Grand Roche, in the heart of Western Cape’s Paarl, is a 5 star luxury hotel favorited by world travellers and locals alike.
With many residents choosing the historical monument as a wedding venue, Grand Roche is also popular for mini-breaks, for enjoying a special occasion meal or as a trusted holiday destination for visitors.
With it’s old world charm, coupled with first class service, the Grand Roche is one of Paarl’s most well-known wineland destinations.
After Hours at Grand Roche
Entering the shadow of Skaamrose, a break in the afternoon heat of the Boland district, we were kindly shown our room’s amenities by our hostess.
One of the 18 Terrace Suites, the cottage includes a king-sized bed (and free little Sudoku puzzle pamphlet, which I loved completing before bed), a stand alone bathroom with shower, bath & his/her sinks as well as small lounge with television, punchy Protea lined wall paper and complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits and a bottle of wine.
The Terrace Suites are grouped together in sections of three and scattered around the farm. Our suite overlooking a lush vineyard, sloping towards the expansive Paarl Valley. Considering the hotels close proximity to town, it’s remarkably quiet for its central location.
Having taken a moment to rest on the outside porch, listening to the sounds of the birds and bugs, we delayed our dinner date in order to continue soaking up the surroundings. What were we doing exactly? Nothing. Simply being.
So often we have ambitious plans to wrap up a few hours of work while away, but once the soundtrack of nature begins to play it’s very difficult to find the motivation to put our work hats on and continue grinding away. This is South Africa’s hidden weapon – the integration of nature in beautiful locations.
Dinner for Two
Having known there’s a restaurant at Grand Roche, I wasn’t up to speed with the new chef. This resulted in the meal far exceeding our expectations! After the amuse bouche looked suspiciously well constructed, the first course (terrine) hinted at some serious skills. This motivated a quick Google search, only to discover this quote from late 2022:
“Chef Kevin’s impressive resume includes running the kitchen at Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s Michelin starred JAN in Nice, France; Head Chef position at Delaire Graff outside Stellenbosch and a stint at Le Petit Manoir restaurant and guest house in Franschhoek, amongst others.”
Restaurants.co.za
That would explain why I could practically see my face in the sheen of the exquisite main course jus! My husband had the plain steak dish, while I had the pork belly and corn 4 ways (puree, baby corn, grilled corn off the cob and corn puree. It was a delicious dish with the sweet, smooth corn offsetting the Asian flavours, crackingling on point and exquisite jus.
A Night’s Rest & Morning Smile
Blackout curtains, a large bed with soft linen and air conditioning ensured a flawless night’s sleep. Paarl can be exceptionally warm so aircon is a must.
The immaculately clean bathroom satisfied my eye for detail, while the lounge offered an easy spot to relax in front of TV before bed time. There is a small bouquet of channels.
While we went to bed reasonably early, it was only the thought of missing breakfast that disrupted our relaxing sleep time. Breakfast is small, yet adequate, served on the porch overlooking the Grand Roche Hotels’ manicured gardens. As a five star hotel, they do have gluten-free options and are happy to cater to any other dietary requirements (preferably noted on check in so that the kitchen can prep).
Old World Luxury
We met some interesting world travellers during our stay at Grand Roche Hotel. Swallows who consistently stay at the hotel due to its high quality service and food, quiet surroundings, easy access to golf estates in the wine district and conservative environment.
Grand Roche Hotel caters to couples who are looking to relax and explore the vine speckled estate, spa, rely on excellent food in-house, smoker’s lounge and bar area, as well as young families who make use of the large outdoor pool and easy access to town. The rooms are located across the property, which means each visitor can enjoy a room most suited to their needs.
Direct Booking Special
With so many accommodation sites available, Grand Roche Hotel is offering a special bundle for those who book directly on their website. This includes:
- Complimentary Bottle of Wine
- Complimentary Room Upgrade *subject to availability
- 5% Discount on any treatment **if requested during reservation process
- Order a three or four course meal from our Chef’s Menu, and receive an additional course from Chef Kevin at no additional cost **if requested during reservation process
