healthier, happier animals that are on the menu at Spier’s new dinner-only restaurant, Veld. Part of an old horse paddock at Spier has been transformed into a thriving food garden, from which most of the kitchen’s greens are sourced. The garden is tended by in-house agroecologist Megan McCarthy whose team uses similarly eco-friendly regenerative techniques that eschew inorganic pesticides and artificial fertilisers, letting Indian runner ducks sort out the snails and slugs.
The restaurant, with its art salon atmosphere, views of chefs at work and glass-walled wine library, has a concise menu that
ABOVE Chef Craig Paterson at the pass at Veld, where staghorn ferns, suspended baskets of plants and proteas on the tables all allude to the deference paid to nature’s seasonal abundance by the restaurant.
hinges on available fresh-from-the-farm ingredients rather than on an elaborate expression of a chef’s experimentation.
‘Some people call it “farm to fork” or “farm to table” – for us, it’s just uncomplicated,’ says Spier’s head chef Craig Paterson. ‘We focus on respecting and showcasing the ingredients, not fiddling too much, so no foams and gels or any of those complicated ideas chefs enjoy showing off with.’
The menu is concise and seems decidedly old-school in its no-nonsense assemblage of unpretentious classics: there’s a steak cut of the day with hand-cut chips and garden greens; the roasted squash arancini is paired with labneh, sage and pumpkin seeds; and the springbok loin comes with an assortment of carrots from the garden and a citrus jus. Nothing screams ‘fancy’, but every morsel is delicious, honest and fresh. And everything’s made from scratch: from the house-made piccalilli accompanying Farmer
Angus charcuterie to the pillowy brioche served with their signature mushrooms on toast, a sophisticated starter of mushroom pâté, pickled shimeji and roasted king oyster mushrooms, with parmesan, truffle aioli and a soft poached egg (from McIntosh’s free-ranging chickens that roost in spacious mobile homes).
Paterson says this ingredient-forward approach is well in line with a global move away from overly complicated, fussy food that comes from attempts to impress critics and win awards. ‘For inspiration, we just walk to the food garden,’ he says. ‘Spier’s uniqueness comes from the way in which care for the soil filters all the way through to what we serve.’
SIPS OF SUMMER
It’s hard to imagine anything more satisfying than a glass of something chilled and dry at the end of a hot summer’s day. There are a few picks for a (mostly) dry white summer.
WORDS KEITH BAIN
FIND TRUE NORTH
Recently named South Africa’s best white wine by Tim Atkin, the 2024 Magnetic North, a single origin Chenin Blanc from Alheit Vineyards, drew ethereal praise from the British Wine Master’s 2025 South Africa Special Report. While Atkin described how the wine’s ‘beguiling’ character evoked ‘a sense of wonder and longing’, some say there’s pure electricity in the bottle. Vineyard owner Chris Alheit says it ‘makes you want to sit down or steady yourself’, a response to what he describes as ‘a long, bristling arc of sour fruit and citrus oil’. The name Magnetic North hints at Alheit’s instinct for exploration in order to discover unmatched flavours; it also suggests the distance covered by the winemaker to get from his cellar in Hemel-en-Aarde to find precisely these grapes. He says the vineyards – two dry-farmed ungrafted parcels of bushvines on a ridge at 520 metres above sea level on Citrusdal Mountain (aka Skurfberg) – are hands down the Cape’s best Chenin blocks. In physical reality, Magnetic North is always moving, attesting to Alheit’s philosophy of the unattainable moving target of a wine’s true character. This is absolutely a wine for seekers of something indefinable; some existential poetry or a glimpse of the divine through grapefruit, maybe pear and rooibos, something earthy and saline on the nose. And, to quote Atkin, a palate of ‘salty intensity’ with ‘flavours of quinine, quince and grapefruit’. (It’s obviously not the easiest wine to procure, so if you’re looking for a more accessible Chenin, consider stocking up on Culture Steen, a beautifully drinkable ‘house white’ made
by Alheit exclusively for Matt Manning’s Culture Wine Bar on Bree Street in Cape Town.)
FROM THE LAND OF PEACE
With its fertile soils and vistas of the Simonsberg mountains, Franschhoek’s Terre Paisible – ‘peaceful land’ – is an idyllic estate where winemaking and wellness exist hand in hand. The spa is a sleek sanctuary, while in the cellar, winemaker Adam Mason tries to capture sunshine and terroir in the bottle. His 2019 Vivre Brut Cap Classique scored Double Gold at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge, thanks to its ‘forward aromas of freshly baked brioche and marzipan’, and its bracingly fresh finish. Having matured in bottle for almost three years prior to disgorging, it’s perfect as an aperitif, while its rich, complex aromas and layered, well-balanced palate and finely-textured mousse make it a great match for food. Mason also created Terre Paisible’s Isabelle Rosé, another summertime winner of which only 1 965 bottles were produced for 2023. With a 60/40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, it’s a sophisticated take on a Provençal-style rosé with hints of marzipan, pomelo zest, fresh almonds, rose petals and stone fruit on the nose. Mason’s real passion is Sauvignon Blanc, expressed in rare fashion in the Les Dames de 1987 Franschhoek Sauvignon Blanc, part of Terre Paisible’s Old Vines range; it’s another Gilbert & Gaillard Double Gold winner and recipient of the Prescient Award’s Old Vines Trophy.
GO YOUR OWN WAY
Unsurprisingly, rosés are often thought of as default summertime sipping wines, often classified as easy-drinking, smooth and not so complex that your instinct is to start analysing what’s on the palate. That default setting doesn’t always apply, however, as evidenced by Sakkie Mouton’s eyebrow-raising outlier: Olifantsrivier Lledoner Pelut Agiorgitiko Rosé 2024. It’s a true wildcard, as vivacious and full of character as its maverick winemaker – he’s among our most under-the-radar producers, but you won’t quickly forget his wines. His range includes the cheekily bohemian and intensely fruity Revenge of the Crayfish Chenin Blanc, and there’s Dawn of the Salty Tongues, made from Syrah grapes grown 25km from the Atlantic on the West Coast. That’s also where Mouton makes his Greek-inspired rosé, which is an entirely new blend for the South African palate, packed with innovatory grit. Mouton’s winemaking is adventurous to say the least: planted in sandstone soils near Vredendal, the Agiorgitiko (Greece’s most widely planted red varietal) is wild fermented on the lees of Assyrtiko grapes (a white varietal native to Santorini), while juice of the Lledoner pelut (aka ‘hairy Grenache’, a very hardy mutation), which grows near Citrusdal, is fermented with Syrah grapes. After four months, the two wines are blended and bottled, unfined and unfiltered, with very little sulphur. It’s not only the novelty factor that makes this fascinating concoction worth the higher spend. Floral aromas are followed on the palate by distinctive saltiness, dark fruits lingering in the background. It’s wild. And a truly inventive interpretation of a region where the toughest grapes are the ones that thrive.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE
Situated in a steep-sided – and immensely beautiful – valley against the Cape’s Limietberg mountains, the vineyards at topographically varied Doolhof Wine Estate cover differing elevations with exposure to diverse microclimates. Which also means multiple soil types, terroir so unique in fact that Limietberg enjoys exclusive Wine of Origin status with Doolhof the region’s only producer. Extended morning and afternoon shade means grapes hang longer, ripening slowly. The resulting balance and complexity in its wines is evident in winemaker Rüdger van Wyk’s 2025 XCLUSIV, named the year’s best rosé by Tim Atkin (with 94 points, it’s among the highestscoring non-sparkling rosés ever to appear on the list). Van Wyk says it’s true to form for ‘the exceptional
OPPOSITE PAGE In the Drakenstein, Brookdale Estate is set against the backdrop of the Hawequa Mountains, which create a unique microclimate for the vineyards below.
TOP RIGHT From Terre Paisible’s winemaker, Adam Mason, this dry and delicious 2019 Vivre Brut Cap Classique is an impeccable Blanc de Blanc bubbly with a delectably fresh finish.
RIGHT Chris Alheit’s Magnetic North, a distinctive Chenin Blanc made with bushvine grapes grown on Citrusdal Mountain, has drawn hyperbolic praise. This 2024 bottling is no exception.
FAR RIGHT Doolhof’s Xclusiv 2025 is an expectationdefying rosé grown in the Limietberg’s unique terroir.
RIGHT The Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc from Alvi’s Drift is a tribute to a family’s heritage, as well as the specialness of older, forgotten vineyards.
BELOW From the West Coast, this unusualin-every-respect Olifantsrivier Lledoner
Pelut Agiorgitiko Rosé 2024 is ideal for adventurous summertime drinking; and, from a Franschhoek estate specialising in MCC, both Le Lude’s Brute Rosé and its bone-dry Madáme Millésimé 2015 are fine choices for a celebratory summer.
soils and cool-climate terroir that characterise the Limietberg, giving the wines purity, freshness and elegance’. Blended from a roughly even mix of Grenache and Syrah grapes, all handharvested, whole-bunch pressed and cold fermented, three months of lees-contact ageing has produced a delicate bouquet (candyfloss, rose petals and grapefruit), with hints of white chocolate, Turkish delight and chalky minerality on the palate. The estate is worth a visit – not only is the tucked-away setting enchanting, but the five-star Doolhof Country House is exquisite and there’s a cellar restaurant worth booking at for lunch.
NO BLUNT INSTRUMENT
Dragonflies, prehistoric stones, happy cows and grapes harvested from vines planted in soil that was once considered unsuitable for growing, Stellenzicht is one of those surprisingly innovative estates where many of the rules are turned upside down. Those happy cows allow the viticulturists to farm regeneratively, so, instead of chemicals and tractors, they’re achieving their sustainability goals; since dragonflies will only inhabit a balanced ecosystem, they’re indicative of a healthy biome. The ancient
stones, meanwhile, are actually Acheulean hand axes, rare evidence of early human habitation. Just as rare is the Stellenzicht Acheulean Chardonnay 2024, a dry, elegant wine with subtle stone fruit and citrus flavours, and a touch of apricot on the nose. Just 3 110 bottles were produced.
ALL THAT BUBBLES…
La Lude’s bottle-fermented MCCs mature horizontally in cool, dark cellars for a minimum of 12 months. Their custom-designed Franschhoek winery is among the few in the country used exclusively to create Cap Classique, and they’re relentless about sourcing grapes from specific blocks within select vineyards to produce the perfect cuvée for their distinctive Le Lude Reservé style of bubbly, aged sur lie for at least 36 months before disgorging. Grown in Robertson, Bonnievale and Franschhoek, their Brut Rosé Reservé – Pinot Noir (57%) and Chardonnay (41%) with a tiny hit of Pinot Meunier – produces bubbles that ‘dance on the palate’ with aromas of white peaches and Granny Smith apples. Cold maceration extracts not only colour from the Pinot skins over 10 days (longer than typical rosés) but also add some
serious flavour: you’ll pick up pomegranate, fig, grapefruit and rose petal. Even bolder testament to the elegance of a longer aged Cap Classique is Le Lude’s ultra-premium Madáme Brut Nature Millésimé. The 2015 edition is an immaculate, bone-dry Blanc de Blanc-style MCC produced from Chardonnay with a dash of Pinot Noir. Kept on the lees in the bottle for a total of nine years, you get balance, complexity and fresh lemon, lime and naartjie flavours. The 2016 edition, made entirely from Chardonnay grapes, was released in October and is a stunner.
UNRELENTING HERITAGE
At Alvi’s Drift, they’ve had an exceptional 2025 season, full of awards. The Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2023 was named White Wine of the Year at the National Wine Challenge and garnered a Great Gold medal at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Awards in Spain. Produced from 25- to 48-year-old heritage vines from a forgotten block in the Scherpenheuvel ward, a cooler-climate pocket of the Breede River Valley, the resulting wine is distinctive, powerfully expressing the uniqueness of the estate’s commitment to detailed winemaking. The range is a homage to winemaker Alvi van der Merwe’s grandfather (Albertus Viljoen), who in 1930 built the low-water bridge (the drift) over the Breede, which cuts through the family farm. The Chenin represents the pinnacle of Van der Merwe’s unhurried, minimal-intervention winemaking, with low-extraction techniques, wild fermentation and oak-barrel ageing. Distinctive, too, are the wine’s vivid wild buchu and honeysuckle aromas, with hints of passion fruit and spice. Just 500 cases were produced, but Van der Merwe also makes a beautiful Brut Cap Classique, which won the Trophy for Best Cap Classique at the Lumo Awards.
