As a recent bride who was spoiled with a momentous kitchen tea, I know that planning this event can be stressful for the maid of honour and everyone involved. Nowadays, a kitchen tea is much more than an awkward hour of opening gifted pots, pans and glasses from your grandmother and aunt ─ it’s centred around fun-filled group activities, combined with bachelorettes, and focused on creating experiences everyone will cherish forever. That’s why TravelGround rounded up a few ideas and spots where you can treat the bride to an unforgettable kitchen tea with a twist!
1. The Cellars-Hohenort
Constantia
We’re kicking off this list with one of Constantia’s most unforgettable hotels that boasts the motto, ‘Once experienced, never forgotten.’ If you’re planning a weekend-long kitchen tea, there is no better option than The Cellars-Hohenort.
The Cellars-Hohenort prides itself on being the perfect setting for a special celebration for up to sixty people that can be arranged by the staff. (Less planning for the bridesmaids!) The high tea, available daily from 15:00 to 17:00 with an array of delights, is popular among smaller groups and the two award-winning restaurants, Greenhouse and The Conservatory, promise cuisine that almost looks too good to eat. Treat the bride to an on-site salon visit and enjoy a Sunday-afternoon picnic in the garden. The main attraction is the spa with an array of beauty and wellness treatments. The pool nestled in the lush garden is also ideal to unwind in at the end of each day.
2. One&Only Cape Town
V&A Waterfront
The One&Only Cape Town is certainly an oasis of inspiration for a special celebration of the soon-to-be missus. Overlooking the canals of the V&A Waterfront and boasting luxurious rooms with private balconies, this hotel is a no-brainer.
Infinity pools, two vitality pools, a relaxation lounge and dense vegetation sets the scene for a tranquil and luxurious kitchen tea at this hotel. The group can lounge around these areas, organise a high tea for the afternoon and make use of the 24-hour room service (did anyone say slumber party?) as the night sets in. There are several treatments available at the spa, which is the most extensive spa in the city and the KidsOnly Club will ensure the little ones are looked after if there are mothers in the group. The world-famous Nobu restaurant is sure to be an exciting experience for the future bride, as is the wine tasting in the Wine Loft. The Isola area can be rented out for special occasions as well.
3. Holden Manz Country House
Franschhoek
Situated on a private wine estate in the beautiful Franschhoek, Holden Manz Country House is ideal for a group of bridesmaids looking to break away from the city and spoil a discerning bride.
There are five suites that can each accommodate two guests, making it ideal for intimate group getaways. Luxuries in the rooms include underfloor-heating, DStv for movie nights and a wood-burning fireplace for cosy wine nights. During the day guests are spoiled with afternoon tea served in the English tradition or if you want something more laid back, order a picnic basket to enjoy on this breathtaking estate instead. To ease those wedding nerves, a visit to the on-site spa or yoga studio is a must. Catering for special events is also available on this estate.
4. The Tree House Boutique Hotel
Green Point
This lively hotel is for the city brides, the brides who love spending time surrounded by exceptional artwork, bespoke furniture and those who love having cocktails by the pool.
This hotel creates a unique atmosphere for a laid-back day. Start your stay with breakfast which is included, laze your way to lunch, afternoon tea, canapes and finally dinner at one of the Mother City’s up-market restaurants. What makes this hotel unique is the tours it has on offer: The Fynbos Tour, Grape Tour, Safari Tour and many more. Taking one of these tours will definitely be an unforgettable experience ─ especially if some of the attendees are from out of town! The Zest Treatment room is simply an oasis of tranquillity and calm that will relieve the bride (and bridesmaids) of any stress she might have.
5. Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
Atlantic Seaboard
We all know and love this lavish spot overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. With Table Mountain National Park on the one side and the Twelve Apostles mountain range on the other, this hotel offers a remarkable experience.
This exclusive spot is filled to the brim with kitchen tea ideas. From dining at the five-star restaurants (yes, there is more than one), enjoying decadent breakfasts of champagne and fresh oysters, to relaxing in hydro-therapy pools and steam rooms, the Twelve Apostles really has it all. Guests can forage for botanicals in the fynbos, enjoy catamaran tours, take a fragrance workshop or taste tea in the Ka Pa Tée tea room. Take a hike up the mountain and set up a picnic spot as photographed above, and enjoy that view for hours while snacking! Any of these activities, coupled with the spa treatments and 24-hour room service, will ensure a superb kitchen tea.
6. Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve
Cederberg
This retreat, with ancient sandstone rock formations, is ideal for the inquisitive and nature loving brides. A weekend between the majestic Cederberg Mountains, 270 kilometres from Cape Town, is just what she needs before the big day.
Activities include guided rock art walks, as this reserve is custodian to 130 ancient San rock art sites and sunset nature drives. Keep the group sprightly by hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and swimming in rock pools. If your muscles are tired after a long day of exploring the environment, you can sit back and relax in the outdoor spa and indulge in the spectacular dining locations. Enjoy a night cap on your private terrace at the end of a long day or spend some time wine tasting. Water-colour sets are available in every room making painting another fun activity the girls can enjoy!
7. Hout Bay Manor
Hout Bay
This manor is a personal favourite, as my bridesmaids organised the best stay and kitchen tea in this scenic part of Hout Bay.
Kick off the day with a delectable high tea consisting of sweet and savoury treats, as well as mimosas. Ask the staff to lay out some blankets and cushions to chill on while some of the girls go for massages and manicures. Afterwards, treat yourself to the restaurant’s incredible menu and have a relaxing lunch next to the pool under the trees. The rooms are all tastefully decorated and contains a flat-screen TV with DStv and an iPod docking station to keep the fun going (again, did anyone say slumber party?). The hotel is close to the beach and the harbour, and combining a kitchen tea with a beach day is never a bad idea. On Friday nights, guests are treated to live jazz music which will certainly get the party going if you’re planning to ease the kitchen tea into a bachelorette.
8. Val du Charron Coach House
Wellington
There are three suites available on this estate, located in the heart of the Winelands, ideal for exploring Route 62 and day trips to the West Coast, Ceres and Riebeek Kasteel.
Treat the future bride to experiences such as wine and olive tasting or interesting cellar tours. Why not jump out of your comfort zone and try the six mountain-biking routes starting and finishing at Val du Charron. Afterwards, you can indulge in pizza available at the Pizza Vista and enjoy the ice cream pop-up shop available Saturdays and Sundays. The estate has a spa and five-star suites in which you and the girls can thoroughly enjoy a kitchen tea weekend.
9. Lanzerac Hotel & Spa
Stellenbosch
What better location to escape to just before the wedding chaos than on the outskirts of Stellenbosch? Plan a kitchen tea that consists of a multi-day outing to Lanzerac Hotel & Spa with a special event on the Manor Lawns.
A daily breakfast, a complimentary cellar tour of the Lanzerac Winery and wine tasting of five Lanzerac Estate wines at the Lanzerac Tasting Room, as well as complimentary use of the spa’s hydro facilities, are all included in a booking. The dining options are especially interesting and range from all-day dining at the Lanzerac Deli, tapas in the Craven Lounge and pub-style meals at the Taphuis. Guests can also enjoy the spa and take advantage of the complimentary transfer service between the hotel and Stellenbosch.
10. Goodwill Mountain Farm
Overberg
Goodwill Mountain Farm’s motto resonates deeply with us: retreat, permaculture project and place on Earth. This spot hides in the Kleinriviersberg with views of the Stanford Valley and is the ideal scene for a kitchen tea weekend made in heaven. Rent the cottage for six or the villa for ten and enjoy all the activities on this farm, that just so happen to be perfectly suited for a kitchen tea!
One of the activities that really caught our eye was the private yoga classes. This is the ideal kitchen tea activity as it calms everybody, is something the entire group can do together and is also a skill that you can carry with you even after the weekend is over. Another interesting way to spend your day is horseback riding ─ a moment of note at this lovely location. Treat the girls to a specially-tailored, four-day yoga and meditation retreat available on the farm which will definitely dissolve any wedding day jitters. Even pets are welcome!
So, what are you waiting for? Spoil the bride-to-be, bridesmaids and yourself at one of these relaxing and sometimes adventurous kitchen tea spots across the Western Cape!
Feature image: One&Only Cape Town (TravelGround)
