We found the ultimate place to relax during our family trip through South Africa: Riebeek-Kasteel. In this blog, you can read all about this small but beautiful village in the Swartland region. We share the five best things to do in Riebeek-Kasteel and provide tips for great accommodations with and without children.
Riebeek-Kasteel: charming village nestled among vineyards & olive groves
We are almost there. For the past hour, we have mainly driven through agricultural land. Now the landscape is starting to change, and we are driving through the mountains via the Bothmanskloof Pass. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a green valley appears. The Riebeek Valley! We see vineyards and olive trees everywhere. And then a small white church. It could hardly be more idyllic: Riebeek-Kasteel, our accommodation for the next 4 nights.
Yes, this is quite different from the bustling Cape Town where we were before. But we made that choice consciously. Traveling with two children (ages 1 and 3) can be tiring at times. So we were looking for a beautiful place where we could truly unwind, but where there are also good restaurants and nice wineries. And that is exactly what we found in the village of Riebeek-Kasteel.
By the way, the municipality of Riebeek consists of two villages situated next to each other. You have Riebeek-West and Riebeek-Kasteel. We found Riebeek-Kasteel the most charming.
Riebeek-Kasteel in the Swartland wine region
Riebeek is located about an hour and a half’s drive from Cape Town in the Swartland wine region. This is where the somewhat more exciting wines come from, as many winemakers are part of the Swartland Revolution, an influential movement of young winemakers that has focused on natural viticulture with minimal additives since 2010. It is very hot here in the summer, and most vineyards are quite old. Chenin Blanc and Rhône-style wines come from here.
Riebeek-Kasteel is also known as the Franschhoek of 50 years ago. So, without the hordes of tourists, without the hype. It is therefore wonderfully quiet here, yet with plenty of nice restaurants. And everywhere you look, that beautiful Kasteelberg towers over the village. The ideal place to unwind and enjoy all the good things South Africa has to offer. Incidentally, we are not the only Dutch people here, as it seems that many Dutch people have moved here in recent decades.
Tip: We did not stay in the centre and took the car to drive to the village. That was perfectly doable. Regarding safety, we were warned not to walk around outside the centre.
How many days do you need for Riebeek-Kasteel?
You can easily see this small village in a day. But if you want to enjoy the many restaurants, explore the surroundings, and unwind as we did, we recommend staying here for at least two to three nights.
Tip: We travel to Riebeek-Kasteel with a rental car from Sunny Cars. In South Africa, we always rent a car through them because comprehensive insurance is included as standard. Any hassle with the insurance is handled by Sunny Cars, so you can simply enjoy your holiday.
The 5 best things to do in Riebeek-Kasteel:
For such a small village, there is more than enough to do in Riebeek-Kasteel and the surrounding area. Below, we provide tips. Also, for when you visit Riebeek-Kasteel with young children.
1. Explore the charming centre of Riebeek-Kasteel
Riebeek-Kasteel itself is quite a large village, but the centre is small. It is located in the area between Plein Street and Main Street. Here you will find most of the restaurants, art galleries, and some nice boutiques.
You will also find South Africa’s oldest hotel here, The Royal Hotel, which is over 150 years old. Be sure to stop by to soak up the atmosphere, stay overnight, or book a table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
You’ll find the nicest shops on Short Street, a sort of small square with cafes and shops. Here you’ll find, among others, ROF, a shoe brand owned by Dutch owners. Around the corner from Main Street, on Sarel Street, you’ll find Crystal & Twine, an interior design shop. And at Green’s Food Emporium, we bought a sweet little ceramic swallow for our daughter’s bedroom.
You can also find nice shops outside the city centre. Visit the Wunderkammer, an antique shop on the weekend. Here you will find beautiful antiques, tableware, and many more surprising items. At Deli-Co, a bit further outside the centre, you can buy fresh meat and soap, enjoy a hearty lunch, and find a nice playground.
2. Visit one of the many olive groves and wineries
In the Swartland, you will find many wineries and olive groves. A visit to Riebeek-Kasteel is therefore only complete once you have tasted wine or olives. Below are a few locations we have visited and can recommend.
Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate
If you are only visiting one winery, go to Kloovenburg Estate. After all, you will find everything here: a wonderful playground for children, delicious food, and a beautiful place to taste wines and olives. We stay here for a whole afternoon while our son amuses himself in the beautiful playground, and we enjoy pizza and wraps from the restaurant Kringe Inni Bos (open only Friday-Sunday). And of course, the wine; we drink a glass of Eight Feet Chenin Blanc. There are also three walking routes starting from this estate, passing through the vineyards towards the Kasteelberg.
