We first visited Val du Charron in the Wellington wine valley over two years ago, when we stayed in one of the beautiful Coach House suites, ate our way through The Grillroom and Pizza Vista, explored the farm and enjoyed a genuinely fabulous weekend in the Winelands. We loved it then and so, naturally, had to return.
We recently went back, now with two little ones in tow, and Val du Charron has changed quite considerably since our first visit. There is a huge new swimming pool, a new bar, a revamped Grillroom and a slightly different layout around Pizza Vista.
But it was one particular change that made the biggest difference to us: the new family rooms.
The new family rooms have bunk beds built right into the walls, creating a little sleeping area designed specifically for children. The moment our girls saw them, they were in love, clambering up and down the stairs with their teddies and toys to their own cosy home away from home.
I don’t know why, but there is something about a bunk bed that instantly makes a hotel room feel like an adventure. And these weren’t cramped children’s beds squeezed into the corner of an adult room. The bunk area was cleverly incorporated into the design with its own little storage nook and lighting, while a little private courtyard outside also provided another space we could all enjoy.
Val du Charron also has a range of other accommodation. Another noticeable change is right at the front of the estate, where a modern new building has been added with a whole collection of new rooms. It gives this part of Val du Charron a much more contemporary feel, while the older buildings and original farm character remain further into the property. There are now 40 guesthouse rooms, alongside the Coach House suites and Manor House, giving guests a much wider choice of accommodation than when we first visited. The more luxurious Coach House rooms are designed for couples with their own private pools and the Manor House option is a two-bedroom private villa with its own kitchen and pool. However, for a family with young children, I would happily choose the family room again. Actually, I suspect our children would insist on it.
Other new additions at Val du Charron
The other major addition at Val du Charron is impossible to miss. The hotel now has a huge new swimming pool, complete with a new deck and bar. We were visiting in winter, and despite the girls’ best efforts, it was simply too cold for us to get into the water. I was slightly gutted about this because the pool looks like it is going to be one of the property’s biggest attractions in summer.
It is big enough to actually swim in rather than simply being a decorative hotel pool, and its position overlooking the estate and mountains makes it somewhere I can imagine spending a very large part of a summer day. You can grab a drink, find a lounger, let the children swim, and look out across the Winelands. We didn’t get to experience it in its full summer glory, but it gives me yet another reason to come back.
One of the other things we loved about our first stay was Pizza Vista. The restaurant is relaxed and family-friendly but now even more so as the children’s play area has been moved down to this end of the property, next to the splash pad. This means that children can play while adults enjoy lunch, and they are even provided with colouring in for when you need to keep them at the table and try to get some food in.
Our previous stay at Val du Charron also included a memorable dinner at The Grillroom, and the restaurant remains one of the reasons we would return. But it has had a refresh too. The old wine-tasting area has been incorporated into The Grillroom, and the result is a much more inviting space that feels more modern and social. There is also now a proper bar area with a fireplace, making it somewhere you actually want to linger rather than simply pass through on your way to dinner.
The breakfast setup has also been changed, with an open buffet section at the back of The Grillroom complete with made-to-order eggs and pancakes (with chocolate and sprinkles). Breakfast is included with the accommodation, so this is where the family can start the day before heading out to explore Wellington or simply staying put on the farm. And honestly, when you have children, a good breakfast buffet is worth its weight in gold.
Why visit Val du Charron
One of the things we love about Val du Charron, even with the addition of the new rooms, is that it still feels like a boutique hotel. It maintains that countryside feeling, which is exactly what all of the properties in the Cape Country Routes collection aim to do. This owner-run collection of properties includes some of the best, and most authentic hidden gems, in South Africa.
They also excel in providing something that everyone can enjoy.
We could drink wine while the kids played. Indulge in a proper steak at The Grillroom. Spend an afternoon around the pool. Walk or cycle the trails. Or sit around the fire at the bar. And, at the end of the day, tuck the children into their bunk beds, completely exhausted and delighted.
And as the property is only around ten minutes from Wellington and less than an hour from Cape Town, it made for a particularly easy short family escape. The girls have already asked when we’re going back.
