Luxury Hotel · South Africa
Babylonstoren
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Widely considered to be one of the best hotels in South Africa’s Winelands, Babylonstoren is a great base for wine lovers. It’s located at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains, an ideal location from which to explore the iconic Winelands. Both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are just 25 minutes away by car.
The hotel’s founder, Karen Roos, is a design and style guru with a love of hotels and wine, and her well-executed vision is on full display at Babylonstoren.
The design is faultless, combining classic Cape Dutch style with a modern twist that incorporates the finest materials and objects from a global selection of contemporary designers. It’s surrounded by eight acres of fragrant gardens, which allow for unrestricted exploration.
During your stay at Babylonstoren, you’ll get to experience the tranquillity of farm living with all the luxuries you could desire. The property itself dates back to 1692, so it’s steeped in history. Its recent rebirth as a luxury hotel has proved to be a great success. The on-site Babel restaurant serves a menu of organic delights and is so popular that it boasts a two-month waiting list.
Highlights
- The finest hotel in the Winelands
- World-class restaurant on-site
- Wine and foodie haven
- Historic building
- Acres of stunning natural landscapes
Accommodation
Accomodation
The 13 suites are exceptionally well appointed. Karen Roos has preserved the 18th-century feel and given it a very modern twist. The lightly accented colours, clean lines and furnishings demonstrate her eye for design. All of the rooms are located in cottages along a pleasant lane leading to the restaurant.
Further information
Food & drink
The main restaurant, Babel, is so popular it takes bookings months in advance. It’s one of the finest restaurants in South Africa. Most of the food is grown on the property.
You can also get lunch at the Greenhouse. The breakfast spread is also very impressive. Babylonstoren is a dream destination for foodies – you won’t even have to leave to hotel.
Service & facilities
The hotel boasts an eight-acre kitchen garden with hundreds of different edible plants. It’s a true marvel and probably the highlight of the hotel. There’s also a large swimming pool and a state-of-the-art spa.
Wellness
Wellness here is relaxed and low-key. A large swimming pool, set apart from the dining areas under a thatched gazebo, is the main place to cool off in the midday heat, and the two private safari houses, the Cottage and the Homestead, each add their own plunge pool above the riverbed. Spa treatments can be arranged on request, and a small fitness room covers anyone keeping active.
South Africa
South Africa occupies the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and sharing land borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini. The country spans eleven official languages and an extraordinary range of landscapes, from the winelands of the Western Cape to the bushveld of Limpopo and the dramatic coastline of the Garden Route. Most itineraries begin in Cape Town, one of the world’s great cities.
Our Experts
There's no better way to appreciate the natural world than by taking part in a South African safari. You'll have the chance to see the Big Five whilst never compromising when it comes to luxury.
The cosmopolitan hub of Cape Town is often overlooked as a fantastic travel destination. It has a palpably vibrant character and a flourishing food scene. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to experience something completely different.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.