Built in 1713, the spectacular 5-star Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel & Spa is a National Monument in Church Street. After consistently ranking as the #1 hotel in Stellenbosch on TripAdvisor, I knew I had to plan a stay at this luxury boutique hotel. And well, was it worth it!

The exterior of Coopmanhuijs has a Parisian feel to it with tables spilling out onto the sidewalk, black wrought iron fences, and pretty pink and purple flowers set in blue and white chequered jugs. The unassuming beauty beckons passers-by to stop in at Helena’s Restaurant (open to the public), while its central location allows guests to explore Stellenbosch on foot.

We were welcomed by the friendly faced Phindile (meaning “again”) who rushed out to bring our bags in from the car. They make you feel as though you have stepped off the red carpet. A valet will park your car for you in the underground parking garage across the street, which is fantastic as you will likely not need your car during your stay.

Phindile showed us around the hotel, and it was soon evident that the hotel’s slogan “where the familiar is made remarkable” rings true. He took us through the guest lounge, wine bar, busy kitchen, and restaurant, and out into the courtyard. Here, you will find the hotel spa and a heated swimming pool that invites you to sit back and enjoy the lazy Stellenbosch atmosphere. Rolled towels wait patiently on the sun beds.

Bedroom

Our bedroom was the finest treat of all. Room 14. Our feet immediately sank into the plush carpets as we surveyed the room with its calming cream colour scheme. It was one of the most luxurious and beautiful hotel rooms I had ever stayed in to date. A king-sized bed wrapped in Egyptian cotton linen, surrounded by thick curtains, a beige throw and scatter cushions, and a deep red velvet bench filled the room. A note welcoming us by name lay on the bed beside a collection of dark chocolates. Upon opening the wardrobe, we found a utility safe, two lavish towelling gowns, two pairs of slippers, and a mini bar offering a selection of tea and coffee, rusks, chocolates, chips, cool drinks, beers, and liqueurs.

If the bedroom was beautiful, it was nothing compared to our delight in the en-suite bathroom. Fitted with a large bath and glass shower, fluffy towels piled high on the shelf, underfloor heating, and a basin surrounded by sweet-smelling Charlotte Rhys body products, the bathroom begged to be used. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to find an excuse to shower 5 times a day – even if you’re already sparkling clean!

Dinner

When dinner time came around, we headed down to reception to enquire about our dining options. Helena’s Restaurant is so popular that you have to book a table in advance but that didn’t stop a tireless man by the name of Linden from offering to find a table for us at the last minute. We opted instead to dine at the nearby Hussar Grill; a restaurant known for its fantastic steaks.

Turn down service

Back at the hotel, a crackling fire had warmed the guest lounge and the barmen waited patiently to serve in the bar, equipped from floor to ceiling with an impressive collection of wine and spirits. We entered our room to find that the staff had done a turn down service in our absence. Fresh bottled water stood sentry on the bedside table, and a weather report lay dutifully on the bed, helping us to plan appropriate activities for the next day. My eyes didn’t miss the extra chocolates which lay beside the pillow. The continental pillows had been plumped and the silky bed covers had been turned down ever so slightly, allowing 5-star accustomed humans to creep inside without any unnecessary effort.

Much to our dismay, we found that the room didn’t come with a DVD player. However, a short call to reception soon sorted this out and Linden connected one up for us. The fact that the remote’s departed batteries had turned it into an uncooperative brick didn’t even deter us as we quickly connected the HDMI cable to our laptop. South Africans know how to maak ‘n plan! We climbed happily into the king-sized bed which seemed to turn us into miniaturised beings, and enjoyed a cup of tea and our chocolates. What a night!

We had the best night’s sleep. The bed has the kind of mattress that absorbs all movement, so your partner’s tossing and turning doesn’t disturb you. We almost overslept as the shutters and block-out curtains were so thick that we were convinced it was still the middle of the night. I’d recommend setting an alarm or ordering a wakeup call.

Breakfast

The breakfast room was already half full with happily chatting guests, and an impressive table laden with cereal, yoghurt, scones, croissants, and all sorts of cheeses beckoned us to grab a plate and widen our waist belts. The wooden tables, set with sweet-smelling pink flowers, crept out into the poolside courtyard which was unfortunately still a bit chilly to use. We enjoyed a pot of English Breakfast tea and the traditional hot breakfast of bacon, scrambled egg, tomatoes, pork sausage, and mushrooms, before setting out to begin our day.

A bit about Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel & Spa

• There is a choice of 3 Petite Rooms and 12 Manor & Courtyard Rooms, some of which have balconies.
• Victorian style bathrooms have both showers and baths, and lavish Charlotte Rhys products.
• All rooms have flat screen televisions with DStv, mini bars, telephones, and FREE Wi-Fi.
• There is a heated swimming pool with sunbeds.
• Breakfast is served from 08h00 – 10h30 and includes a continental spread. The menu has hot options like traditional English breakfast, omelettes, French toast, and more.
• Helena’s Restaurant is open to the public and has both indoor and outdoor seating.
• The spa has a sauna and steam room, qualified therapists, and uses proudly South African products.

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Address: 33 Church Street, Stellenbosch. GPS: -33.938022, 18.861894

Plan a weekend away to Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel & Spa where the familiar is made remarkable!