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Stellenbosch · Western Cape

Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren is a wine farm in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. About 50 km from Cape Town.

50 km from Cape Town Restaurant Place to stay
Babylonstoren
Wikipedia / Wikimedia — Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren: garden, wine and farm life between Paarl and Franschhoek

Babylonstoren is one of the Western Cape’s major winelands destinations—geographically on the Klapmuts–Simondium Road in Simondium, in Simonsberg-Paarl country, and firmly part of many Paarl wine route itineraries even though the Franschhoek Wine Tram’s orange line also stops here. The heart of the farm is a 3.5-hectare-scale cultivated garden (official pages cite about 5 hectares / 12 acres of fruit and vegetables) inspired by Cape Town’s historic Company’s Garden and linked in name to the mythic hanging gardens of Babylon. Wine, restaurants, hotel, spa and workshops orbit that garden rather than replacing it.

Visit planning starts with an entrance fee for garden access, then optional wine tasting, cellar tour, dining and spa. Do not invent free garden entry—ticket office pricing is explicit.

Garden visit, hours and membership

Entrance: R190 per adult; children under 18 free. Card and contactless only. Garden Membership at R190 (via the free Babylonstoren app after ticket-office code) gives 12 months unlimited garden admission and listed perks such as interactive map tools and an online-shop voucher on registration. From 1 May 2026, membership no longer includes access to The Newt or The Story of Emily (official visitor-information note).

Hours (official contact page):

  • Summer: Monday–Sunday 09h00–18h00 (last entry 17h00)
  • Winter: Monday–Sunday 09h00–17h00 (last entry 16h00)
  • Closed Christmas Day (25 December); otherwise open daily including public holidays

Daily Garden Tour starts 10h00 in front of the Farm Shop—pick, taste, smell and touch with a gardener guide. Collections Tour Monday–Friday 11h30 rotates focus (succulents/cycads Mon & Fri; Healing Garden Tue; vegetables Wed; bees Thu). Pets are not allowed (guide dogs welcome); donkeys opposite the Farm Shop delight children. Pathways are gravel and sometimes peach-pip covered—skip high heels; prams and wheelchairs need care.

Only food and drink purchased on the farm may be consumed; use Babel, Greenhouse, Farm Shop, Coffee Roastery, Lekker Room and Gelato Room rather than bringing picnic baskets from outside.

Wine tasting, cellar tour and The Story of Wine

The Tasting Room sits beside the cellar with views of the Babylonstoren hill, Simonsberg and Banghoek mountains. Official tasting pricing:

  • From R220 per person for seven wines
  • Flagship add-ons: Chardonnay R55, Nebukadnesar R95, Sprankel R100
  • Express tasting of three wines at R95 per person
  • Seating first-come, first-served

Wine tasting & wine museum hours: daily 10h00–18h00. The Story of Wine museum at the tasting-room entrance is a free self-guided visit, open daily.

Cellar tours: 10h00, 13h00 or 16h00, 2 hours, R650 per person including tasting; payment required to secure booking; no under-18s; walking tour, comfortable shoes recommended; not wheelchair accessible. The route moves from vineyards into a working cellar with amphorae, open cement fermenters and concrete eggs, ending in a master tasting with farm delicacies. About 120 hectares under vine and 13 grape varieties are cited on the tasting-cellar page, with high Pinot Noir and Chardonnay parcels toward 600 m on Simonsberg. Winemaking leadership named publicly includes Charl Coetzee, cellar master Klaas Stoffberg, and assistant winemakers Danielle Marais and Kyle Davids. First Babylonstoren-label bottling followed the 2011 harvest.

Franschhoek Wine Tram orange-line guests may hop off for tasting or cellar tour; normal entrance and experience fees still apply.

Restaurants and hotel

Babel (flagship farm-to-fork): breakfast Monday–Sunday 08h00–09h30; lunch Wednesday–Sunday 12h00–15h30; dinner Monday–Sunday 18h00–20h30. Reservations essential via enquiries@babylonstoren.com / +27 21 863 3852.

Greenhouse: light lunches, salads, wood-fired breads, teas; open daily 09h00–18h00 (September–April) and 09h00–17h00 (May–August) per the contact page.

