The Grand Hotel

Effortless style & heritage

The manor house was originally built in 1901 by Hamilton Barry as a home for his sister, while the adjoining Victorian villa dates back to about 1902. By 1927, the Wolfe family acquired this gracious estate as a luxury hotel. In the last 100 years, this heritage property has changed hands just a few times. This means its beautiful bones were largely untouched – but also slightly unpolished!

It was a lucky day when the current owners chanced upon an online ad for a “boutique hotel for sale in Robertson”. On impulse, they jumped into their car to drive straight to the Cape Winelands.

“I didn’t even take a thorough look. I just peeked in and saw the high ceilings and wooden floors, and knew I had to give it some love,” says one of the owners, a heritage property specialist. “I love heritage properties of every kind – from ones that are a labour of love to those that are utterly high-end and magical. This is both!”

Together with a heritage architect, she threw herself into breathing new life into The Grand Hotel. They redid absolutely everything including the electrics and plumbing to make sure that every aspect lived up to the promise of the property’s name.

“We’ve never owned a hotel before but have travelled extensively, and I’m as fussy as hell. If a hotel is not as good as my own bedroom, I’d rather leave – so I did it exactly as I would want it. Today, the hotel feels so comfortable, like a relaxed family home. I furnished it as I would my own house, with restored heritage furnishings and so on. And it’s the small, homely things that make all the difference, like hot-water bottles in the bed on a chilly night.”

No doubt this meticulous, highly personal approach is the key to The Grand Hotel’s unprecedented success. “We started in June 2024 and did R7 000 that first month. Just seven months later in December 2024, we did R800 000.”

Once the building and interiors were ready, the owners held off on reopening the luxury boutique hotel until the restaurant and the staff had had a good three months to prove their mettle. She credits her team of 18 with The Grand Hotel’s extraordinary popularity: “The staff are exceptional – they pour their heart and souls into every minute of every day. We were lucky in that Robertson has a wealth of superbly trained hospitality staff. They’re really well informed and are part of the local community – they add so much warmth and fun to life at The Grand Hotel.”

The result is a luxury gem, so we’re not surprised it has already achieved an official five-star rating. As well as the nine beautifully appointed ensuite rooms in the manor house, there is the separate self-catering Grand Robertson Cottage. Some rooms have a sitting area with an indoor fireplace and a smart TV, as well as a private patio. The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen and braai facilities. Communal areas include the inviting lounge, bar, sparkling swimming pool and conference facilities.

It’s not unusual for the entire boutique hotel to be booked out for special occasions and weddings. “We love taking the bride to the church in our black London taxi – it’s such fun!”

Perfectly personal

“I searched out every single best thing that can be done in the Robertson Wine Valley, so you can always experience the best of life here. We’re on Route 62 in the heart of the world’s longest wine route. Each of the nine suites is named after a superb local wine estate. When you arrive, we welcome you with wine from that farm. And we chauffeur you in our very own London taxi to visit that estate for a private guided wine tasting! It’s very local, very personal and delightfully South African!”

Judging by feedback, The Grand Hotel has got it spot on. “I felt like I was coming home!” said a recent guest. “It’s such a beautiful drive to Robertson. The mountains seem to guide you on your journey right to the front door. And The Grand Hotel is so welcoming. It’s such a happy environment – cosy but at the same time very private.”

“The Grand is in its own little world, in a bubble detached from city life. You slow down and share the roads with tractors going from farm to field by day and hear the village church bells ring as you dine at night. And speaking of dining: Wow! Every meal and morsel is cooked to perfection. Our food was exceptional. We loved the little surprises – the delectable freshly made chocolate fridge cake waiting on our bedside table at night was the best-ever midnight feast!”

Now this luxury five-star hotel for sale in the Cape Winelands is ready for a new custodian. We know that The Grand Hotel in Robertson represents an exceptional opportunity to immerse yourself in an unusually refined and joyous hospitality venture on South Africa’s prestigious Route 62. So if you’re looking to buy an exceptional property in the Western Cape, don’t let this enchanting heritage hotel for sale in Robertson slip through your fingers.

If you are looking for a boutique hotel or guesthouse for sale in another area, please contact our Perfect Hideaways Real Estate team.

Written by Sally Rutherford

Additional information

• Erf size: 1 964m2
• Dwellings size: 1 003m2
• Manor-house hotel, executive guest cottage and two-bedroom manager’s cottage:
   11 guest bedrooms
   13 guest bathrooms
   Hotel restaurant
   Large lounge and bar
   Library
   Business centre
   Newly renovated kitchen
• Spa
• Swimming pool
• Entertainment pavilion: outdoor restaurant, bar and lounge
• Conference facilities for up to 60 people
• Secure on-site parking
• 24-hour front desk reception
• Five-star grading certification from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa