Fernwood Manor

Picture an elegant, spacious manor house furnished in traditional English style with all the cosy nooks you would have in your ideal home. One plush lounge opens onto a patio (where breakfast is served), but there's also a more formal dining room​ for those who prefer to eat inside. Inside is another lounge with a fireplace as well as a bar and a quiet reading room that's filled with books. But the jewel in the crown is the beautiful landscaped garden and the sparkling pool with gorgeous views of the mountain.

Nine rooms come in standard, deluxe and executive suites​, and there's also one family room. They're decorated in a European style and South African art (mostly paintings of local flora) hang on the walls. The rooms either open onto a private garden, a covered patio, or, in the case of the suites, a balcony with panoramic views of the mountain and garden. Beds are king, queen or twin (on request) and standard features include air-conditioning, under-floor heating, Wi-Fi and fully-stocked minibars. En-suite bathrooms have state-of-the-art fittings and pots of luxurious toiletries.

​Start with a visit to what may just well be the world's most beautiful garden –Kirstenbosch, just down the road. The Constantia wine valley is also only five-minute's drive away, though if you're into wine, you should definitely visit Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl, all within an hour's travel. One way or another, you have to get up Table Mountain, either by foot (there are dozens of different trails, varying from easy to you-have-to-be-a-little-mad) or on the cable car. Downtown is around 10km from Fernwood Manor and boasts all the gourmet restaurants, bars and cafes you could hope for.