My husband and I celebrate birthdays differently. We avoid big parties, balloons, and crowds and rather escape the noise to remote cottages across the Western Cape. This year, I spoiled him with a romantic getaway to Spier in Stellenbosch. It has been one of our favourite experiences as a couple since 2015, and we're returning to celebrate my birthday in October. Everything was on point, and I really appreciate the attention to detail. So here's our itinerary for two nights and three days. There are a variety of activities available on the farm, and I suggest spending at least two full days at Spier to experience most of them.
The river walk is shaded by various trees, lined with different proteas, and dotted with sunbirds, Image Credit: Spier
Our Three-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Check-in, Wine, and Dine
“Welcome, Jean-Pierre, and happy birthday," the team greeted my husband as we entered the oak-framed double doors. We made our way to the cosy lounge to check in with a glass of white wine in hand.
As I completed our check-in form, they handed me our itinerary for the next few days. All activities were booked and ready for our arrival. Keep in mind that I phoned them only three hours earlier to discuss activities and ideas, all of them a surprise for my husband!
The hotel offers a complimentary wine experience on the day of your arrival. This is no ordinary do-it-yourself wine tasting. We compared the 21 Gables Chenin Blanc with the Farmer Angus Organic Chenin Blanc and paired them with pineapple, honey, and pear.
One of their team members guided us through the journey, and had a memorable discussion about the two wines, Spier’s wine collection, and their entire approach to sustainability.
Local Flavours for Dinner
Dinner was served at Veld at Spier restaurant (which means Field in English). Ingredients are grown in their gardens and sourced from local farmers. Jean-Pierre enjoyed the steak cut of the day (rump) with hand-cut fries and Spier house emulsion.
I savoured every bite of my soft springbok loin with rainbow carrots (fresh from their Harvest Garden), carrot purée, and citrus jus. I ordered an extra serving of Hasselback potato with parmesan and cream and should have ordered more!
The entire menu celebrates authentic South African flavours like rooibos ice cream, Cape Malay koe’sisters, smoked snoek fish cake, bobotie samosa, and grilled Karoo lamb cutlets.
Veld at Spier has an open kitchen that serves both the restaurant and the adjacent Garden Room, Image Credit: Hanli Matthee
Day 2: Spa, Birdwatching, and Picnic
Waking up to birdsong instead of an alarm was a welcome change as we don’t often get to sleep in. We made our way to the lovely Garden Room adjacent to the Veld restaurant for breakfast. The morning light flooded through the windows, and the harvest table was colourful with fresh seasonal fruits (watermelon, melon, pineapple, pear), muesli, yoghurt, cheese and charcuterie, and a selection of fresh pastries like muffins, scones, croissants, pain au chocolat, and pastéis de nata.
The hot breakfast serves some international favourites like omelettes, salmon trout benedict, avo on toast, and buttermilk pancakes. I opted for a local mieliepap dish served with fresh berries, cashew praline, and vanilla butter.
As we roamed through the hotel side of the estate, we were greeted with warm smiles and by name. “Hello, Mrs Matthee. How was the spa?”. The spa was divine! While my husband dozed off during this full-body organic massage, I opted to get my nails done for the next surprise: a picnic by the dam.
Sunshine Picnic
Our summer picnic menu included a kale and boerenkaas frittata, charcuterie, brie, marinated olives, seed crackers, lavash, and a fresh baguette for snacks. The main portion was a delicious Cape Malay chicken breast with roast Spier veggies served with labneh and dukkah.
And finally, a sweet ending with Vadas pastéis de nata. It was a setting out of a magazine on the lush lawn, under a willow tree, with the river trickling past on the right and the dam on our left. We watched as a malachite kingfisher caught a fish after patiently waiting for my husband to take a few pictures. It was lovely lazy afternoon in the mild sun.
My husband is an avid birder, and there was ample time between the spa and picnic to stroll the river walk alongside Eerste River, taking pictures of the resident African harrier hawk, sunbirds, and sugar birds.
There are numerous picnic spots around the dam, spaced out for privacy and tranquility, Image Credit: Hanli Matthee
Day 3: Harvest Garden, and Check-Out
The next day started slow as well. After another scrumptious breakfast, we made our way to the far end of the farm to the Harvest Garden. Here, we were guided through the bedding of various herbs and veggies. Our harvest basket included a farm-fresh selection of butter lettuce, green and red frilly lettuce, parsley, rocket, thyme, rosemary, rainbow carrots, turnip, green bell peppers, and more!
A waddling of runner ducks pecked some fresh mint in a small splash of water. The best time to visit Spier’s Harvest Garden is in the morning, preferably in September and January. The Harvest Garden is open to the public, but be sure to make a booking!
The Harvest Garden is a lovely, out-of-the-ordinary experience, Image Credit: Hanli Matthee
An Effortless Romantic Getaway
That is the best way I can describe it: effortless. We did not have to lift a finger. The entire stay at Spier was warm, welcoming, light, and relaxing.
Although my husband and I visited them for a romantic birthday celebration, Spier is perfect for family getaways, too. Have something similar in mind? Contact our Travel Experts to plan your romantic getaway for you. Just tell us when and where, and we do the rest.
Featured Image Credit: Spier