LEFT Nature collaborates with winemaker Xander Sadie to create Brookdale Sixteen, a delicious field-blend white produced from 16 interplanted cultivars.
BELOW The foudres in which Brookdale’s wine is aged preserve its natural characteristics.
A WILD CHILD FROM PAARL
A thick layer of cool mist is sometimes draped over the Hawequa Mountains, evidence of a distinct microclimate, often much cooler than is typical of the Drakenstein district, and responsible for some wonderfully atypical vintages from Brookdale, a farm that, since its relatively recent revival has gone from strength to strength. The vineyard’s overhaul included an extensive replanting programme, with only three blocks of 36-year-old vines retained and nursed back to health. Grapes from those heritage blocks are used to produce Brookdale’s natural-ferment whole-bunch-pressed Chenin Blanc Old Vine, a rare and special classic sipper. But there’s innovation afoot here, too. To underscore the principle of letting the vines tell the terroir’s story, Brookdale has a pair of novel field-blend projects underway, including a 16-varietal white, made from bush vines planted ‘completely deurmekaar’. ‘You don’t know what you’re picking,’ says winemaker Xander Sadie (son of Swartland oeno-legend, Eben Sadie), ‘but all those interplanted grapes are harvested together to create a style of wine that’s a total expression of terroir.’ These experimental vintages – the white is simply called Sixteen – pays homage to a winemaking art that’s been virtually lost. ‘It’s among our best summer wines,’ says Sadie. ‘There’s such freshness – and because of that incredible nature-dictated diversity, it’s ever-changing in the glass, so with every sip you get a new aspect of the wine. A lot of complex layers and depth, and yet there’s balance.’ Bottles can be purchased from the cellar door, a good reason to turn up in person as you might want to check in for a few nights or stay for dinner and sunset-with-a-view at the Bistro.
THE JOURNEY IS ITS OWN REWARD
As Ernie Els Wines celebrates 25 years, the estate continues to be an unmissable destination for wine lovers.
AMERICAN ESSAYIST, poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once wrote: ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.’ For Ernie Els Wines, the success achieved to date has been all about the journey of fine-tuning every aspect of winemaking for the past 25 years.
With two highly acclaimed awards under their belt – Best of Wine Tourism winner in the category Landscaping and Architecture and Best Cellar Door Experience by Tim Atkin in the 2024 South Africa Report – the process of consistently crafting the Ernie Els collection of wines and finessing the experiences available on their beautiful estate, is the reward.
The estate, renowned for its top-tier wines and idyllic setting, allows guests to indulge in exquisite farmhouse cuisine and panoramic mountain views seven days a week.
In addition to an exceptional dining experience, Ernie Els Wines offers an array of activities to deepen your appreciation for their craft. Wander through the welcoming tasting room, where you’ll receive an informative introduction to the estate’s range of award-winning wines, or join a guided tour for a behindthe-scenes look at the winemaking process. For those with a passion for vintage wines, the impressive Vinothèque houses a collection of older vintages, offering an exclusive look into the legacy and depth of the estate’s wine portfolio.
Devoting the majority of their efforts to the cultivating of Cabernet Sauvignon, Ernie Els Wines has come this far thanks to the partnership of a few extraordinary people.
Says winemaker, Louis Strydom: ‘It’s taken me a lifetime to understand what I have and what I can do with the Cabernet on the Helderberg Mountains. This terroir is made for “bigger is better”. It’s in the DNA of this north-facing slope. These deep, red soils. This richness. The first vintage of Ernie Els was in 2000. We asked ourselves: what wine do we make? And I sat down with Ernie, put five wines in front of him and said, “You choose number one to five.” And that day Ernie Els Signature was born.’
Ernie Els concurs: ‘It really seems hard to believe that it’s 25 years since Louis and I sat down over a few glasses of wine and discussed our dreams and aspirations for creating our winery. Through the passion and hard work of everyone on
the team we’ve created an award-winning portfolio of truly world-class wines. Our beautiful winery has also become a go-to destination on our country’s celebrated wine map, with a restaurant of outstanding quality.’
They were joined on the journey by proprietor Baron Hans von Staff, a visionary who completed the partnership and shared the belief that anything is possible with dedication and hard work. ‘My goal was not a fancy lifestyle; I like dust on my boots. My goal was a 50-hectare winery with vineyards and a winemaker who produces world-class wines,’ he says.
In celebration of 25 years, Ernie Els invites guests for a glass of exceptional wine, food, beauty and company.
For restaurant and tasting-room bookings, email bookings@ ernieelswines.com or call 021 881 3588. Ernie Els Wines are available to purchase online at ernieelswines.com
YOUR PRIVATE PLAYGROUND
From private heli to ‘Ginbledon’ tennis, a heart-shaped Tanzanian island is rewriting the rules of luxury.
WORDS PIPPA DE BRUYN
PIPPA, THE BOAT IS 10 MINUTES AWAY!’ The voice of Antigone Meda – Tinkerbell of Thanda – drifts up to where I am sprawled on the massage bed, experiencing a powerful rubdown, the kind that leaves you feeling lighter, unburdened by the chronic baggage of deadlines, taxes, mortality.
On the boat are the rest of the crew who set off that morning to look for whale sharks, lured to this archipelago – glistening whorls of sand around tufted green dots – by the plankton-rich waters drifting from the mainland’s Rufiji River in flood.
It’s day two on Thanda Island, voted the World’s Leading Exclusive Private Island in the World Travel Awards every year since Dan Olofsson and his wife Christen launched it in 2016. We’re here to witness how the luxury has been ratcheted up even further, thanks to a new partnership with hospitality leader Jumeirah. And how.
