What's on at Babylonstoren in May?

Thursday, 30 April, 2026

Babylonstoren

May brings thoughtful moments, seasonal abundance and every reason to spend time together at Babylonstoren. Sink into the softer season.

Autumn has arrived on the Babylonstoren farm, bringing cooler days, richer colours and every reason to linger a little longer. With Mother's Day around the corner, there are many ways to celebrate Mom in style – from a garden stroll and a farm-fresh scone at the Greenhouse Restaurant, to wine tasting and a generous platter in the Tasting Room, an old-world farmhouse meal at Soetmelkvlei’s Old Barn Restaurant, or a beautifully prepared feast at Babel.

Near or far, Mom's the star

The farm’s Gift Room is filled with thoughtful gifts for Mother’s Day. Choose from botanical lotions, balms, bath milks, bath bombs, soaps, scrubs and salts, as well as shower creamers and steamers, fragrant candles, diffusers, and room sprays. You’ll also find lovely linens, vases, throws, and cosy blankets – gifts that are a pleasure to give and receive. Can’t make it to the farm? Send something special to Mom’s door instead. Orders from the online shop are beautifully wrapped and can be accompanied by a handwritten note from the online team.

Shop online

Rosé heads for the English countryside

Babylonstoren's delicately hued Rosé is heading to the UK once again, where it will be poured as the official rosé of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the sixth consecutive year. Before that, it will make its first appearance at Babylonstoren’s sister estate, The Newt in Somerset, during the inaugural Great Garden Show from 9-17 May 2026. The 2026 vintage will be launched on 14 May 2026 with a garden tour, canapés, the first pour and lunch in the Cottage Garden.

Produced from mourvèdre, this vintage benefited from a dry growing season, resulting in smaller berries and beautiful concentration.

“There is a growing appreciation for the seasonality and provenance of wine. As one of only two RHS Partner Gardens in South Africa, our mourvèdre rosé reflects a natural alignment between wine, gardens and outdoor living,” says cellarmaster Klaas Stoffberg. “It is a wine designed for long lunches, garden celebrations and relaxed summer gatherings, whether in the Cape Winelands, the English countryside or the heart of London.”

May’s garden graces

May is a beautiful month in the garden and on the plate. Guavas are at their fragrant best – delicious fresh, stewed, preserved or turned into jewel-toned jelly. Custard apples are ripening beautifully too, with pale green, knobbly skins and lush, creamy flesh within.

Early citrus such as limes, Nules and grapefruits brings fresh zing and a welcome boost of goodness as the weather cools. Aromatic herbs and leafy greens are also stepping into their own, easing us into soup and stew season. Yes, kale, this is your moment.

Also on display this month is a selection from the farm’s extensive succulent collection along the Puffadder Walkway. And if you’ve never seen a pineapple growing on the plant, stop by the greenhouse at the Greenhouse Restaurant. It is always worth a look.

Visit the garden

A winter wonderland awaits

Each quarter, guests gather around one long table in a hidden corner of the farm for Babylonstoren’s seasonal Harvest Table. These feasts unfold in rare spaces seldom opened to the public – among orchards, beneath olive trees or inside historic cellars. Every menu is shaped by the season and guided by what is growing across the gardens, orchards and pastures.

It is one of the farm’s most intimate and memorable food experiences – a celebration of abundance, place and the pleasure of eating well. Book early to secure your seat at the Winter Harvest Table on 27 June 2026.

Book now

Courage, cast in stone and steel

The Story of Emily, Babylonstoren’s sister estate in St Ive, Cornwall, has received a Civic Trust Award for Stonewood Design’s architectural work on several of its buildings.

“A beautifully executed fusion of restoration, landscape, and contemporary architecture. It transforms a historic domestic setting into an experiential museum of international significance, telling a vital story with grace and sensitivity,” said the Civic Trust judges.

From the Victorian rectory where Emily Hobhouse was raised to the striking War Rooms that honour her role in the Anglo-Boer War, architecture and design help bring the legacy of this extraordinary humanitarian, pacifist and feminist into sharp focus. Emily’s convictions remain as powerful now as ever.

Read more

Drop in and tune out

As the Boland turns towards winter, the farm hotel offers the perfect excuse to slow down. Stay four nights for the price of three until the end of August, or book two nights and enjoy a complimentary dinner for two at Babel.

Hotel guests also enjoy exclusive use of the Garden Spa, where the indoor pool, sauna, salt room, and two heated vitality pools invite total switch-off. It is the ideal place to unwind between treatments, with a good book, a podcast, or simply a long soak.

Book a hotel stay

Chef Schalk lifts the lid

The latest instalment of BabylonSTORIES features executive chef Schalk Vlok in conversation from the kitchen of the 19th-century farmhouse at Soetmelkvlei. It is a fitting setting for a chef whose cooking is rooted in time-honoured classics and shaped by the fresh abundance of the farm’s fields, orchards, gardens and animals.

Schalk is happiest away from the spotlight – surrounded by loved ones, watching the sun go down, with roosterkoek hot from the coals. BabylonSTORIES is available on the Babylonstoren App, Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

Listen now

Workshops in May

May’s workshops are an invitation to slow down, learn something new, and spend time on the farm with like-minded people, all while enjoying farm-fresh fare. From baking and blacksmithing to soapmaking and beekeeping, there is something to suit every curious mind. It is also a thoughtful gift for a mom who loves to explore, make and learn.