After nearly a month in South Africa, we wanted to end our holiday somewhere very special, so for our final weekend in mid- January, we booked into the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl...
After nearly a month in South Africa, we wanted to end our holiday somewhere very special, so for our final weekend in mid- January, we booked into the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl. This beautiful hotel stands at the foot of the Paarl Rock, overlooking vineyards and mountains. The hotel was once a historical monument and is now a unique small five-star luxury hotel with beautiful gardens and world class cuisine. Stepping inside, we immediately felt the magic and graciousness of a bygone era which gives the hotel its unique and relaxing ambience.
We were warmly welcomed by the Reception staff who were so polite and caring. They presented us both with Charlotte Rhys luxury sanitisers to use while they quietly organised our cases to be taken to our room.
We stayed in one of the Garden Suite rooms. The suite was elegantly decorated in neutral shades of creams, coffee and brown with highlights of teal in the soft furnishings and there was a lovely comfy king-sized bed. What was extra special was the comfortable and generously -sized living area which had French windows that opened straight out into the hotel garden. There are 31 suites and each has been individually designed with careful attention to detail.
I started reach morning on the roof terrace. To be honest, I couldn’t ask for a better view for my morning practice than looking at the beautiful mountains lit by the early morning sun. I also enjoyed spending time relaxing in the jacuzzi tub in our large bathroom or feeling the power of the shower water on my skin as we prepared to go to dinner.
The hotel is situated on a working farm in the centre of Paarl. Its gardens are extensive and perfect for strolling and it was fun to walk in the local vineyard too. When we were there, the daily temperature was +40°C so we found ourselves drawn to the hotel’s beautiful pool.
The staff in the pool area were wonderful as they went out of their way to make sure we were okay, bringing us water and iced tea whenever we needed it, to keep us hydrated.
At the helm of the Restaurant at the Grande Roche Hotel is Kevin Grobler. Our experience in the restaurant was simply mind blowing – I don’t say this often, but it’s one of the best restaurants I’ve ever experienced.
Another thing that impressed me was that the restaurant has a “zero waste” policy. Food scraps are composted, and materials are recycled or reused whenever possible. In addition, the eggs are purchased from a local organic supplier. All food waste is collected and composted or fed to animals. They buy produce that is in season and sourced locally.
The Chef elevated the entire experience. He and his team planned a multi-sensory dinner that took us from the restaurant to the pool and back to the kitchen. The DIY Starter idea inspired me greatly. The ingredients had to be mixed by hand: mushroom mouse plus various types of cheese on the table plus herbs. Our goal was to come up with a one-of-a-kind dish. Beef with beetroot and strawberry powder, paired with a glass of South African wine, was another of his stunning dishes. very course during dinner was accompanied by wines from a local winery, which was a fantastic experience. The hotel’s owners also own Under Oaks Winery, which produces excellent wines and these were the wines that were paired to the menu. The Chef also prepared some elements of the meal at the side of our table using fresh and locally sourced seasonal produce.
I have to admit that the best meal of the day for me was the hearty breakfast – honestly! Breakfast consists of a buffet and à la carte menu. The buffet was not the traditional kind as you sit down at the table and the Chef arrives promptly with a trolley. The options were delicious and included traditional omelettes and Eggs Benedict extraordinaire. In the afternoons, Grande Roche serves a delectable high tea that rivals any British tea ceremony.
The Restaurant staff take a pride in their work and made it their job to get themselves well-versed in our likes and dislikes. They were kind and genuinely interested in us and even offered to take photos for us (which is so exciting for me as a creator).
We both left The Grand Roche with a slightly heavy heart as we had thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our time in this gorgeous hotel. We wished we had stayed longer, but as we caught a final glimpse of it in the car mirror, we both laughed and pledged ‘we’ll be back’!
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