The boutique lodge in Hout Bay, which was destroyed by a devastating Cape fire in 2015, has been restored to its former glory. I was invited to enjoy their Winter Warmer package. The package includes an overnight stay and gourmet cuisine, for two people sharing - this is worth it for a five-star lodge.
Resting on a pebbled beach at the foot of the Table Mountain National Park, directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the view from the wooden decked terrace is breathtaking. This is where we had a refreshing spritzer on arrival while listening to the sounds of ocean waves lapping gently against the shore.
Here, seated on cushioned chairs, you will have a front row seat to the sunset or you can watch the sun go down from your room terrace, we opted for the latter.
The property boasts panoramic views of the picturesque Hout Bay Harbour, dramatic Sentinel mountain’s peak, and the ocean.
We spent the night in the elegant Sicily Island room, each suite is named after an island.
The luxurious, fully-catered villa, decorated in off white and nautical shades of dusty blues has a wooden ceiling and parquet flooring, comfortable seating area, fireplace to keep you warm during the winter nights and its own private balcony with views of the bay.
The bathroom is my favourite room. The stand-alone bathtub faces a large window with incredible views of the sea and mountain a majestic sight.
Tintswalo Atlantic serves
breakfast daily in the dining room or deck and the fine dining
restaurant offers a variety of tastes and cuisines. Lunch and dinner are available upon request. I enjoyed hake and a salad for lunch on the deck.
Taking a walk around the establishment, we visited theterrace which has two heated outdoor swimming pools. Although they are heated it was too cold for a swim.
There is also a spa on the premises and a 24-hour front desk which is on hand to assist in arranging activities such as horse riding and fishing, as well as an airport shuttle upon request.
Dinner consisted of five-courses with a bottle of house wine. It was prepared by the recently appointed head chef Guy Clark, who has made a name for himself in the foodies circles of Cape Town.
Clark recently returned to his home town, the Mother City, having honed his skills in India and Florida (US) for the past four years.
He takes a simplified approach to cooking, focusing on flavour.
“I believe in celebrating ingredients in their purest form, using methods and techniques that enhance flavour, presentation and texture.
“Sourcing and utilising local, sustainable and organic is key to delivering an ethical and superior menu” he says.
His new eight-course Ocean & Ash tasting menu for Tintswalo Atlantic is based on different themes, whereby he cites local ingredients and foraging as important components of the process.
Unusual plating and presentation styles also play an important part in the dining experience.
The first course includes three variations of one of his new favourites, seaweed - which, he says, makes perfect sense, seeing that it is available in abundance right on the restaurant doorstep.
Our five-course meal included a berry sorbet palate cleanser, a crispy pork belly and Japanese chilli cured salmon, a delicious lentil warm salad and fresh fig and gooseberries sprinkled with black salt cream.
We had our mains and desserts in our room.
I liked that we had this option, as we had a long day and the villa offered enough comfort for you to dine in private.
Sleeping right next to the sea means listening to the rhythmic and calming sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
It does get chilly during the night so keep the fire going.
Breakfast time is flexible, this means you can sleep in and watch the sun rise from your comfortable bed - that’s what the floor to ceiling windows are there for.
Also, enjoy the fresh sea air, it will make you feel like you are on a real island and it will make you forget that you are not far from the city.
When we eventually managed to peel ourselves from the bed we headed to the dining area for breakfast.
Now, usually in the mornings a breakfast smoothie is all I can stomach.
Therefore, breakfast was potentially overwhelming for a light eater like me.
Breakfast starts with a delicious creamy yoghurt, fruits and muesli, followed by pastries, a cheese platter and eggs of your choice.
The breakfast is a foodie heaven and satisfies Instagram goals - after all they offer free and fast wi-fi.
Tintswalo Atlantic is the ideal destination for a romantic weekend getaway, to celebrate a special occasion or to pop in for lunch and sundowners on the terrace.
* The Winter Warmer Package at Tintswalo Atlantic will be on until August 31, an overnight offer includes luxury accommodation, as well as breakfast and a five-course dinner with a bottle of house wine, at R7000 for two people sharing.
During weekends, a minimum two-night stay applies.
Connect with Tintswalo Atlantic on Instagram and Twitter @Tintswalolodges