Tintswalo Waterfall Boutique Hotel

The restaurant and live music were enjoyable, but I wouldn’t recommend the spa. My massage was okay, though construction noise came through because the rooms aren’t soundproof, and the space wasn’t as peaceful as I’d hoped. The manicure was painful and badly done. My nails were cut unevenly, then filed so harshly they stayed red and very sensitive to warm and hot water for a week and a half. They’ve since become very brittle. I arrived with gel polish, but without an electric file they removed it by hand. There was still obvious gel on my nails, plenty of builder gel left on others, and a lot of soreness. The pedicure setup was uncomfortable too. There were no upright seats, so they adjusted the massage bed for me to lie back on and put the foot bath machine on the bed. At these prices, the nail services shouldn’t be offered if they can’t be done properly. I wouldn’t recommend the spa for manicures, pedicures, or massages. You could find a better experience for similar money, with a nicer atmosphere.

The food was tasty and worth what it cost, and the setting is lovely. Getting settled was frustrating, though. Even with a reservation, I had to ask several times for an umbrella table, and one person ignored me. My request didn’t seem to be taken seriously at first. Things improved once we had a waiter who looked after us consistently. He was fantastic. We moved indoors when the wind picked up, and other guests came in shortly after as it started raining. The noise inside got so loud that I could barely hear the person across the table. The restaurant should consider how noise affects diners and be willing to ask especially loud patrons to quiet down. The place has great looks, a splendid location, and lovely food.

I really enjoyed the meal, the food was amazing. Getting served was another matter: I had to call a waiter over, and someone who arrived after me got their food first. I hope they improve the service so everyone gets a better dining experience.

Our waitress was the one bright spot. She was lovely, apologetic, attentive, and tried her best to make things right, but the rest of the visit was a huge disappointment for my family and me. The dishes at our table were missing key ingredients, yet we were charged full price. Nearly everyone’s meal was left uneaten and most of it was thrown away. The food was bland and shockingly basic for the prices, and the food and drinks are severely overpriced for what you get. I’d been to Riboville Restaurant before, so in April 2025 I ordered the same seafood pasta I’d enjoyed on that visit. This time it was completely different, with little or no seafood and just a bland sauce. When I brought it up, the chef tried to downplay it instead of dealing with it professionally. I had photos of the earlier meal to show the difference. The chef we encountered in December also spoke to me in a condescending and highly unprofessional way. I wouldn’t recommend eating here. Save your money and go elsewhere.