Allesverloren
Allesverloren Estate is located just outside Riebeek-West. It is a small winery that also produces port. Very tasty! Allesverloren is less commercial, a simple place where the focus is on the wines and port. There is, however, a swing and a lawn so that children can enjoy themselves too. There are two tastings available, very reasonably priced. We opted for the 5-wine tasting, of which I found the Tinta Barocca, made from Portuguese grapes, to be the tastiest.
Marras
Marras is a young winery with wines inspired by the Rhône region in France. The winery is located in Riebeek-West and also features a restaurant where you can enjoy a good meal and taste the wines. We tasted, among others, the Vixen Chenin Blanc, a wine that has been fermented and aged in barrels. Quite different from most Chenin Blancs we taste here, it has a round and oily flavour.
You can find Olive Boutique and Het Vlock Casteel right at the beginning of Riebeek-Kasteel. Here you can buy the finest olives and fruit products. Think olive oil, tapenades, soap, and more. At Olive Boutique, the friendly owner, Derek, helped us by letting us taste all kinds of olives and olive oils and telling us more about them. At Het Vlock Casteel, we bought raisins, jam, and nougat.
Other wineries you can visit (without an appointment) are Pulpit Rock Winery, Riebeek Valley Wine Co Tasting Emporium, and Wine Kollective.
Looking for nice wineries in the area where you can picnic? Then read our blog with the best picnics in Stellenbosch! And if you are planning to visit Stellenbosch, Constantia, or Franschhoek as well, read our travel guides about these lovely cities.
3. Enjoy the delicious food in Riebeek-Kasteel
It’s crazy, so many restaurants with good food in such a small area! Because we had four full days here, we were able to try out many hotspots in Riebeek-Kasteel and the surrounding area, but we certainly haven’t been able to taste everything yet. Here are our recommendations:
In Riebeek-Kasteel itself
The Barn: is a nice restaurant just outside the centre with a great view of Riebeek-Kasteel. You have the best view from the garden and the terrace, while simultaneously keeping an eye on the children romping around in the play garden. The food is delicious! We chose the tuna tataki salad and American cheesecake for dessert. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Beans About Coffee: is the place in Riebeek-Kasteel for a delicious breakfast and, of course, a good cup of coffee. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Au Bouchon Rouge: Do you love French food? Then lunch or dinner at Au Bouchon Rouge is a must! Here, you will feel like you are in Paris for a moment, with oysters, steak tartare, and mussels. For dessert, we chose crème brûlée and a delicious, refreshing mango sorbet. Reservations are recommended, as this place is popular! Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-Kasteel.
The Country Chic: is a nice spot for ice cream. According to our son, it’s not a holiday until you’ve had an ice cream, so after a week in South Africa, a strawberry ice cream was long overdue. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Restaurants outside Riebeek-Kasteel
Marras: belongs to the winery of the same name. We went here for the tuna carpaccio with wine, but there are also various pizzas and braai dishes. Events and concerts often take place in the garden. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-West.
Cucina@krematart: are neighbours of Marras. Here you will find a kind of mini garden centre (beautiful!) with a restaurant attached. We had tasty poached eggs, an avocado sandwich, and for our son, a large bowl of yoghurt with fresh fruit for lunch. Everything was delicious, and the service was very good! Click here for the location of this restaurant in Riebeek-West.
Eight Feet Village is a location with various restaurants at the top of the Bothmanskloof Pass. From here, you overlook the entire Riebeek Valley, and it is primarily because of this view that you should pay a visit. In addition to two restaurants, there is a boutique, an ice cream shop, and a coffee shop. We had a bite to eat at restaurant Mura, and to be perfectly honest, we weren’t blown away by the food. But the view makes up for everything. Click here for the location of this hotspot just outside Riebeek-Kasteel.
Also really cool: the Garden Route in South Africa. Read our Garden Route itinerary for inspiration!
4. Hike up Kasteelberg
The beautiful mountain that towers above Riebeek-Kasteel can also be climbed. Various routes lead you to the top. For instance, you can climb one of the peaks from the Pulpit Rock winery (in Riebeek-West). Click here for more information.