A swift VIP steer through immigration and customs is pretty much de rigueur at this level, but the Thanda Group has purchased a private-use helicopter: a top-of-the-range twin-engine Eurocopter EC155 that catapulted eight of us, comfortably co-
cooned in an enormous glass bubble, directly from Dar es Salaam to the island in less than 40 minutes. Gareth Hazell, the island’s resident pilot, obliged with a few fly-bys as we tried to capture the surreal scene below: white sands surrounded by the ombré blues of the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve; the Cape Codstyle villa peeking above bougainvillea-splashed gardens; curved rim-flow pool etched against textured green; an array of boats bobbing like dinky toys in a vastness of blue. With the closest inhabited island more than 20km away, Jumeirah Thanda Island is a playground set up just for you.
A kilometre in circumference, you can circumnavigate the five-hectare island on one of the new SUPs stacked in the boathouse, a treasure trove of aquatic toys housing snorkelling and diving gear, wakeboards and waterskis, big-game fishing tackle, kayaks, tubes and jet boards, with boathouse captain Maya de Villiers ready to teach or play. At high tide, you can swim and snorkel directly off the beach; when the sea recedes, a seascape of sandbars is revealed, bright red starfish and purple urchins in the shallows. Should weather or mood turn, the Eurocopter is ever on hand.
Guests have exclusive access to the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve. Snorkelling the reefs accompanied by the island’s resident marine biologist, Rianne Laan, is a large part of Thanda’s appeal.
Which is how we found ourselves enjoying lunch at a table amid 18th-century ruins on Chole Island (a surprise set-up after a morning snorkelling in Mafia Marine National Park) with worldclass Jumeirah chef Kevin Roehrig presenting platters of lobster carpaccio with mango tomato salsa and yuzu passionfruit sauce; tuna tartare with avocado and ponzu dressing; and salads as pretty as they are refreshing. Sated, we set sail for Juani Island, where Kua Lagoon lies hidden in the mangroves. An aquamarine gem filled with pulsating upside-down jellyfish, it’s a magical experience, wild and untainted, as is heading back to Mafia by dhow, the flapping sails and slapping sea creating an ancient rhythmic lullaby, before Gareth airlifts us back to our heartshaped home, evening bonfire waiting.
But as Antigone promised on arrival, there is no pressure to do anything. With two therapists on tap, my second morning segue to the massage bed was easily accommodated before joining the crew to snorkel the house reef with the island’s resident marine biologist, Rianne Laan.
Boarding the boat, we glimpse large flashes of silver: a shoal of juvenile blacktip reef sharks, testament to the success of the marine reserve the Olofssons established in 2007, protecting an impressive variety of species. Rianne has documented 338 types of fish, 34 biological coral genera and 105 invertebrate species. In addition to a resurgence of certain species (green turtles have revisited the island to nest) are innovative reef-restoration
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE The glasswalled pool is the most solid element; much of the Cape Cod-inspired villa was built in South Africa and assembled on the island. Up to 10 guests are accommodated in the main fivebedroom villa, with six to eight more in two charming thatched beach bandas; a sunset dhow cruise, one of several ways to explore; dining is seldom this predictable, with surprise set-ups a highlight of your stay.
‘WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE, SOMETHING THEY NEVER FORGET.’ – ANTIGONE MEDA
projects. The state of East Africa’s reefs are a wake-up call to anyone wondering about climate change, and guests interested in a hands-on conservation experience can actively participate with Rianne in creating these coral nurseries.
Maya cranks up the music and heads off in a new direction. By now we are used to the team’s theatrical approach to hospitality and, sure enough, a sandbar heaves into view with a makeshift kitchen on one end, a delicious seafood BBQ wafting its way to our table at the other – a by-now predictably decadent set-up. Solid timber chairs, white tablecloth, proper glassware, silver cutlery, Persian carpets. A flock of terns takes off in a swirling snow-like storm, swooping around us once before disappearing into the blue.
‘We want people to feel like this is a dream come true, something they never forget,’ says Antigone, who is so much more than Thanda’s general manager. An artist whose palette is experiences, she delights in creating elaborately themed scavenger hunts, stitching up fantasy costumes and making props, leaving clues like breadcrumbs to a trophy or plaque submerged in shallow waters – perfect mementoes for milestone birthdays. Thriving also on the challenge of offering high-end hospitality on a tiny, self-sufficient island, with its own desalination plant
While the others went looking for whale sharks, I luxuriated in the view, contemplating another massage.
and solar-energy system. ‘Problems are just opportunities to try something new,’ Antigone says. ‘To reinvent the way you do things, sometimes for the better.’
Hoots of laughter amid the thwacking balls. ‘Ginbledon’, a drinking tennis game devised by hospitality manager Imani Mwakosya, is cementing friendships on the floodlit court. I’ve opted to sit out, toes curled in the sand, gazing into the evening’s ritual bonfire. Directly ahead, the new moon is rising, and tonight’s dinner is an Arabian fantasy, lanterns creating small pools of illumination.
Jumeirah Thanda is a place to consider your own spiritual reset with a level of hospitality I have seldom experienced in decades of research. But underneath the fun runs a deep current of purpose. In owner Dan Olofsson’s memoir Mina tre liv (My Three Lives), he writes about amassing knowledge, then wealth, before deciding on his 50th birthday to dedicate his ‘third life’ to philanthropy.
Aside from conservation and community, his NPO Star for Life has influenced the lives of more than 500 000 school children across Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and Sweden. As guests at Jumeirah Thanda, one is inadvertently doing something meaningful. Inspired, possibly, to do more.
SAXON SPA STEYN CITY, A SANCTUARY FOR THE SENSES
Indulge in the art of wellness at the Saxon Spa Steyn City, where world-class expertise meets serene surroundings. Designed to restore balance and rejuvenate body and mind, this sanctuary offers bespoke treatments, hydrotherapy, and holistic rituals inspired by nature’s healing power. Whether for a moment of calm or a day of pure escape, the Saxon Spa invites you to rediscover your best self in an environment of timeless elegance.
