My new no.1 recommendation for a trip to Cape Town is to spend some time in Hope Cottage. My family and I stayed in this beautiful cottage for 3 weeks and didn’t want to leave! Location-wise the property is a short drive to two great convenience centres, and less than 30 minutes from the Cape Town City bowl. The cottage is in the most breathtaking vineyard grounds with the stunning Constantia mountains as a backdrop. As you enter the grounds your senses are overwhelmed by the natural beauty that leads you up to the cottage on a cobbled path with indigenous flora on each side. It truly is like stepping into another world. Surrounding the cottage are walks through historic Groot Constantia vineyards which give you the enviable option of only needing a short walk to get to destination level restaurants, and the vineyards are perfect for a stroll at any point of day; providing views across the city.
The hosts Lucia, Michael and Marilyn are amazing. They live next door so are on hand if you need any help, but the stay at the cottage also feels totally private. Not only are the hosts warm and generous, but they are also extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area and Lucia was able to give us superb recommendations for things to do and places to eat during our trip to Cape Town. The hosts also have two lovely German Shephard dogs that live in the grounds of the cottage. They are very well trained and were extremely gentle with our two children (both under 3 years old).

Coming to the cottage itself, I could easily run out of superlatives trying to describe it! The interior design is world class and the attention to detail is better than any Airbnb we have stayed at in major cities across the world. The two fireplaces create the cosiest atmosphere when lit and the hosts have installed back up power in the cottage so the infamous South African ‘load shedding’ is easily managed. More than anything, everything in this property just feels real, its well-made, built to last and visually stunning. This Airbnb may just be the best kept secret in all of Cape Town.