Babylonstoren Wine Estate

A historic Cape Dutch farm offering a blend of luxury, farm-to-table dining, and immersive wine and garden experiences.

Open Now • Closes at 17h00

Description

Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, set at the foot of Simonsberg in the Franschhoek wine valley. It features a fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, a contemporary Farm Hotel & Spa, farm-to-table restaurants, and a world-class wine experience.

Visitors can explore meticulously maintained gardens, taste a range of wines, and enjoy various activities that showcase the estate’s heritage and sustainability.

Company Group

Babylonstoren Estate

Social Media

Google Rating

4.6 ★ | 2,400+ Google reviews

Activities

Wine tastings and cellar tours
Guided garden walks
Farm-to-table workshops
Soetmelksvlei historic farmyard experience

Experiences

Wander through the sprawling eight-acre garden, picking and sampling the seasonal fruit and herbs you encounter.
Find tranquility rowing on the farm dam, taking in the spectacular scenery and abundant bird life.
Join a cellar tour to trace the winemaking journey and taste estate wines in the underground tunnel.
Cycle the extensive farm trails, discovering the vineyards, orchards, and historic buildings at your own pace.

Estimate Duration

2 – 5 hours

Tours

Daily Garden Tour: A guided walk through the estate’s iconic fruit and vegetable garden, encouraging guests to pick, smell, and taste seasonal produce. Departs daily at 10h00.

Special Collections Tour: A themed tour offered Monday to Friday at 11h30, exploring different garden elements like succulents, cycads, the Healing Garden, bee hives, and vegetables with an expert gardener.

Cellar Tour: A behind-the-scenes look at Babylonstoren’s wine production, including barrel tastings. Offered daily at 10h00, 13h00, and 16h00. Duration: 2 hours.

Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Tour: A guided tasting and insight into Babylonstoren’s olive oil and vinegar production. Offered at 11h00, 13h00, and 15h00. Max 6 guests. R200 pp.

Healing Garden Tour: A walk through the medicinal plant section of the garden, highlighting natural remedies and uses of plants. Tuesdays only.

Succulent & Cycad Tour: An exploration of Babylonstoren’s unique and ancient plant species. Mondays & Fridays only.

Tasting Hours

Tasting Hours: Open daily from 10h00 to 18h00

Tasting Options

Babylonstoren range (7 Wines) – R110

Express tasting (Chenin Blanc, Mourvèdre Rosé & Babel Red) – R50

Chardonnay – R30 | Nebukadnesar – R35 | Sprankel MCC – R40

Dietary Options

Vegan-friendly options | Vegetarian friendly
Farm-fresh and organic produce

Dress Code

Casual

Restaurants

Babel Restaurant: Seasonal farm-to-fork cuisine (Bookings required)

Greenhouse Restaurant: Casual dining, picnic-style service (No bookings required)

The Bakery: Serves fresh bread and Italian-style dinners

Child Friendly Policy

Child friendly

What to Bring

Camera | Comfortable shoes | Hat | Sunscreen | Water bottle

Additional Information

Babylonstoren features historic cape dutch architecture from 1692, offering a rich sense of history.
The farm is committed to sustainability, with much of the food served coming directly from the garden.
It offers unique, themed workshops throughout the year, such as bread-baking and essential oil making.
The babel restaurant is widely acclaimed, having won multiple awards for its farm-to-table experience.

Insider Guides

Pre-book babel restaurant well in advance as it is very popular.
Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter garden experience.
Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring the gravel paths.
Children can enjoy feeding the donkeys and collecting eggs.

Weather Considerations

Ideal weather: Sunny | Cool breeze

Rain alert: Light rain (30–40%)

Weather experience: The gardens are beautiful to explore in mild weather, while cooler days offer a cozy retreat near the indoor fireplaces.

Reservation Policies

Arrival: Late arrivals may forfeit their booking, especially for guided tours.

Babel restaurant: Online bookings open nine months in advance, essential for dinner.

Group bookings: Groups of 11–25 guests require a 50% deposit to confirm the reservation.

Estimate Price Range

General Entry | R150+
WIne Tasting | R65 – R160+
Tours | R300 – R500+
Restaurants | R300 – R500+

Pricing & Entry Fees

R150 per adult | Children under 18 enter FREE
This will give you unlimited admission to Babylonstoren for 12 months.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible (some paths covered with gravel or peach pips)

Booking Methods

Email | Phone | Website

Must Tries

Garden harvest: Wander the gardens and taste fresh, seasonal produce straight from the soil.

Wine tasting: Sample estate wines in a relaxed setting, guided by knowledgeable staff.

Farm dining: Enjoy seasonal dishes made with ingredients sourced directly from the farm.

Highlights

Historic setting: Experience one of the Cape’s best-preserved Cape Dutch farm estates.

Botanical gardens: Explore diverse plant collections, orchards, and shaded pathways.

Peaceful atmosphere: Take in open spaces, mountain views, and a slower pace of farm life.

Award-winning wines

Berg River access

Butchery

Cape Dutch architecture

Cheese room

Child friendly

Event spaces

Farm experiences

Farm hotel

Farm shop

Gardens

Historic estate

Mountain views

Olive press

Parking

Restaurants

Restrooms

Scenic landscapes

Spa

Tasting room

Vineyard walks

Walking trails

Wheelchair access

Wine cellar

Wine tasting

Working farm

Features

Award-winning wines
Berg River access
Butchery
Cape Dutch architecture
Cheese room
Child friendly
Event spaces
Farm experiences
Farm hotel
Farm shop
Gardens
Historic estate
Mountain views
Olive press
Parking
Restaurants
Restrooms
Scenic landscapes
Spa
Tasting room
Vineyard walks
Walking trails
Wheelchair access
Wine cellar
Wine tasting
Working farm

Must Tries

Garden harvest: Wander the gardens and taste fresh, seasonal produce straight from the soil.

Wine tasting: Sample estate wines in a relaxed setting, guided by knowledgeable staff.

Farm dining: Enjoy seasonal dishes made with ingredients sourced directly from the farm.

Highlights

Historic setting: Experience one of the Cape’s best-preserved Cape Dutch farm estates.

Botanical gardens: Explore diverse plant collections, orchards, and shaded pathways.

Peaceful atmosphere: Take in open spaces, mountain views, and a slower pace of farm life.

Address

Klapmuts – Simondium Road, Simondium

Parking: Ample parking onsite

Opening Hours

Monday – Sunday (Estate)	10h00 – 18h00
Babel Breakfast	08h00 – 09h30
Babel Lunch	12h30 – 15h00
Babel Dinner	18h00 – 20h30
Greenhouse (Sep – Apr)	09h00 – 18h00
Greenhouse (May – Aug)	09h00 – 17h00