Discover this unique residence situated in The Tides. On the front row, it enjoys privacy, views and fabulous living spaces. With 7 ensuite bedrooms, studio/ staff room, separate office plus spacious living rooms, private garden braai area, elevated rimflow pool and sun deck, it effortlessly accommodates every need. Nature is brought inside with the expansive covered patio for indoor/ outdoor living. Private access to the spectacular lagoon. A nature retreat set in a tranquil garden oasis. Carrie Maclean: 082 566 1881; Office: 044 533 2529; Web Ref: SIR117002.
EARLS COURT LIFESTYLE ESTATE, HEATHER PARK, GEORGE
Privately nestled in a secluded panhandle, this ultra-modern family residence redefines contemporary luxury. Bathed in natural light through expansive windows, with high ceilings and exposed beams, the home exudes space and sophistication. The open-plan kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring Caesarstone surfaces, premium appliances, a centre island, and a separate scullery and laundry. Seamless flow leads to an enclosed sunroom overlooking breathtaking mountain vistas and a beautifully landscaped garden. Three luxurious, en-suite bedrooms, including a main suite with walk-in closet, provide refined comfort. A spacious study and double garage complete this immaculate masterpiece in modern living. Beatrix de Waal: 072 394 8822; Office: 044 873 2519; Web Ref: SIR116364.
An extraordinary, luxurious, north-facing, sunny, home on a large stand on the magnificent Keurbooms Riverfront. Moor your boat in front of your home. Features include: open-plan living areas, games room with bar and pizza oven, second sheltered entertainment area with fire pit and built-in braai, steam room, swimming pool, underground water reservoir, solar panels, backup power, self-contained flatlet, dramatic entrance, breathtaking views, elegance, comfort, a deep connection to nature. The estate has a tennis court, swimming pool, clubhouse and comprehensive security. Elbie Pama: 082 569 2588; Office: 044 533 2529; Web Ref: SIR116979.
Experience the essence of urban sophistication in this striking New York-style loft. Soaring ceilings, screed floors, and vast industrial windows create an atmosphere of modern refinement. With two en-suite bedrooms, a chic social kitchen, and an inviting Morso fireplace, every detail embodies effortless style. Step outside to a private garden oasis with a sparkling pool and timber deck, a rare sanctuary offering the perfect balance of city energy and secluded luxury.
Experience the essence of urban sophistication in this striking New York-style loft. Soaring ceilings, screed floors, and vast industrial windows create an atmosphere of modern refinement. With two en-suite bedrooms, a chic social kitchen, and an inviting Morso fireplace, every detail embodies effortless style. Step outside to a private garden oasis with a sparkling pool and timber deck, a rare sanctuary offering the perfect balance of city energy and secluded luxury.
Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew
(Pty)Ltd
2012/141008/07
Set within park-like gardens (± 5600sqm) with rolling lawns, pool, tennis court and koi pond. Grand yet inviting, offering versatile entertaining indoor or outdoor with the wine cellar below the spacious covered patio. Four reception rooms, 5 bedrooms. Securely positioned within a boomed enclave. This exceptional home combines privacy, sophistication and a sense of sanctuary, moments from Sandton’s vibrant heart. Di: 082 960 5353; Debbie: 083 326 7739; Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7246981.
Set within park-like gardens (± 5600sqm) with rolling lawns, pool, tennis court and koi pond. Grand yet inviting, offering versatile entertaining indoor or outdoor with the wine cellar below the spacious covered patio. Four reception rooms, 5 bedrooms. Securely positioned within a boomed enclave. This exceptional home combines privacy, sophistication and a sense of sanctuary, moments from Sandton’s vibrant heart. Di: 082 960 5353; Debbie: 083 326 7739; Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7246981.
Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall
Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd
West Cliff Boomed Enclave. Family home is set on approximately 2,029sqm landscaped gardens. Huge glass windowscapes, 4 Reception rooms, open-plan kitchen pantry, 4 double bedrooms (2 en-suite) + family bathroom, 3 bedrooms together – 4th bedroom doubles as a guest suite, covered patio overlooking lawns for sports, swimming pool and views, garaging, off-road parking, vegetable garden, borehole, bottled gas, solar panels, inverter & diesel generator, Interior cooling system, prepaid electricity. Beverley Gurwicz: 082 412 0010: Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7263794.
West Cliff Boomed Enclave. Family home is set on approximately 2,029sqm landscaped gardens. Huge glass windowscapes, 4 Reception rooms, open-plan kitchen pantry, 4 double bedrooms (2 en-suite) + family bathroom, 3 bedrooms together – 4th bedroom doubles as a guest suite, covered patio overlooking lawns for sports, swimming pool and views, garaging, off-road parking, vegetable garden, borehole, bottled gas, solar panels, inverter & diesel generator, Interior cooling system, prepaid electricity. Beverley Gurwicz: 082 412 0010: Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7263794.
Perfectly positioned within walking distance of St Andrew’s School for Girls, this distinguished residence offers timeless elegance and contemporary family luxury. Expansive living areas, a gourmet kitchen and multiple entertainment spaces create a home designed for both comfort and celebration. Five spacious bedrooms, a private study, and an impressive man cave provide versatility and refinement. Set within manicured gardens with a pool and koi pond, this remarkable home promises a lifestyle of beauty, balance and ease. Charlene: 082 448 0440; Jodi: 072 110 0276; Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7280722. Lew
Perfectly positioned within walking distance of St Andrew’s School for Girls, this distinguished residence offers timeless elegance and contemporary family luxury. Expansive living areas, a gourmet kitchen and multiple entertainment spaces create a home designed for both comfort and celebration. Five spacious bedrooms, a private study, and an impressive man cave provide versatility and refinement. Set within manicured gardens with a pool and koi pond, this remarkable home promises a lifestyle of beauty, balance and ease. Charlene: 082 448 0440; Jodi: 072 110 0276; Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7280722.
