OFF THE TRAIL ATTRACTIONS
Discover famous landmarks, legendary restaurants & distilleries and hidden gems off the trails around Paarl.
Picnics at Rhebokskloof are a firm favourite. Always.
They offer privacy, freedom, good food and calm. Kids get to run free on rolling lawns or play on the jungle gyms while parents get to breathe. Dog children are also allowed (just as long as they are leashed and cleaned after).
Picnics need to be booked 24 hours in advance. This really is the only planning you need to do, as once you get there, time slows down and laughter tumbles in.
This is the place you never knew you needed so much.
Everything about The Alpaca Loom makes one happy. The thing is that once you really look into the beautifully-lashed eyes of an alpaca, you realise that they are the animal that you have needed all along!
Their coats are sumptuously soft and their personalities shine through so brightly, that one cannot not be moved by the Alpaca Loom experience.
The coffee shop serves good coffee, generous portions of cake and other deli favourites in a charming setting offset by incredible views. Children are able to interact with the animals in various ways (tours, feeding and some cuddling for the braver little ones) as well as play in the play area.
So, as previously stated: We all need The Alpaca Loom in our lives, because really, who doesn’t want to be happy?
Sometimes one just needs a beer. OK. Sometimes one just needs a beer and some really good biltong (and lots of it!). And on other days, you need a beer with some chargrilled beef patties and some friends. And views. Some days we need good views.
Barley and Biltong is one of Spice Route’s artisan destinations. But there’s nothing fancy nor pretentious about it. The food is delicious, the service impeccable and the CBC beer cold. Always. Their portions are about as generous as the vistas of Table Mountain and fields of Paarl’s surrounds.
Sometimes all you need is Barley and Biltong.
The Pizzeria at Rhebokskloof provides fine dining without it being finicky or pretentious.
Chef Belinda Ferus uses only 00 flour (for those who don’t know – this is the finest grade of flour there is), which is left overnight to enhance the flavour of her bases. Pizzas are wood fired and topped with fresh and local produce. Her flavour combinations are exquisite and cater to a varied palate. But that does not mean that the Pizzeria does not delight in a perfectly-crafted margherita either. In fact, it is one of the featured pizzas on their website
Rhebokskloof pizzas are best served with Rhebokskloof wines. Pairings are suggested on https://rhebokskloof.co.za, or one can just ask the staff. They are knowledgeable, efficient and friendly.
Avenue Coffee hits the spot.
The coffee stall forms part of an artisan and street food market at Laborie Estate and serves as the perfect conclusion to a day out. Alternatively, it could be the start of a culinary adventure as they serve artisanal coffees and a small selection of cakes and pastries – the small selection ensures delightful and exceptional fare, every time. And as Laborie has catered for all tastes and palates, you can then move on (or not; up to you).
What needs to be said for the sake of those who have not yet visited Laborie, is that upon entering the premises, one is absorbed by its beauty and detail. The alluring aroma of ground coffee transports one down an avenue (see what we did there?) of culinary delights just waiting to be discovered.
Wilderer is something special. It is honestly a one-of-a-kind kind of a place. Let us explain.
The distillery was established by the entrepreneurial and passionate Helmut Wilderer in 1995 and has since been a piece of unofficial South African heritage. You see, this was the very first private grappa distillery in South Africa and it still produces world-class Euax de Vie, grappa and gin. Not only is the art of distilling and blending these fine spirits a treat in the tasting room, but the Wilderer Estate allows for an all-encompassing sensory experience.
The restaurant on the premises, Pappa Grappa, has long since become a favourite among locals and tourists alike. The food is hearty, arty and good; The menu varied and the atmosphere warm.
In short: Visit Wilderer Estate. You won’t be sorry.
When a place occupies a place in your heart, that place is always with you.
This is the story of Knus Karoo Kombuis. Two sisters carried the Karoo and their childhood memories of it so deeply in their hearts that they needed to honour it. And this is how Knus came about. Knus (meaning cozy) is a place of wholesome, comforting and heartwarming foods. Karoo gifts, farm produce and warm smiles populate this lovely space. Karoo hospitality and hearty meals leave one feeling satisfied and seen.
Knus Karoo Kombuis enusures that everything experienced there is something that is substantial: Laughter, time spent with loved ones, children playing, a hand-made and hand-selected gift, love, good food, good wine, good coffee. All the things that make one feel cozy and right at home.
Who doesn’t love a good story? And who doesn’t love chocolate?
Along with the rest of us, Pieter de Villiers certainly does. De Villiers Chocolate tells a story of care. Care for the earth, for people and for the heart. Everything about De Villiers Chocolate attests to responsible production and sustainability.
Now for the chocolate! Experience it in all its glory at De Villiers Chocolate at Spice Route. A chocolate tasting (tailored to your dietary requirements, of course) is the way to go. Tastings are reasonably priced and immersive. One is taken on a chocolate exploration and left with a deep appreciation of the art form that chocolate is. If you, like many Capetonians, are already familiar with this brand and just want to stock up, you can do so at the Spice Route Destination.
For those with a special place reserved for ice-cream, the Ice-Cream Parlour at De Villiers Chocolate has you covered too. Once again, all ice-cream and sorbets are carefully and thoughtfully created, leaving us the only responsibility of savouring them.
Not too big a burden to bear, is it?
Landskroon has been around for five generations. That means five generations of excellent wines and breathtaking views.
It too has become synonymous with premium wines like Blanc de Noir and Cape Vintage. The farm’s rich heritage of winemaking, knowledge imparted and passion for wine is evident – it’s as if the very buildings want to tell you their stories of cultivars, blends and pairings.
The farm is quite simply put, beautiful. It allows for unwinding, uncorking and unpacking under trees. There are many experiences on offer: Picnics, pairings and playing being just some of them.
