July 2019 Jhb West

turn off your phone, this would be
it – but, then again, that would be
a wasted opportunity. The smooth,
calm waters also make this an ideal
spot for trying out your stand-up
paddling skills. But if that idea
doesn’t grab you, perhaps the
thought of cruising slowly down
the river, bubbles in hand, will.
Plett’s beaches are also a favourite
party spot for whales and dolphins.
We played tag with them out in the
ocean, and although the dolphins
proved somewhat shy and elusive,
nothing could beat the exhilarating
sensation of streaming over azure
blue waves.
Then there are those boutiques and
bakeries. Those who love browsing
through interesting
stores will find time
flies as they meander
down Plett’s high
street, refuelling
occasionally with a
flat white and slice
of buttery cake.
As much as all
these activities
are food for
the soul, there’s just as much
fulfilment to be found at the hotel
itself. It’s as though every angle
and corner of Sky Villa has been
carefully designed to make you
stop and stare – inside the hotel,
a luxe palette of metallics is offset
by moody wallpapers and floral
fabrics. Clearly, this establishment
hasn’t been created merely as a
place to relax; it’s also intended as
a treat for the senses.
The hotel’s gardens are even more
pleasing. Flurries of fynbos make
for a smudgy pastel landscape,
while the vista rolls all the way
down to that sapphire sea. You
can’t blame a girl for wanting
to take it all in – which is
why I spend much of my
stay at the heated pool
on the rooftop bar. The
espresso martini I’m sipping
certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
The panorama from the
restaurant is similarly
spectacular. That might be the
reason the hotel is fast gaining
a reputation as a favourite
breakfast destination, although
it’s the dinners that really get my
mouth watering. The menu draws
on Mediterranean influences,
so expect plenty of fresh, bold
flavours that pair perfectly with
your coastal location. My all-time
hero dish is Live By Chocolate, a
chocolate experience so densely
delicious it will take care of all
cravings for the next week: think
a duo of mousse, lashed with
butterscotch sauce and finished
off with a dollop of home-made
ice cream. Of course, life isn’t
just about dessert (would that
it could be). I also loved the
avocado and salmon tartare,
with a liberal drizzle of sesame
oil complementing the Asian
complexity of the dish, while the
pork belly received lavish praise
from my companions. A word of
advice – go hungry! Sky Villa’s
portions are generous, to say the
least, and you’ll definitely want to
do them justice.
After just one weekend here, I feel
cosseted and cocooned – and more
than ready to tackle life below
the clouds.
Info ...
Rates (per room on a bed and breakfast basis) range from
R2200 for a standard mountain-facing room in low season up
to R9900 for the presidential suite in high season.
Details: Sky Villa: Capesummervillas.co.za; Ocean Blue
Adventures (whale and dolphin watching): oceanblueadventures.
co.za; SUP Keurbooms (stand-up paddling and champagne
cruises): standuppaddling.co.za.
July 2019 Get It Joburg West 33