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We set out for Villa on the Bay on a Friday afternoon with a short drive from Cape Town to Stanford. I was looking forward to spending some relaxing time off the grid, and Villa on the Bay looked like a perfect option for that. With an ocean view on the one side and surrounded by fynbos, it was going to be an ideal break.
When we pulled up to Villa on the Bay we were welcomed by the owner and host Pamela, who introduced herself to us as Lady P. She showed us to our room which was a wonderful 3 bedroom self-catering unit that looked out onto the ocean in the distance. The main bedroom was particularly well-appointed with a large king-size bed and a very unique bathroom with a sliding door that turned your indoor shower into an outdoor shower. We were told that it's usually the honeymoon suite, and I can totally understand why.
The unit also had a well-equipped kitchen and living room with a TV, plus a lovely patio with a braai. I imagine it would be very easy to live here for a longer stay with the family as there's plenty of space.
Before the sun began to set I decided to take a walk around the gardens. There are lots of little hidden secrets and parts of the garden to explore including a secluded swimming pool, rows of flowers and vines, and a small pond. Benches are placed around the garden; each offering beautiful views of the bay in the distance. There is a real tranquillity to Villa on the Bay which I really loved.
Next to the villa lies a well-looked after organic garden with rows of lavender and a variety of herbs and spinach and much more. Sitting on one of the benches placed around the garden, I appreciated the quiet tranquility of the place and the beautiful views of the bay in the distance.
On the suggestion of Lady P, we decided to head into Stanford for the Friday market. The market was a lot of fun and had a great community feel with a band playing and plenty of wine tasting. I ordered a craft beer and we took a walk around the market looking at the various arts and crafts on display and enjoying the smell from the food stalls. There were hay bales to sit on and plenty of friendly locals ready for a chat.
Once we'd enjoyed a relaxing drink at the market we walked across to Vine Restaurant for dinner. Vine has a cosy and welcoming atmosphere with wooden floors. It's set in a house that has been converted into a restaurant, with the small rooms making dining rooms, and a lively pub at the back of the restaurant.
We enjoyed tasty pizzas and a great bottle of wine. If you're in the Overberg make sure to buy a bottle of the Whalehaven Pinotage. It's really good, and we made sure to buy an extra bottle to take home before we left. After a wonderful meal we returned back to Villa on the Bay.
The next morning we took a drive to Gansbaai for breakfast. We stopped off at a place called Tolbos Bistro and had a great breakfast overlooking the harbour. If you're looking for the breakfast spots of Gansbaai, Church Street is where it's at - there are three different restaurants all within a few metres of each other.
After a relaxing brunch we headed through to Stanford Hills Wine Estate. This estate was a wonderful surprise. It's a bit difficult to find if you aren't sure of where you're going, but a quick bit of Google Map'ing got us on the right path. As you drive along the road there are signs asking you to drive slowly so as not to damage the vineyards with dust. Even just the basic act of slowing down and enjoying the short drive up the estate put me in the right mood.
The Stanford Hills Wine Estate is one of my new favourite places. We sat outside around a wooden table overlooking the dam where children were busy paddling around while we tasted wine. If you have kids, this is a really great place to go. There's loads of space for them to run around and play and there's a great restaurant on the estate with plenty of lunch options.
After sitting outside in the sun and sipping wine, we decided to head back to Villa on the Bay for a relaxing evening. The great thing about our unit was that it felt very homely, and after making some food we settled down for a relaxing night in.
The next morning (again on Lady P's advice), we headed through to De Kelders for breakfast at Coffee on Rocks. We were again really glad we'd followed Pamela's advice. Coffee on the Rocks is situated right next to the ocean, and the view just stretches as far as you can see. While we were enjoying our breakfast we spotted a Humpback Whale frolicking in the bay about 100 metres from us.
Once we'd enjoyed our share of whale watching it was back to town for us - feeling wonderfully refreshed and having revelled in our quiet weekend taking in the best of Stanford.
To find out more about Villa on the Bay and to book a weekend away in Stanford, click here.
