Val de Vine Guesthouse

“Embarrassing” is the word that comes to mind. The setting at Val de Vine is lovely, and the manager did try to sort things out, but the effort didn’t make up for the lack of competence or the poor service. We won’t be back and can’t recommend it. Our New Year’s Day lunch took two to three hours to arrive. Much of it came cold or undercooked. The pork ribs were inedible and nauseating, with a fish-oil taste and bones that smelled of fish. The Thai curry was watery, with hard, overcooked chicken and separated margarine, while the rice was hard, cold, and tasted as if it had come from a freezer. The medium steak arrived with three different textures: one part dry and overcooked, another raw, and the rest unevenly cooked. It even came with a butter knife instead of a steak knife. The pizza was cold and its mushrooms weren’t cooked through. We were also served a beer said to be Heineken. Two waiters insisted it was, but the manager tasted it and agreed it wasn’t. The place looks beautiful, but the food quality was unacceptable and the staff seemed untrained, with basic hospitality standards missing. This was a waste of our time and money.

The food and drinks at Val de Vine were very good and reasonably priced, and the staff gave us lots of useful suggestions for places to see. They also set us up with a local guide, Rudi Smith, who showed us around Stellenbosch and shared its history and sights. We spent three nights here and had a wonderful stay. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!

The play area kept my toddler busy with its different stations, and the splash pool was a big hit. I could sit nearby and eat or have a drink while still playing with my child, which was really convenient. The food was tasty and portions were generous. I had the carbonara, and ordered mac and cheese for my little one. I arrived before check-in time, but the staff were attentive and very accommodating. I was grateful for their hospitality, it was just the kind of therapy I needed. I’ll definitely come back with my family. Highly recommend.

There’s a lot of potential here, and the accommodation itself is decent. It also seems to be a popular place for dining and events. The check-in process needs a lot of work, especially explaining the services and facilities on site. Breakfast service felt uninterested too, and could use more attention from management.