In the heart of Saxonwold, this remarkable entertainer’s residence combines classic elegance with modern design. Light-filled interiors flow effortlessly to a covered patio with a built-in braai, pizza oven and sparkling pool. Expansive living areas, five wood-burning fireplaces and a sleek allwhite kitchen set the tone for sophisticated family living. With luxurious bedrooms, a study, pajama lounge and generous gardens, this is a home where timeless charm and contemporary comfort exist in perfect harmony. Elsabe Burnett: 082 414 6655; Office: 011 886 8070; Web Ref: SIR7245308.
Family Comfort & Easy Living in Northcliff – Welcome to a home where family life feels relaxed and effortless. Light and spacious living areas flow beautifully, offering room to gather, unwind, and enjoy the view. Step outside to a sparkling pool, covered entertainment patio, and an easy-care garden – perfect for sunny weekends and shared memories. Comfortable, practical, and perfectly located, this home offers the lifestyle your family will love. Melinda Odendaal: 083 399 4113; Louw Stuart: 082 464 7914; Office: 011 476 8303; Web Ref: 7222691.
Exquisite Family Haven in Bird Avenue – Discover timeless charm and modern comfort in this elegant double-storey home. Spacious living areas flow to an enclosed entertainment patio with gas braai, pool, and lush garden — perfect for family living. The gourmet kitchen features a double oven, scullery, and walk-in pantry. Upstairs offers a luxurious main suite with pyjama lounge and outdoor shower, plus two bedrooms and study. Includes a guest suite, solar system (10 panels, inverter, 2 batteries), and excellent security. Melinda Odendaal: 083 399 4113; Louw Stuart: 082 464 7914; Office: 011 476 8303; Web Ref: 7038746.
Enjoy high-level security and a family friendly community park in this exclusive estate – Immaculate and stylish, this modern family home offers seamless open-plan living with elegant spaces flowing onto a covered patio, landscaped garden, and sparkling salt pool. The gourmet cherrywood kitchen features premium finishes, a scullery, and laundry. Upstairs, three serene bedrooms include a luxurious master suite with balcony, skylight, and atrium for shower. Extras include oak floors, inverter, JoJo tank, heat pump, and central vacuum system. Enjoy estate living with top security and a family-friendly community park. Ria de Wet: 082 824 6925; Office: 011 476 8303; Web Ref: 7238158.
An iconic Featherbrooke Estate residence offering captivating views and refined luxury. Set on a landscaped, stone-walled driveway, this 1,250m² home features flowing living spaces, a pool terrace, and a boma for elegant entertaining. Boasting 5 en-suite bedrooms, a guest flatlet, chef’s kitchen, cinema, gym, bar, and jacuzzi, it blends sophistication with comfort. Extras include a generator, water systems, and staff quarters. Enjoy secure estate living with a clubhouse, parks, sports facilities, and serene natural surrounds. Bianca Parsons: 083 645 6590; Charmaine von Gordon: 079 882 3360; Office: 010 900 6450; Web Ref: SIR103705.
An iconic Featherbrooke Estate residence offering captivating views and refined luxury. Set on a landscaped, stone-walled driveway, this 1,250m² home features flowing living spaces, a pool terrace, and a boma for elegant entertaining. Boasting 5 en-suite bedrooms, a guest flatlet, chef’s kitchen, cinema, gym, bar, and jacuzzi, it blends sophistication with comfort. Extras include a generator, water systems, and staff quarters. Enjoy secure estate living with a clubhouse, parks, sports facilities, and serene natural surrounds. Bianca Parsons: 083 645 6590; Charmaine von Gordon: 079 882 3360; Office: 010 900 6450; Web Ref: SIR103705.
Experience refined luxury in this architect-designed home showcasing panoramic views and seamless indoor-outdoor living. The open-plan layout features a double-volume entrance, SMEG-fitted kitchen, elegant lounges, bar, cinema, gym, and rooftop entertainment area. Five spacious bedrooms include two lavish mains with en-suites. Enjoy landscaped gardens, a heated infinity pool, fire pit, greenhouse, and direct greenbelt access. Smart home tech, solar power, advanced security, and four garages complete this masterpiece — perfect for those who value sophistication, comfort, and spectacular vistas. Heidi Goodburn: 083 633 3467; Jackie Petzer: 083 315 4464; Office: 010 900 3450; Web Ref: SIR115769.
Experience refined luxury in this architect-designed home showcasing panoramic views and seamless indoor-outdoor living. The open-plan layout features a double-volume entrance, SMEG-fitted kitchen, elegant lounges, bar, cinema, gym, and rooftop entertainment area. Five spacious bedrooms include two lavish mains with en-suites. Enjoy landscaped gardens, a heated infinity pool, fire pit, greenhouse, and direct greenbelt access. Smart home tech, solar power, advanced security, and four garages complete this masterpiece — perfect for those who value sophistication, comfort, and spectacular vistas. Heidi Goodburn: 083 633 3467; Jackie Petzer: 083 315 4464; Office: 010 900 3450; Web Ref: SIR115769.
Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Roodepoort is an independently
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of Yukocom (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2019/344066/0SIR108611 Geffen
An architecturally designed masterpiece set within the prestigious Boskloof Eco Estate, this home captures the essence of luxury living in harmony with nature. Expansive glass and open spaces frame breathtaking mountain and sea views, while premium finishes and thoughtful design create a seamless flow between indoors and out. A rare opportunity to own an elegant retreat that balances sophistication, serenity, and sustainability in one of the Helderberg’s most sought-after estates. Chantal Botes: 083 702 5460; Office: 021 851 4450; Web Ref: 3527257.
An architecturally designed masterpiece set within the prestigious Boskloof Eco Estate, this home captures the essence of luxury living in harmony with nature. Expansive glass open spaces frame breathtaking mountain and sea views, while premium finishes and thoughtful design create a seamless flow between indoors and A rare opportunity to own an elegant retreat that balances sophistication, serenity, and sustainability in one of the Helderberg’s most sought-after estates. Chantal Botes: 083 702 5460; Office: 021 851 4450; Web Ref: 3527257.
