A stroll around the Farmhouse Hotel traces the evolution of what has become a West Coast institution. The walls are adorned with photographs of the original site, the Panorama Farm Homestead, built in 1860. These photographs also document the gradual change since then, including the 1992 restoration that transformed the space.
Picture: Supplied
It retains that old-world charm, with the architecture and interior design a love letter to the era in design that shaped the region’s aesthetic. This design language is blended with contemporary touches, giving guests a considered balance of the old and familiar.
A range of accommodation options suit a broad spectrum of tastes, needs, and budgets. The hotel’s Adventure Pads and Family Adventure Pads are an entry point for travellers looking for an upmarket experience at a competitive price point.
Picture: Supplied
The Farmstead is an expansive two-bedroom room with sash windows peering onto the lagoon. It features a private lounge and dining area and a bathroom fitted with a shower and separate bath.
Travelling with family or friends? The Frank Wightman Cottage is a freestanding, dual-level unit with a private wood-fired hot tub, as well as a kitchenette featuring two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and showers. The view of the Langebaan Lagoon is breathtaking from here.
The Panoramic Lagoon View Rooms have an Anthracite fireplace, while the Romantic Rooms have separate entrances and a vanity bath.
For those who can’t bear the thought of leaving their fur family behind, the Frank Wightman Cottage, Lagoon View Rooms and Romantic Rooms are pet-friendly.
Acclaimed La Petite Maison features as the hotel’s culinary partner. This is fine dining with an unpretentious twist, dreamed up by the husband-and-wife duo, Yohann and LaRetha Venter. The menu is dominated by seafood dishes but our rebellious edge took over and dived into the lamb shank, which was delicious. There is also a strong lineup of wines to complement every meal.
The Legends Bar offers daily pub-style lunches which can be enjoyed on the dining patio overlooking the Lagoon or in an array of indoor spaces, including a spacious sunroom.
Picture: Supplied
Mint Wellness sits on the first floor of the main building and offers guests a broad range of treatment options. I went with a Swedish massage that I didn’t know I needed as badly as I did until my therapist commented about the state of my back muscles. I write this as a new man thanks in no small part to the magic that resides in her hands. These treatments can also be done in-room with prior arrangements. For those whose rejuvenation comes from exposure to the African sun, the hotel features a generous-sized pool surrounded by loungers. Runners and walkers will enjoy the cliff path that sits in front of the hotel and snakes around the lagoon.
The Farmhouse Hotel is centrally located, allowing guests to explore Langebaan and surrounds with ease. I found myself spending much of my time in nearby Shark Bay, which boasts a tiny beach that is an entry point to a stretch of coastline that reaches deep into the West Coast National Park.
With spring well and truly set in, flower tours are a popular choice. The West Coast boasts some of the country’s marquee tours, given the vast range of flora on show. It is also fast establishing itself as a player in the niche wine game. A West Coast Wine Route tour is a great way to spend a day.
Picture: Supplied
GETTING THERE
Our carriage for the West Coast sojourn was Isuzu’s highly-capable Isuzu D-Max 45th Edition. Straddling the line between workhorse and lifestyle, the 45’s 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine comfortably ate up the N7 from Cape Town to Langebaan.
The vehicle then easily transitioned to off-road thanks to a drivetrain that operated with equal competence whether I was navigating over elevated tree roots, or soft sand in low-range mode, in the West Coast National Park.
Picture: Ryan Vrede
I was a little concerned about how the added weight of the Rhinoman Xpedition canopy would affect performance, but while were was a perceptible weight difference (to a non-canopied bakkie) when steering, it didn’t diminish the driving experience.
Overall, it amplified the experience. And it looks damn good too.
The Farmhouse Hotel
5 Egret St, Myburgh Park, Langebaan
+27 (0)21 430 4000
(Words by Ryan Vrede)
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
