Let’s face it, Cape winters have a reputation for being wild and stormy, but that’s only half the story. In between, winter days are crisp and sunny – the reason why those in the know refer to this special time of the year as the secret season.
Our new Spier Hotel is full of cosy and inviting spaces that make the cooler months a reason to celebrate rather than hibernate, whether you’re planning a romantic escape or gathering the whole family for the school holidays.
What winter mornings are made for
Being on a farm means there’s always something to explore beyond the hotel. After a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s light, bright Garden Room, wrap up warmly and plan a walk or a bike ride along the riverbank.
Don’t miss Grounded Practice, a new ceramic exhibition curated by Tamlin Blake in the Old Wine Cellar. Stop at Vadas Bakery for a well-earned coffee and one of their famous, freshly baked pasteis de nata. There is plenty in this area for kids to enjoy while you bask in the sun.
No visit to the Werf is complete without a visit to The Cowshed Shop for beautiful objects for the home and irresistible pantry ingredients. All your gifts to take home, sorted.
Afternoons are all about indulgence
All our rooms and suites have been designed with your comfort and happiness in mind, from underfloor heating in the bathrooms to complimentary minibars generously stocked with handmade sweet treats, Farmer Angus biltong, a selection of drinks, including compostable pod coffee, homegrown rooibos tea, wines, and beers. Order room service, settle in for a siesta, take a deep bath, or read without clock watching. Our rooms are peaceful spaces made for deep relaxation.
Book spa time
Our Spa beckons with its whimsical, apothecary-inspired design and reviving rituals rooted in the medicinal properties harvested from our wild Cape gardens – treatments you simply won’t find anywhere else. Spoil yourself in the Cape Herbal Bath House, where ancient bathing rituals combine hot slab massage, herbal poultices, and farm stone therapy.
Book a session with our resident phytologist, Dr Caren Hauptfleisch, who brings three decades of studying the benefits of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Take the kids to Buzz Club
Buzz Club will transform youthful energy into focused, fun-filled discovery. Our complimentary kids’ club for hotel guests welcomes children aged 3 to 12 with activities that follow the season’s rhythms, teaching young minds to find wonder in nature, from baking and painting to making art from seed pods, leaves and other found objects collected on farm walks.
An invitation to taste our wines
Join our sommelier for an informal wine tasting in front of the fire, an exclusive offering for our in-house guests. Presented daily at 16h00, you don’t want to miss this easy, interactive introduction to our range of handcrafted wines – the ideal way to round out a day on a working wine farm like Spier.
No visit to Spier is complete without a visit to our Tasting Room, where we recommend the winter wine and soup pairing combining the season’s earthy flavours with our award-winning wines.
Fireside dining at Veld
Soon it’s time for dinner at Veld, where winter evenings in front of a crackling fireplace unfold against an energising backdrop of eye-catching art, greenery cascading from elevated baskets, and chefs making magic in the open kitchen.
Sink into a saffron velvet banquette and choose from a menu that reads like a love letter to regeneratively farmed, seasonal bounty full of nourishing goodness. Current favourites include smoked snoek fish cakes with pickled West Coast mussels or mushrooms on brioche toast, followed by grilled Karoo lamb cutlets with braised fennel, confit tomatoes and salsa verde or springbok loin with rainbow carrots and citrus jus. Vegetarians will love the masala-roasted cauliflower steak or roasted squash arancini.
Each dish is paired with one of our special wines. And don’t miss the decadent desserts!
Ready to experience winter the Spier way?
Winter on our farm isn’t about escaping the season – it’s about embracing what makes these cooler months special. Firelight and good wine, treatments that warm from the inside out, and the joy of watching your children soak up the simple pleasures to be had in nature.
To book, contact reservations@spier.co.za