A nature lover’s dream, this modern luxury villa combines refined living with the serenity of the Helderberg mountains. Set in an exclusive five-home estate beside the Erinvale Golf Club, it features sleek architecture, solid wood flooring, solar power, and a private borehole. Enjoy elegant open-plan living, landscaped gardens, and access to the Lourens River. Perfect for golf and outdoor enthusiasts seeking peace, security, and sophistication in one of Somerset West’s most desirable locations. Wolfgang Jakob: 082 577 1526; Office: 021 851 4450; Web Ref: SIR116124.
A nature lover’s dream, this modern luxury villa combines refined living with the serenity of the Helderberg mountains. Set in an exclusive five-home estate beside the Erinvale Golf Club, it features sleek architecture, solid wood flooring, solar power, and a private borehole. Enjoy elegant open-plan living, landscaped gardens, and access to the Lourens River. Perfect for golf and outdoor enthusiasts seeking peace, security, and sophistication in one of Somerset West’s most desirable locations. Wolfgang Jakob: 082 577 1526; Office: 021 851 4450; Web Ref: SIR116124.
Set within one of Constantia’s most exclusive and tranquil avenues, this refined Georgian-style residence offers the perfect blend of timeless elegance and contemporary family living. Situated on over 3,200 m² of landscaped grounds with mountain views, the home exudes sophistication from the moment you arrive. Welcomed by a charming courtyard and central fountain with multiple accommodation options, versatile living spaces, and exquisite finishes throughout, this is a rare opportunity to secure a truly exceptional home in the heart of the Constantia. Rouvaun Mckirby: 071 671 0821; Jo Thomas: 084 404 4120; Office: 021 701 2446; Web Ref: SIR116702.
Tucked away in one of the most private corners of the iconic Steenberg Golf Estate, this exceptional double-storey residence offers more than just a home — it offers a way of life defined by serenity, space, and understated luxury. Dave Burger: 083 458 3333; Steve Thomas: 084 471 4722; Office: 021 701 2446; Web Ref: SIR115690.
BISHOPSCOURT, CAPE TOWN
Asking: R75 million | 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 4 Garages | Pool
A distinguished European-inspired residence set on 5,413 sqm in an exclusive cul-de-sac, offering breathtaking views and serene privacy. Bathed in natural light, the home features refined open-plan living, a designer kitchen, and a cinema room with fireplace. Four luxurious bedrooms include two elegant ensuites with private lounge and kitchenette. Complemented by a stylish pool house with kitchenette and bathroom, four-car garaging, inverter, and ample parking. Bordered by Van Riebeeck Park and near top schools, wine estates, and the city centre. Elaine Dobson: 082 413 7369; Ruth Leach: 082 323 7550; Office: 021 673 1280; Web Ref: SIR117042.
Discover this stunning single-storey home blending modern elegance with comfort. North-facing and filled with natural light, it features a designer kitchen with premium finishes, open-plan living, and seamless outdoor access to a pool and mountain views. Four bedrooms includes two en-suites plus luxurious main suite with a walk-in closet and spa bathroom. Sustainable with solar panels. The home offers a double garage, secure parking, staff bathroom, and electric fence. An impeccable, stylish retreat for refined living. Viewing by appointment only. Jennifer Lee: 082 562 5139; Christine Commaille-Rey: 082 655 5552; Office: 021 673 1280, Web Ref: SIR117065.
Barbestyn is a stunning Victorian residence in Rosebank, built in 1902 for the Mowbray mayor. This historic double-storey home features soaring ceilings, original fireplaces, and handcrafted details. It offers versatile ground-floor rooms, a contemporary bespoke kitchen with indoor-outdoor flow, and a luxurious upstairs master suite with Table Mountain views. The expansive wraparound balcony, manicured garden, and swimming pool creates perfect entertaining spaces. Secure parking and prime location make this a rare opportunity to own a heritage gem with modern comforts. Lesley Payne: 082 455 4808; Office: 021 673 1280; Web Ref: SIR116322.
MISTY CLIFFS, SCARBOROUGH, CAPE TOWN
Asking: R18.5 million | 5 Bedrooms | 7 Bathrooms | Pool
Anchored against the dramatic slopes of the Cape Peninsula, this magnificent coastal residence blends strength, space, and breathtaking beauty. Soaring ceilings and vast sea-facing rooms capture uninterrupted Atlantic views — perfect for watching whales and sunsets. With five en-suite bedrooms, a self-contained apartment, dual entertainment spaces and a pool with ocean vistas, it’s ideal as a family sanctuary, guesthouse, or retreat. Secure parking, dual access, and optional furnishings add ease. Just steps from a private beach and minutes from fine dining, surfing, and nature — this is coastal living at its finest. Natalie Cooper: 083 630 0911; Katrien De Brabander: 082 779 2054; Office: 021 783 8260; Web Ref: SIR116581.
Step into a dream at this exceptional equestrian estate, where country living meets coastal beauty just minutes from the beach. The light-filled main house offers open-plan living, three en-suite bedrooms, and a luxurious master suite. Enjoy effortless entertaining with patios, a lap pool, and a tranquil conservatory. Two cottages and a loft studio provide flexible living or income potential. For equestrians: five stables, arena, tack rooms, paddocks, and groom’s quarters. Solar power, borehole, and security complete this rare lifestyle haven — peaceful, practical, and perfectly positioned near top schools and amenities. Lilian Bron: 076 959 2733; Helen Smith: 084 503 5464; Office: 021 783 8260; Web Ref: SIR116857.
Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac minutes from the beach and schools, this versatile property offers three separate living units — ideal for extended family, rental income, or work-from-home living. The main house features open-plan living with a cosy fireplace, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms. A second unit offers a private suite with kitchenette, while the charming cottage boasts high ceilings, a sunny veranda, and lush garden views. Child- and pet-friendly with JoJo tanks, garage, and parking, this flexible home combines lifestyle, income potential, and location in perfect harmony. Natalie Cooper: 083 630 0911; Office: 021 783 8260; Web Ref: SIR116919.
