As I wrote about last week, I enjoyed visiting Stellenbosch so much on our wine tour that I decide to return on my own time to properly explore this charming town.
The scenic drive from Cape Town takes about 45-minutes. Before I know it, I’m in the mountains walking down delightful streets filled with cafes, coffee shops, and stores hocking knick-knacks.
I wish I’d stopped into this place below to try Belgian drinking chocolate. Food regrets are the worst… and perhaps the reason I generally say YES to treats on the road.
I check into my hostel (which thankfully includes parking since I have a rental car with me) and scope out a place for lunch. I end up ordering a burger and peanut butter protein shake… YUM.
I spend most of the afternoon just walking around, soaking up the relaxed energy of Stellenbosch. Wine may drive tourism here but the area is charming on its own accord — here are images from my walk, none of which have to do with grapes or alcohol, but instead gardens and architecture.
The main streets in town are my favorite. The further you get from this core area you’ll encounter the Stellenbosch homeless population, some of whom are more aggressive in asking for handouts than others. My hostel is close by so luckily I don’t have to walk far and can primarily enjoy this part of town without being harassed. I very much support homeless causes and don’t want to make light of this issue, but as a solo female traveler safety has to be my first concern. So I plan my route accordingly to avoid any potential incidents.
Look at all that variety of meat! Crocodile steak, anyone?
This might be my favorite part of the day — I order a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe and dive further into a book I’m very much enjoying, Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Signature of All Things.
After perusing a few menus, I get dinner at a place called Basic Bistro. I arrive just as it starts raining outside and soon all of their tables are full.
It’s so cozy in here as the rain pounds down. I sip on my butternut squash soup and keep reading my book — all is good.
When it’s all said and done, I only spend about six hours wandering around Stellenbosch (I have to leave first thing in the morning to make the most of my day exploring Cape Point). But I’m so glad I added this to my itinerary after getting a tiny taste of Stellenbosch on our wine tour. There’s a lot of beauty — and delicious food / wine — to be appreciated here.