Old Bakery Italian-inspired dinners: Monday, Tuesday & Friday 18h00–21h00; Carnivore Evenings Wednesday & Sunday 18h30–21h00.

Babylonstoren Hotel offers Farmhouse, Garden Cottages, Fynbos Cottages and Manor/Family Houses with breakfast and a suite of farm inclusions described on the hotel page (garden access, tours, tasting elements, spa access, bikes, fishing—verify the live inclusions list when you book). Reservations: reservations@babylonstoren.com. Check-in from 14h00 per hotel guidance.

Garden Spa (hammam, Hot Spa facilities, treatments): spa@babylonstoren.com / +27 21 300 3929. Seasonal packages appear on the spa pages (example specials have been published with dated validity)—confirm current pricing rather than relying on an old package rate.

Workshops and farm calendar

Dated workshops (butter pastry, blacksmithing, koppie hikes, balsamic sessions and more) list on garden/workshop pages with 2026–2027 dates and prices such as blacksmithing around R2000 or family koppie hikes around R500—book via farm channels; schedules rotate. Enquiries desk daily 08h00–17h00.

Paarl-route planning tips

Allocate a half day minimum; a full day is better if you want garden tour, wine tasting and Babel lunch. Buy garden entry first, then layer wine. Babylonstoren is popular—arrive near opening in peak season. Combine with Anura (Klapmuts foothills) or continue toward Franschhoek or central Paarl, but avoid underestimating dwell time inside the garden alone.

FAQ

Is wine tasting included in garden entry?

No. Garden entry is separate; tasting and cellar tour are additional paid experiences.

Can I bring my dog?

No—guide dogs only.

Is the cellar tour suitable for children?

Official cellar tour policy: no under-18s.

Why Babylonstoren defines destination Paarl–Simondium wine travel

Few Cape farms integrate horticulture, serious cellar tourism, multiple kitchens and overnight hospitality at this scale without inventing extras. Stick to published fees and hours, book Babel and cellar tours early, and let the garden set your pace—Babylonstoren earns its reputation when you experience what is actually on offer, not a paraphrased fantasy of unlimited free tasting.

Things to do at Babylonstoren

  • Walks, trails & outdoors

    Garden visit

    Official visitor-information: entrance fee for garden access; open daily except Christmas Day; card & contactless only; pets not allowed (guide dogs OK); children welcome (donkey feeding opposite Farm Shop).

    Price R190 per adult; children under 18 free; Membership R190 (12 months unlimited garden admission via app)

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Walks, trails & outdoors

    Garden tours

    Starts 10h00 in front of Farm Shop; guided pick/taste/smell/touch walk. Collections Tour Mon–Fri 11h30 (succulents/cycads Mon & Fri; Healing Garden Tue; vegetables Wed; bees Thu).

    Booking: on arrival / enquiries@babylonstoren.com / +27 21 863 3852

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine tasting

    Official tasting-cellar page: from R220 pp for seven wines (add Flagship: Chardonnay R55, Nebukadnesar R95, Sprankel R100); express three wines R95 pp; first-come first-served seating. Wine Tram orange line stop (normal fees apply).

    Price R95–R220+

    Booking: tasting room

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Cellar tour

    Vineyards → working cellar (amphorae, cement fermenters, concrete eggs) → master tasting with farm delicacies; 10h00, 13h00 or 16h00; 2 hours; walking tour; no under-18s; not wheelchair accessible; payment to secure booking.

    Price R650 pp (includes tasting)

    Booking: essential

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine museum

    Self-guided wine museum at tasting-room entrance; free; open daily.

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Restaurants & dining

    Restaurant (Babel)

    Flagship farm-to-fork; Breakfast Mon–Sun 08h00–09h30; Lunch Wed–Sun 12h00–15h30; Dinner Mon–Sun 18h00–20h30 (contact page). Reservations essential.

    Booking: enquiries@babylonstoren.com / +27 21 863 3852

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Restaurants & dining

    Restaurant (Greenhouse)

    Light lunches, salads, wood-fired breads, teas; open daily 09h00–18h00 (Sep–Apr) and 09h00–17h00 (May–Aug) per contact (hotel page also cites Sep–Apr to 19h00 — confirm season).