This exceptional architecturally crafted home, meticulously designed with attention to detail, will captivate even the most discerning buyer. A spacious north-facing residence featuring warm tones and a welcoming atmosphere seamlessly extends to a stylish undercover patio, tranquil pool, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Highlights include underfloor water heating throughout, wood-burning fireplace, ceilings with trusses, solar panels, solid wooden flooring, concrete floors, an automatic pool cover, shutters, and double-glazed windows. Kim Edges: 072 562 4472; Suritha van Tonder: 084 440 4283; Office: 021 867 0065; Web Ref: SIR116586.
Known as the culinary capital of South Africa, Franschhoek blends heritage, art and nature in one unforgettable valley, and the private vineyard estate of La Ferme Chantelle stands at its heart. Mountain vistas, vineyards, olive groves in between contemporary styles of Cape vernacular architecture, the estate has 28 residences spread over 19 hectares, so that privacy and security are matched by an exceptional sense of space. And this residence delivers the ultimate Franschhoek experience, celebrating refinement and understated luxury. The proportions of this thatchroofed home are generous, and every detail is immaculately curated by the current owners. Gary de Valle: 082 464 8038; Moira Barham: 082 896 3597; Bev Malan: 082 901 6966; Office: 021 876 8480; Web Ref: SIR116961.
Set virtually on the water’s edge, this fully renovated 3-bedroom home captures breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges. North-east facing and beautifully appointed, the residence combines modern elegance with the ultimate Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate lifestyle. Enjoy world-class facilities within Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate – home to the acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Kevin Layden: 082 300 9446; Office: 021 867 0065; Web Ref: SIR116883.
Eden is a distinctive lifestyle farm located at the base of the Langeberg Mountains in the Montagu region, seamlessly combining rustic appeal with refined elegance to promote a tranquil way of life. The primary residence is situated on an elevated position and features three spacious bedrooms, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms and stacker doors that open onto a wraparound patio offering sweeping vistas of seven surrounding mountain ranges. Moira Barham: 082 896 3597; Bev Malan: 082 901 6966; Office: 021 876 8480; Web Ref: SIR116512.
Discover refined living in this immaculate five en-suite property, perfectly positioned on a prime north-facing stand within the prestigious De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate in Stellenbosch. Designed to maximise natural light and showcase sweeping mountain views, this exceptional home offers expansive open-plan living areas that seamlessly flow onto generous terraces. Chris Cilliers: 082 568 1122; Office: 021 809 2760; Web Ref: SIR115707.
A rare opportunity to own this exclusive Stellenbosch Estate with vineyard and cottages. This nine hectare farm located just 10 minutes from Stellenbosch and 25 minutes from Cape Town International Airport, offers an incomegenerating lifestyle estate in the heart of the Cape Winelands. In addition to the accommodation, the farm features 3 hectares of established Sauvignon Blanc vineyards and includes horse stables and paddocks, a swimming pool, and a Boma entertainment area, all set against a backdrop of sweeping mountain, vineyard, and river views. Detlef Struck: 079 597 1727; Office: 021 809 2760; Web Ref: FV8PQT on sothebysrealty.com.
Set in a well-established suburb of Stellenbosch, this beautifully transformed home is undergoing a complete renovation to become a contemporary architectural dream. Perfectly positioned with sweeping views of the iconic Stellenbosch Mountain, it offers stylish living in a sought-after location — just minutes from top schools, play parks, renowned wine farms, and the scenic Jonkershoek Valley with its mountain trails. Maggie Smit: 083 712 5716; Office: 021 809 2760; Web Ref: SIR115300.
Experience refined country living in this luxurious double-storey rural home, ideally situated on an expansive estate with breathtaking mountain views, vineyards, and space for horses to roam freely on the property. Nestled beside a tranquil earth dam, this exclusive lifestyle property offers the perfect blend of privacy, elegance, and opportunity. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful family retreat, an equestrian estate, or a versatile rural investment with tourism and development potential, this exceptional property delivers on all fronts. Bronwyn Boyd: 083 420 1747; Lizette Visser: 072 826 0555; Office: 021 870 1011; Web Ref: SIR116851.
Experience the pinnacle of luxury living at The Aurum Presidential Residences in Bantry Bay. This exquisite five-bedroom apartment offers panoramic ocean views, open-plan living, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Enjoy a gourmet kitchen, elegant dining area, private jacuzzi, and dedicated cinema room. Each bedroom features a lavish en-suite and balcony access. With direct elevator entry, double parking, and prime proximity to Cape Town’s finest dining and leisure, this residence redefines sophistication. Munya Mutanga: +27 74 762 2237; Office: 021 401 4338; Web Ref: SIR116736.
Exclusive Sole Mandate – A rare opportunity to own a villa of unparalleled calibre in the heart of Camps Bay. This exquisite home features six luxurious en-suite bedrooms, two elegant lounges, a formal dining area with a striking glass-enclosed fireplace, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, and a sleek open-plan kitchen. Expansive terraces overlook a sparkling pool, manicured gardens, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Twelve Apostles –the ultimate expression of refined coastal living. Andrea Glew: +27 79 893 9197; Office: 021 401 4338; Web Ref: SIR117108.
Perched high on Merriman Road, this sophisticated 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom duplex offers privacy, space, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Green Point Stadium, and city skyline. Spanning 229 sqm, it features open-plan living, a sleek kitchen with scullery, and seamless flow to an oversized balcony perfect for entertaining. The luxurious main suite and stylish bedrooms provide comfort and elegance. With secure tandem parking, 24/7 security, and direct access to Signal Hill trails, this home epitomizes refined coastal living in Green Point. Steve D’Hooghe: +27 82 654 9707; Office: 021 401 4338; Web Ref: SIR116469.
Sophisticated and serene, this contemporary 6-bedroom home embodies quiet luxury in pristine “as new” condition. Clean lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, and lightfilled living spaces frame uninterrupted views of Table Mountain, the De Grendel vineyards, and Cape Town’s sunsets and city lights. Designed for effortless living and entertaining, it features a Smeg-fitted kitchen, full scullery, indoor braai and seamless open-plan flow. Located in the prestigious Baronetcy Estate with world-class security and panoramic vistas. Ricky Van Der Walt: +27 81 218 0501; Office: 021 532 1140; Web Ref: SIR116676.
