Villa Surprise, Cape Town

Villa Surprise's themed rooms, lounge-y garden and friendly staff entices you to be lazy and stay indoors.
***
My colleagues stayed at the larger King's room (all decked out in royal purple) which had a four-poster bed, a balcony, a stately bathroom and a view of the mountains. I stayed in the Africa room with native drums that doubled as tables, bamboo curtains, ostrich egg chandeliers, an animal skin rug, a view overlooking the outdoor pool-- the works!

The villa is designed to be open and airy so much of the silence depends on your neighbors from the adjoining rooms. I could hear footsteps from the room above and a little of the chatter from the garden but thankfully everyone was mostly considerate and kept the peace.

All rooms have wireless internet (ZAR10/day), a small tv with only three channels (shame on you if you're staying here just to watch tv!), a mini-bar, proper queen sized beds (not just two singles pushed together!) and goose-down pillows. T'here's no airconditioning but the weather is cool enough for you to snuggle under the comforter.

Breakfast is late at 8:30 and served by the host Marko. You can have eggs any way you want, coffee, toast, cereals and fresh fruit salad. It's not spectacular really but I can't explain why the food tastes much better if you have it dining under the sunshine, in a peaceful garden with mountains all around, a cool breeze and the twittering of birds.

The guest house is a quick 8 minute downhill walk to Camp's Bay which has a beautiful sunset and rows of clubs and restos. However, getting back is much more difficult. Be prepared for a difficult uphill climb that will leave you gasping for breath!

Conclusion:4/5
Four pawikan points! Although it did not have the sea view and isolation of The Clarendon, it's proximity to Camps Bay and themed rooms make up for it.

Bonus points for Rolf the interior designer/landscaper who did all the rooms! Minus points for the old-school locks which require you to have the key to open the door even from the inside!
***
If you liked this, you may also want to read my review of The Clarendon on Bantry Bay.

The Clarendon at Bantry Bay, Cape Town

The Clarendon's balcony is the perfect place to have breakfast and behold breathtaking sunsets.
***
Situated at the top of a hill, the first thing that will strike you about The Clarendon is the view from the balcony. Aside from the view being obscured by two obnoxious cranes, you can't get any better than this!

I've been able to get a lot of blogging done because of the cool breeze, the silence and solitude. Every once in a while, I'd look through the telescope and watch a couple of whales and a school of dolphin paddle across the ocean.

There's a barbecue grill, ping pong table and a beautiful lounging area around the swimming pool. Great for impromptu inuman sessions with the barkada.

Service
The service is personal-- there are so little rooms that the staff know you by name. The owner Shirley was "on-site" puttering around during breakfast and she'd drop by every now and then during the day. One of the staff, Kevin, even baked some pastries for Saturday tea. I was incredulous when one of the guests asked Mavutu (another one of the staff) for a foot massage... Then I was shocked when he cheerfully obliged!

Location
It's location up Bantry Bay gives it an advantage because of the view. However it is also a disadvantage because it's a tiring walk to the beach. To get anywhere interesting, you will definitely need a car or call a taxi.

Rooms
Although the room was clean and passed my Will-I-Walk-Barefoot test, there were lots of little things that did not tickle my fancy:

• the queen-sized bed are two singles pushed together. Effectively, you'll only sleep on one side.
• I met my first baby south african cockroach in the bathroom. Yay!
• I was woken up twice in the middle of the night from an annoying static noise coming from the telly and a loud hissing sound from the airconditioner
• The toilet paper wasn't perforated-- it was just one long single roll. Details, details, details!
• The towels weren't fluffy and felt worn-out.

Breakfast
I did not let that lone fly circling the cheese platter ruin my breakfast. Chef Johnson's omellette was made-to-order, the coffee was freshly brewed and the fruit salad was made with real (not canned) fresh fruit!

(Tip: Since there's only one chef, there could be quite a wait during the peak breakfast hours so if you don't want to wait, wake up early or eat late.)

Conclusion:4/5
Four pawikan points. Minus points because of the following:

• paint chipping off in my sink and on the balcony railing. This place was not aging very well. (According to Shirley, the guest house will be fully upgraded this year! She says each room will have something "special".)
• Old-school locks and key! You actually need the key to lock your room even from the inside! Not a good design specially if you're rushing to get out.
• no complimentary bottle of water

Bonus points because of the friendly and attentive service from the staff. they really try their best to make you feel at home. Visit the Clarendon, tell them that the Filipino sent you and make sure you have a chat with the night watchman Chris and ask him to show you some magic.

The Wild Mushroom Guest House, Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Rating:4/5
Understated elegance, subtlety and 'shroomy character makes the Wild Mushroom a must-visit in Stellenbosch.
***
From the outside, the Wild Mushroom Guest House did not impress me at all. The tight alley and the impractical three flights of stairs you had to ascend (!) to get to reception did not give a good first impression. But once you step inside and see the rooms, the place quickly redeems itself.

Homey, cozy, dark wood, curtains with mushroom tassles, warm lights, the bowl of fresh fruit, comfortable couches, spacious lounging areas-- it's a combination of all these things that made me feel so at home. Everything is just done in good taste!

Room and bathroom
The rooms are small, cozy and is mostly dominated by the queen sized bed. It's a bit of a squeeze moving around the room so you won't be able to horse around. If you're looking for a desk to work on (shame on you!), you'll have to step into the common lounging room which is perfect for some late night guitars or movie marathons.

The bathrooms are gorgeous-- wide and spacious with a separate tub and a shower enclosed by see-thru glass. There's a loooong mirror that almost spans the length of room, two sinks (no need to argue who goes first) and a towel warmer!

Yes, a towel warmer. I thought it was pretty strange but when I grabbed the toasty towel after my shower it was an "aaaahhhhhhh" moment. Where has this contraption been all my life?!? If you've never dried yourself with a warm towel, you're seriously missing out. (Put this on your must-do-before-you-die list.)

Breakfast
Breakfast was served on the sunny patio, cooked by none other than Wynand our affable host. Coffee, a cheese platter, toast, yoghurt, fresh fruit and a mushroom omelette made for a light and easy meal. The breakfast just complemented the whole laid back, no worries, no rush vibe.

If you've got no plans for the day, ask Wynand-- he knows where the good restaurants are and he'll even make reservations for you.

In summary...
Four pawikan points! Minus points for the tolling church bells that briefly woke me up at 7am! I initially thought that the ringing in my head was from all the wine I had the night before but it was actually the Church across the street reminding me to thank God I was in beautiful Cape Town.

If you're ever on a tour of the wine estates in Stellenbosch, stay at the Wild Mushroom. Tell Wynand that the Filipino guy sent you and he'll tell you that he doesn't remember me.