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    Old Bakery evenings

    Mon, Tue & Fri 18h00–21h00; Carnivore Evenings Wed & Sun 18h30–21h00 (contact).

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Stay (Hotel)

    Farmhouse, Garden Cottages, Fynbos Cottages, Manor/Family Houses; breakfast included; garden access, garden tour, cellar tour & wine tasting, spa access, bikes, fishing, etc. included per hotel page; check-in from 14h00.

    Booking: reservations@babylonstoren.com

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Spa & wellness

    Garden Spa at Babylonstoren

    Hammam, massage, Hot Spa (indoor pool, sauna, salt room, vitality pools), wraps, facials, hands & feet; spa@babylonstoren.com / +27 21 300 3929. Seasonal package example R2100 pp valid to 31 Oct 2026 Mon–Thu only.

    Booking: https://babylonstoren.com/spa

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Walks, trails & outdoors

    Kids

    Official garden/workshop listings with dated 2026–2027 workshops (e.g. butter pastry R1600; blacksmithing R2000) — book via farm

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    Workshops / events

Browse all experience types

Notable wines

Sprankel MCC; Flagship range; estate reds and whites

Wines made here

Wine list from wine.co.za. The taste words are drawn from those notes, which are not reprinted here. Ask the cellar door what is pouring on the day.

Visiting with kids

Children under 18 enter the garden free; feed donkeys, explore Soetmelksvlei’s indoor playhouse and farm animals, and join garden harvest activities.

With kids. About 41 min from Cape Town. Suited to toddlers, tweens, teens.

Play areaAnimalsLawnsCasual food

  • donkey feeding
  • egg collecting
  • scavenger hunt
  • Soetmelksvlei farmyard
  • ox wagon
  • garden harvest
  • bread baking

Babylonstoren is one of Paarl’s standout family days out. Children under 18 enter the garden free (adults R190 when last checked), and kids can feed the donkeys, collect eggs and join garden harvest and bread-baking activities. From Wednesday to Sunday, a shuttle experience to Soetmelksvlei offers an indoor playhouse and farm animals — close child supervision is required. There’s casual food on the farm, but no outside food or drink is allowed, and pets are not permitted (guide dogs OK). Gravel and peach-pip paths aren’t ideal for prams or wheelchairs. Hotel guests get extras such as a scavenger hunt and kids’ bikes. Booking is advised, and it suits toddlers through teens.

Before you go

  • Book ahead, especially on weekends and in school holidays.
  • Dogs are not welcome.
  • Pram access is limited. Ask before you rely on it.
  • Outside picnics are not listed.
  • A children's price is listed. Confirm the amount when you book.
Do children pay garden entry?

No — under-18s enter free; adult garden entry was R190 when last checked.

What is Soetmelksvlei?

A Wednesday-to-Sunday shuttle experience with an indoor playhouse and farm animals; close child supervision is required.

Can we bring a picnic or a pram?

No outside food or drink is allowed, and the gravel/peach-pip paths are not ideal for prams or wheelchairs.

Nearby with children

  • Drakenstein Lion Park — Animals, Paarl · 11 km Website
  • Le Bonheur Reptile Adventures — Animals, Paarl · 7 km Website
  • Soetmelksvlei (Babylonstoren family farm experience) — Animals, Simondium / Paarl–Franschhoek valley · 5 km Website
  • Drakenstein Lion Park — Animals, Paarl · 11 km Website

Family notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm on the farm’s website before you drive. Source. More family farms in Paarl. Things to do near this farm. Stay on this farm. Weddings on this farm.

Staying here

Iconic Cape Winelands hotel on a working farm: Garden & Fynbos cottages, Farmhouse suites, exclusive Manor/Fynbos Family Houses, Babel restaurant, Garden Spa, and farm activities included with breakfast

Place to stay. About 41 min from Cape Town. 41 min from the airport. Garden Cottages|Fynbos Cottages|Farmhouse Suites|Red Studio|Fowl House|Koornhuis|Fynbos Family House|Manor House.

