Boschendal Farm Luxury Accommodation

Our visit to Boschendal was, unfortunately, by far the worst winery experience we’ve had during our time in South Africa. This was the 6th winery we visited, and the contrast in service and hospitality was significant. We started at the more casual restaurant with outdoor seating. I looked over the menu and decided I wanted pizza. When I tried to order, our server simply said, “No, no pizza today.” I asked for a little more time to look at the menu, and shortly afterward, a pizza was brought out to the table behind us. I asked whether only certain pizzas were unavailable or whether pizza would be available later, but again I was simply told, “No pizza.” The whole interaction was confusing and frustrating. Our lunch was okay, but the service was extremely slow. The little shop and bakery were lovely, though, and we did purchase a few things. The lemon meringue tart was absolutely amazing and was definitely the highlight of our visit. Afterward, we went to the main house for a wine tasting. My mom and I ordered the late harvest wine. Our server, Jeff, came over, poured the wine, and explained it to us. Shortly afterward, another female server began getting visibly upset with Jeff. I couldn’t hear everything she was saying, but it was clear that she was upset about the pour he had given us. She continued speaking to and berating him throughout the time we were sitting there. What made this especially uncomfortable was that every time she walked past our table, she would roll her eyes at us. We had done absolutely nothing other than order the late harvest wine, yet we were made to feel as though we had somehow caused a problem. Whatever disagreement was happening between the staff should have been handled privately and professionally—not in front of guests. Then, when Jeff brought the bill, he told us that we had to be charged for three tastings each. This was never explained to us when we ordered, during the tasting, or before the bill was presented. Having that charge appear at the end, without any prior explanation, left us feeling very uncomfortable and, frankly, ripped off. There were some beautiful aspects to Boschendal, and the property itself is lovely, but the overall experience was extremely disappointing. After visiting five other wineries in South Africa, this was by far our worst experience with both service and hospitality. I left feeling uncomfortable and disappointed rather than welcomed as a guest. Based on our experience, I would not recommend Boschendal.

Boschendal was our first stop in South Africa after arriving in Cape Town. It's a spectacular property with great views, accommodations (we stayed in one of the Orchard cottages), wine/food, and service. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting that part of South Africa!

Beautiful location. We had a 4 bedroom cottage each its own bathroom. Wonderful views with Guinea fowl roaming the vast lands. The historic buildings together with the deli and the growing of their own vegetables are worth a visit on their own. Attention to detail was first class. Hope to return one day.

Boschendal has always been one of my favorite wine estates to visit, as there’s usually so much to do. This time around, our group of six decided to visit on a warm winter day for a wine tasting, which is currently held in the manor house. Heading to the outside patio area, we passed several staff members huddled together who seemed entirely uninterested in helping us. When we asked to push two tables together, we were flatly shut down due to "policy", with zero effort to accommodate us or find a solution. Sitting at separate tables was ridiculous, and the cold service was very off-putting. We ultimately left and headed to another estate. As I have had so many positive experiences in the past, I am very disappointed, and it will unfortunately be a while before I return.

We had a lovely group breakfast at Boschendal. The menu is unique and intricate, nicely prepared and served. The wine pairing was perfect - even early in the day. After we dined, we especially enjoyed exploring the property. And never pass up a gift shop in a restored farmhouse. It was a lovely start to the day.