Where to begin? I suppose I will start by saying you will not find a more lovely host in all of Cape Town. It will not happen so don't even bother looking! In general I think we are like typical American who (mostly) enjoy independence. This was not at all the case during our stay with Connie! She accommodated an early arrival, welcomed us so warmly, showed us her lovely space (more on that later), and was delightful and engaging from the beginning of our stay through the very end - and even a bit after! We chatted with her nearly every day either in person or through AirBnB messaging. She was interested in our adventures and made SPECTACULAR recommendations that we nearly always took, and regretted it when we did not. She even left us fresh bread and flowers which was so sweet! We also got to meet her husband Steven and we enjoyed chatting with them so much. It was a perfect blend of engagement and privacy.
Connie's place is in a beautiful and historic residential area of Cape Town known as The Gardens. The area is so charming and quiet but still has some of the most fabulous restaurants within couple of blocks. At first we were a tiny bit concerned that the area was a bit tucked away from many things that tourists are interested in, but that turned out not to be an issue at all. The central areas of Cape Town can be quite hectic and noisy. We were so grateful to be able to come back to such a quiet retreat. At the same time, Cape Town is extremely easy to navigate so we never had trouble easily accessing any spot we were interested in visiting. The Gardens was the perfect location. The only word of caution I would offer is that the Gardens is in the northern part of the city at the base of Table Mountain, meaning it is very steep and hilly! If you intend to do a lot of walking and are not in decent shape, the area may be a challenge. That being said, Uber is widely available and surprisingly affordable so if you have smart phone capability - don't think twice!
The Garden Cottage is really a remarkable place. Connie and Steven's home is a converted church (as is indicated by their listing details) and the garden cottage is adjacent and protected by a retaining wall and high shrubs for privacy. All I can really say about this place is that it may seem beautiful online but the pictures cannot do it justice. Connie's cottage is exquisite! it is so masterfully done and perfectly appointed with original hardware, antique furnishings, beautiful fabrics, and thoughtful touches. We are convinced that Connie must be a designer by trade (although we never asked) because the cottage is really a masterfully executed space. I particularly enjoyed the kitchen area which is designed just to my personal taste and looks out onto two private seating areas (which we used often). I would note that I did not find outlets in the bathroom area (seems to be common in South Africa) so I ended up using the kitchen area to get ready. This actually worked out perfectly as it gets wonderful natural light and has a mirror hanging that ended up being the perfect height for me. Connie really has thought of everything! We could not stop commenting on how special the place really was. If you are looking for a truly beautiful home in a lovely area with a kind and sincere host during your Cape Town visit, stay with Connie! You will not regret it!