There is also the Pieter Cruythoff route, which starts from Eight Feet Village. Follow the white footprints on the rocks to reach the top of the Bothmanskloof Pass.
We did not do either hike as they are not suitable for strollers.
5. Riebeek- Kasteel with children: Kringe Inni Bos (Kloovenburg Estate) and Nuweplaas Padstal
If you visit Riebeek-Kasteel with children, you will find a small play area at many restaurants. South Africa is very child-friendly, and Riebeek-Kasteel is certainly no exception. However, two places form a true paradise for children.
We mentioned Kringe Inni Bos earlier. This self-service restaurant is part of Kloovenburg Estate. Here, they have a beautiful forest playground. In addition to swings, trampolines, and climbing frames, you will find water play areas, sandboxes, and a bicycle track (pump track), where even the very youngest are welcome with their balance bikes. Among the trees, you will find picnic tables where parents can relax with a glass of wine. Truly, the ultimate place to let your children run free, after which they go home tired and quite dirty, but overjoyed. Click here for the location of this child-friendly restaurant in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Nuweplaas Padstal is a very nice playground with a restaurant and bakery. In South Africa, there are many “padstallen,” which are roadside restaurants and farm shops with playgrounds all in one. Much nicer and better than the roadside restaurants in Europe. You will often find local delicacies in a small shop here, as well as breakfast or lunch dishes. Nuweplaas Padstal is no exception: here too, there is a restaurant with a playground and a small farm shop.
Additionally, there are animals here, such as an ostrich and some donkeys. And there is a small indoor play area. Click here for the location of this child-friendly hotspot near Riebeek-Kasteel.
After Riebeek-Kasteel, we drove for 1.5 hours to delightful Langebaan, the ultimate beach destination in South Africa. Read all about this lovely place in our Langebaan blog!
6. Unwind completely in a beautiful house with a view of the mountains!
Sitting still and relaxing isn’t our thing. As you may have read, we want to discover everything a place has to offer. But with two young children, both of us having busy jobs, plus a travel blog, it is necessary to unwind sometimes.
With that in mind, we deliberately booked a beautiful house with a swimming pool and amazing views. I could already picture us enjoying the garden, cooling off in the pool and having drinks on the large terrace. And that is exactly how we experienced our stay at Villa Soleil. In the morning and early afternoon, we explored Riebeek-Kasteel. In between, our daughter slept and I worked on new blogs while Ries swam with our son. And at the end of the afternoon, we all enjoyed this wonderful place together.
Our stay was not sponsored, but we are big fans of this house and can recommend it to everyone. Good to know: there are two spacious bedrooms and a separate guest house (third bedroom). The living room and the master bedroom have air conditioning, while the other bedroom has a fan. There is a TV room with a separate sofa bed and a study. There is a bathtub (ideal with children), and you will find a braai in the garden. The swimming pool has no fence, so it is good to be aware of that with children. Additionally, the roof is a bit noisy, especially in the morning when birds start perching. Would you like to stay here too? You can book via this link. We paid 160 euros per night.
After Riebeek-Kasteel, we travelled on to Langebaan, a village on a beautiful lagoon. The ultimate beach location in South Africa. Read all about our time there in our Langebaan blog (coming soon)!
Other great accommodations and nice hotels in Riebeek-Kasteel
Besides Villa Soleil, there are many more great hotels in Riebeek-Kasteel. Here is a selection, featuring accommodations suitable for both families and couples. And click here for an overview of all hotels in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Kokoshuis €€
The beautiful Kokoshuis is built in a 200-year-old farmhouse. It is furnished with an eye for both the traditional and the modern. There is a lovely garden with a swimming pool, and you can enjoy a good breakfast here. From €111 per night (2 people).
The Royal Hotel €€
You can sleep in South Africa’s oldest hotel at The Royal Hotel. This beautiful old building exudes atmosphere. The lobby and veranda are still fully furnished in the old style. The rooms are simple but nice. From €150 per night incl. breakfast (2 people).
Orchard Cottage €€
This cute house is located within walking distance of the center. There is a mini-pool in the garden, olive trees everywhere, and with three bedrooms, it is the ideal place for a family. Please note: no air conditioning. You can stay here from just €211 per night.
Read our South Africa hotel guide here, with a selection of the best hotels in South Africa!
Click here for more of our blogs on South Africa
Fancy this blog? Pin it for later!
