Simondium’s Country Lodge, Paarl Road, Cape Winelands: Accommodation Review
Simondium’s Country Lodge
R45, between the R310 and the N1
Paarl-Franschhoek Region, Cape Winelands | Map
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Accommodation type: Small Hotel
Number of stars: 3
Rooms starting from (per person sharing): R600 and up [per room, not person; see comment from Wilna below]
SA Blog recommends? Enthusiastically!
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But perhaps the best thing about Simondium’s is what it offers day visitors, who, say, happen to be reeled in from the R45 by the sign that advertises the Lodge’s bric-a-brac shop, Enamel. Enamel is a gloriously cluttered emporium of all that’s bygone: pick up a water jug or tea cosy for someone who likes a retro look. Then rest a while in the Lodge’s delightful little tea room, or top up at the classic country bar. At all times you will be fussed over with jolly effeciency by the Lodge’s managers – and find yourself hard-pressed not to stay the night!
(See full review below.)
Low season specials? Yes
Breakfast included? Yes
Dedicated non-smoking rooms? Yes
Staff friendliness (out of 10): 9
Staff competence (out of 10): 8
Room options: Single, Double, Suite
Room comfort level (out of 10): 7
Noisy? No
Does the TV remote work? Yes
Fan or A/C? Both
Pool? Yes
Concierge? No
Restaurant? Yes
Conference facilities? Yes
Three ink blot adjectives: Charming, Easygoing, Atmospheric
Value for money? Yes
Booking information
Simondium’s Country Lodge
PO Box 7
Simondium 7670
Tel: +27(0) 21 874 1046, Fax: +27 (0) 21 874 1061
www.simondiums.co.za/contact.html
www.simondiums.co.za
Review
In the Cape winelands, the stretch of R45 between the R310 and Paarl is a kind of “no man’s land” – click on the map link above to see what I mean. (The road that runs northwest-southeast is the R45.) Although there are a few wine estates to visit – including the splendid Backsberg – most traffic from Stellenbosch peels off in the opposite direction, toward Franschhoek.
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Big mistake. Just down the road the other way lies the highly charming Simondium’s Country Lodge, which provides the perfect stop for breaking up a long, hard day’s winetasting.
The bulk of Simondium’s business is accommodation: you can stay at the rustic-but-pleasant 3-star hotel for about the region’s average per-night rate. (All rooms are non-smoking; you have a choice of a single or double room, or the new open-plan suites, with kitchenettes.) The Lodge is also a winelands conference and wedding specialist – its beautiful grounds (complete with peacocks) have seen many blissful brides given away – and then spirited away, in an antique Rolls Royce.
But perhaps the best thing about Simondium’s is what it offers day visitors, who, say, happen to be reeled in from the R45 by the sign that advertises the Lodge’s bric-a-brac shop, Enamel. Enamel is a gloriously cluttered emporium of all that’s bygone: pick up a water jug or tea cosy for someone who likes a retro look. Then rest a while in the Lodge’s delightful little tea room, or top up at the classic country bar. At all times you will be fussed over with jolly effeciency by the Lodge’s managers – and find yourself hard-pressed not to stay the night!
Simondium’s is one of the winelands’ best-kept secrets. It easily makes SA Logue’s “Best of Franschhoek” list.