Hotel, Cottage, Manor, Villa, Self-catering. Sleeps 1-bed suites/cottages 2|2-bed cottages/Koornhuis 4|Family/Manor Houses 10 a unit. Garden Cottages 13 (6 one-bed suites + 3 one-bed cottages + 4 two-bed) plus Fynb units. From R14050 (per unit (Red Studio, 2 guests)).

PoolSpaBreakfastRestaurantKitchenKids welcome

5ha garden|Simonsberg|Franschhoek mountains|vineyards|orchards|fynbos

Babylonstoren is a verified wine-farm accommodation listing in Paarl (audit region: Paarl). Stay types noted: hotel, cottage, manor, villa, self_catering.

Named properties: Garden Cottages; Fynbos Cottages; Farmhouse Suites; Red Studio; Fowl House; Koornhuis; Fynbos Family House; Manor House.

Iconic Cape Winelands hotel on a working Simondium farm: Babel restaurant, Garden Spa, breakfast and guided farm activities included with many stays. Farmhouse suites are not child-friendly on estate notes — confirm room type before you book with kids.

Setting / views noted: 5 ha garden, Simonsberg, Franschhoek mountains, vineyards, orchards, fynbos.

Amenities flagged in the audit: pool, spa, kids welcome, breakfast included, onsite restaurant, self-catering options. Pets not allowed (guide dogs excepted per visitor info).

Published from R14050 (per unit — Red Studio, 2 guests, 2026 low season). Bases differ across estates — do not compare unlike bases as equal nightly prices. We only publish facts from official sources gathered in the stay audit (Last checked 5 October 2026).

Before you book

  • Pets are not listed as welcome.
  • The listed rate is per unit (red studio, 2 guests). Confirm the season before you compare.
Does Babylonstoren offer wine farm accommodation?

Yes — our audit marks has_accommodation as

yes

, with named stay products listed above.

What are the property names?

Garden Cottages; Fynbos Cottages; Farmhouse Suites; Red Studio; Fowl House; Koornhuis; Fynbos Family House; Manor House.

What is the rate from?

From

R14050

, basis

per unit (Red Studio, 2 guests)

, year

2026

. Re-confirm before booking; seasonal specials may differ.

Which amenities are flagged?

Audit flags include: pool, spa, kids welcome, breakfast included, onsite restaurant. Policies change — confirm in writing for your dates.

Are pets allowed?

Pet-friendly is flagged

no

in the audit (guide dogs excepted per visitor info) — confirm current policy in writing.

Stay notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm the rate and what is open before you book. Book. Source. More stays in Paarl. With kids. Weddings.

Weddings here

Garden-to-table wedding in restored Cape Dutch barns for up to 100, with two nights' Farmhouse/Koornhuis stay and family-style feast

Hosts weddings. Up to 100 seated. About 41 min from Cape Town. 41 min from the airport. From R449 800 (Studio package, low season May-Aug).

Rooms on siteIn-house cateringOutdoorIndoor

Old Cellar (seats 100 at one long table); Wheat Barn (46); White Studio (38); ceremony under oaks by the stream; House of Shadows; lawns for pre-drinks; Spice Garden / Greenhouse for small groups

Outdoors under the oaks by the stream (included in venue fee); House of Shadows at bottom of garden (R40 000 per 2026 web page; guide: R40 000 in 2025 / R45 000 in 2026)

One of the best-preserved Cape Dutch farmyards; gardens; lawns overlooking vineyards and the Drakenstein Mountains

Babylonstoren offers a garden-to-table wedding in one of the best-preserved Cape Dutch farmyards, with lawns overlooking the vineyards and the Drakenstein Mountains. Packages bundle the venues with a two-night stay.

At a glance

  • Capacity: 100 at one long table in the Old Cellar; Wheat Barn 46; White Studio 38
  • Ceremony: outdoors under the oaks by the stream (included); House of Shadows at R40 000 (2026 web page)
  • Stay: two nights in the Koornhuis cottage and two nights in the nine-bedroom, adults-only Farmhouse; Manor House and hotel bookable
  • Catering: in-house family-style meal from R1 250 pp (2026); fully licensed bar; +15% service
  • Coordinator: two on-site meetings plus on-the-day coordinator
  • Small groups: Small Gatherings for 11–25 guests

Evening functions end at midnight, with paid extensions. Strictly halaal or kosher catering isn't offered.

