ALPHEN HOTEL

A historic and traditional hotel in Constantia

Alphen is a classic hotel and has been looking after people for over 300 years
Take a walk around the pretty gardens with large ancient oaktrees
Enjoy a casual lunch in the Boer’n’Brit pub
Rooms are traditionally decorated
Spectacular setting in the Constantia Valley

From :
ZAR R745 per person

RHINO
RATING:



Alphen Hotel

The Alphen Hotel in Constantia

The Alphen Hotel is accessible and close to major Cape Town destinations notably Kirstenbosch Gardens. The Alphen Hotel is located in the pretty suburb of Constantia in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. It has been creating warm hospitality since the 18th century. Old fashioned values combine with contemporary service efficiency. The hotel has a spectacular setting amidst the dappled shade of ancient oaks offers both tranquility and easy access to the many splendours of Cape Town.

The Alphen Hotel has a total of 34 bedrooms, from cosy Courtyard rooms with charm and character to the luxurious Country House bedrooms in the Dower House and Mill Range, combines the classic comfort and spaciousness of yesteryear with bathrooms to dream of. Meals can be enjoyed in the Cloete Restaurant and informally in the Boer’n’Brit Pub. The Boer ‘n Brit” is also open to the public and offers lunches and suppers all year round with a varied and reasonably priced menu. The pub offers both a shady terrace under the oak trees for hot summer days, as well as a cosy log fire in the winter months.

Alphen Hotel : The Hotels History

Alphen was established in 1714 on eleven acres. Subsequent owners purchased additional land until it stretched over most of the northern section of the Constantia Valley. Anders Sparman, botanist to Captain Cook mentions it in his diary of 1772, “ The premises are very well built, and contiguous to them is a pretty garden, and a considerable vineyard, which increases yearly in size”. The Cloete family bought the estate in 1850. They made wine and farmed export fruit. The first Cloete, Jacob Cloete(n), a mercenary from Cologne, sailed to South Africa with Jan van Riebeeck. The family prospered and various members, at one time or other, owned many of the important Cape Dutch estates, including Groot Constantia. During the 1960’s Sandy Bairnsfather Cloete, was forced to sell off most of the land because of encroaching urbanization. He converted the Manor House and certain other buildings into a country house hotel.

The present owners have reacquired certain adjacent properties, formerly part of the farm, and restored and converted the cellars, stables and coach house into offices. The buildings now stand on 16 acres. The hotels great square was declared a National Monument in 1973. The house played an important part in the history of the Cape. Since the earliest days Alphen Hotel has attracted interesting and influential people. The famous 18th century Governor, Lord Charles Somerset, Master of the Cape Hunt, used to hold hunt breakfasts at the Alphen; Dr. James Barry, British army doctor, (discovered on her death to be a woman) fought a duel on the southern terrace with Josias Cloete; the British generals discussed plans for the Anglo-Boer war with Henry Cloete (while his wife spied on them for the Boers). Mark Twain dined here and so did George Bernard Shaw. Cecil John Rhodes, Princess Alice of Athlone and Jan Christian Smuts were frequent visitors. Though the nature of the complex has changed the tradition of Cape hospitality remains.

37 Rooms
Conferences
Ensuite
Restaurant
Pub
Pool
Garden
Mini Bar
Separate Shower
Bath
Air Con ( some )
Weddings

Alphen Hotel
Constantia
Cape Town
South Africa

The Alphen Hotel is situated in Constantia in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs. Constantia is a pretty valley which was the first wine producing area in South Africa. The hotel is about 20 minutes drive from the centre of Cape Town and also about 20 minutes from the Cape Town Airport.

Click here to see a detailed
map of Constantia Map

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