From River Manor Boutique Hotel, the centre of Stellenbosch town is only a few minutes away on foot, putting its restaurants, galleries, oak-lined streets and coffee shops within easy reach.
Part of The Living Journey Collection, River Manor is one of the group’s two Stellenbosch properties – the other being Majeka House, which is home to Plenitude Restaurant. The hotel occupies two adjacent historic manor houses on The Avenue, on the banks of the Eerste River – hence the name – in a part of town with roots stretching back to the earliest days of Stellenbosch.
A Historic Stellenbosch Hotel with Room to Retreat
River Manor has 18 rooms across four categories, with accommodation spread between the heritage buildings and rooms positioned around the garden and pool areas. This arrangement gives the property a pleasantly residential feel; rather than navigating a conventional hotel corridor, you move between old houses, verandas, gardens and courtyards.
Our room was generously sized, with a four-poster bed frame, views over the pool and a bathroom with a powerful shower. Thoughtful touches like fresh fruit and homemade cookies were waiting on arrival.
We loved hearing the church bells toll on the hour, the spire visible from our window – a reminder that the town is just a few steps away, despite the hotel’s quiet, tucked-away feel.
There are two swimming pools in the grounds, surrounded by loungers with brollies, which will come into their own as the Winelands moves into the summer months, which can be scorching. After a morning tasting wine or walking around Stellenbosch, having somewhere shaded and quiet to spend the afternoon is no small thing.
We loved hearing the church bells toll on the hour, the spire visible from our window…
Inside the main house is a comfortable lounge with a fireplace, while another section of rooms has its own library-style sitting room. With couches, books and fireplaces, it is the sort of space you’ll want to curl up with a favourite novel.
There is also a brandy bar stocked with local brandies – a nod to the heritage of the area, which has a long and proud brandy-producing history.
Cake, Gin and Caroline the Cat
One of the details we have come to enjoy about stays with The Living Journey Collection is the daily afternoon cake ritual. At River Manor, it was a home-baked banana cake, enjoyed with a pot of rooibos, with Caroline, the resident cat, keeping us company.
Later, around 5pm, snacks appear alongside local gins and other drinks. Neither ritual is complicated, but both create an afternoon tradition we’ve come to know. The practice encourages guests to spend some time actually enjoying the hotel rather than simply using it as a base.
The staff deserve mention too. Friendly, helpful service has been a consistent part of our experience across The Living Journey Collection properties, and River Manor was no exception.
Breakfast in the Conservatory
Breakfast is served in a light-filled, conservatory-style dining room overlooking the garden greenery, with elegant fanlights featuring sunburst glazing that add period character and charm to the room.
There is a continental spread of fruit, cereals and muesli, yoghurt, cured meats, cheeses and home-baked breads, alongside warm dishes cooked to order.
Breakfast is served in a light-filled, conservatory-style dining room overlooking the garden greenery…
Spring into Summer at River Manor
For spring and summer, River Manor’s Spring into Summer package adds a useful reason to stay for two nights rather than one. The stay includes breakfast, a 30-minute head and neck massage and a complimentary local experience.
The experience is a visit to the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, where large-scale works are placed through several hectares of indigenous landscape with the Stellenbosch mountains as their backdrop. It makes sense as an addition to a River Manor stay: time outdoors, a strong sense of place and something beyond another wine tasting.
If you are looking for a well-placed space to stay, with all the amenities needed for a comfy stay, then River Manor is ideal. Town is on your doorstep and the wider Winelands beyond it, while back at the hotel there are pools, gardens, fireplaces, cake at three and a comfortable chair waiting when you have done enough exploring for the day.
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Visit other Living Journey Properties: Tree House Boutique Hotel, Majeka House, Chapter House