Price: Studio package from R449 800 in low season, May–August (2026, as published by the venue); Old Cellar package low season R489 800 (2026). Food and beverages are extra.

Last checked 5 October 2026 against the estate's official information. Confirm details directly before booking.

Before you enquire

  • Guide: daytime functions to 17h00, evening to 00h00; extension to 02h00 at an hourly fee (R30 000 2024 / R35 000 2025)
  • Service provider list shared at coordinator meetings; DJ/alternative PA own account; not able to offer strictly halaal/kosher
  • Low-season package rates May-August
  • Official weddings page: Old Cellar package low season R489 800 (2026) / R503 000 (2027); high season Sep-Apr R683 400 (2026) / R752 000 (2027). Studio package low R449 800 (2026) / R463 000 (2027); high R683 400 (2026) / R712 000 (2027). Food and beverages extra (+15% service). Wedding guide PDF still shows 2024/25 package rates (historic) and 2025/2026 food rates.
How many guests can Babylonstoren seat?

Up to 100 at one long table in the Old Cellar. The Wheat Barn seats 46 and the White Studio 38.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Packages include two nights in the Koornhuis and two nights in the adults-only, nine-bedroom Farmhouse.

What does a Babylonstoren wedding cost?

The Studio package is from R449 800 in low season (2026, as published by the venue), with high-season and 2027 rates higher. Food and drinks are extra, from R1 250 pp (2026) plus 15% service.

Can we have a small wedding at Babylonstoren?

Ask about Small Gatherings for 11–25 guests in spaces such as the Greenhouse or Spice Garden.

Where is the ceremony held?

Under the oaks by the stream, included in the venue fee, or at the House of Shadows for an additional fee.

Wedding notes checked 5 October 2026. Guest numbers and packages change. Ask the farm for the current offer. Enquire. Brochure. Source. More wedding farms in Paarl. With kids. Stay. Tours.

Tours that stop here

All wine tours

Questions before you go

Where is Babylonstoren?

Babylonstoren is at Klapmuts–Simondium Road, Simondium, in Stellenbosch. Most visitors drive there from Cape Town in 45–60 minutes.

When is Babylonstoren open?

Open Sunday. Hours change, so call +27 21 863 3852 before you drive.

How much is a wine tasting at Babylonstoren?

From R95. Prices change, so confirm when you book.

Can I eat at Babylonstoren?

Yes, there is a restaurant on the farm. Book ahead for weekend lunches.

Can I stay over at Babylonstoren?

Yes, the farm offers accommodation. Call +27 21 863 3852 for rates and availability.

Their videos

This is the YouTube channel linked from the farm’s own website. Recent uploads are read from YouTube’s public channel feed.

Faf & Tjokkie Are Back on Bok Duty! 🇿🇦
An Italian Feast at the Old Bakery 🍕
From Florence to Franschhoek | Our New Barbecue

Open their YouTube channel

Wine of Origin

Geographical unit: Western Cape → Coastal Region → Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is the flagship Wine of Origin district of the Cape: granite mountains, university town, and the densest cluster of visitor-ready wine farms in the country.

Terroir snapshot

Elevation and soil figures are modelled at the pin, not a vineyard block survey. Use them to compare farms, not to quote a technical sheet.

Latitude
-33.882
Longitude
18.966
Elevation
215 m (Open-Meteo)
Soil pH
6.1 (SoilGrids 0–5 cm)
Clay
16% (SoilGrids)
Organic C
49.0 g/kg (SoilGrids)

Sources

  • OpenStreetMap node 12649412353
  • Wikipedia: Babylonstoren
  • Phone, hours, and facilities: farm website
  • YouTube channel: farm website
  • Wine route membership: association listing
  • Wine list: wine.co.za
  • Family notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Stay notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Wedding notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Tours: operator pages
  • Elevation: Open-Meteo
  • Soil: ISRIC SoilGrids

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