When I first received the invitation from Life & Leisure in Stellenbosch to come & stay, I immediately popped over to the website to see what it looks like & fell instantly in love with the décor.
Fast forward to our visit earlier this month & I fell even more in love with this gorgeous place. The staff & darling owner Margie – who I could see was my ‘type’ (friendly, funky hairstyle, bold lips, fun outfit & interesting spectacles) – made us feel right at home. Excitement was in the air – as you can see from these two faces…
With her special creative flair (she used to be a ceramicist, amongst other things), Margie loves to add small but special touches to her boutique hotel offering & created an inviting space that appeals to all senses. Lots of fresh flowers, good smells & relaxing music in the reception areas, quirky artwork & beautiful wallpapers. Life & Leisure even caters for those late afternoon munchies with a variety of snacks (anything from cupcakes, cheese cake, popcorn & crisps) for guests to enjoy with their afternoon cuppa or an honesty bar G&T. All you have to do is help yourself & relax by the pool or in the lounge.
We stayed in the family room which is technically the entire floor of one of the wings. We ended up only using one room as our little guy prefers to snooze right between us these days. We had everything & more: crisp linen, a brand new king sized bed, fluffy white robes, big tub bath, Wi-Fi, mini bar & ample cupboard space. Oliver specifically loved the thick grey rug (on which he lay or made ‘carpet angels’) & a specific scatter cushion shaped like a ball!
A delicious buffet breakfast is offered from 7am with freshly baked muffins & breads, preserves, pickles, nuts, seeds, cereals, cheeses, cold meats, stewed & fresh fruit, the most delicious granola & cooked breakfast made to your liking.
Our stay was delightful. I only missed one thing though. Being a water drinker, I would have loved some bottled water in the mini bar or even just a chilled carafe of tap water in the room.
Sadly our stay also coincided with rather noisy building next door & a bit on the property, which was a bit noisy for us but a sign of new & exciting developments for future visitors.
The service is true Western Cape style: friendly yet unobtrusive; always with personal anecdotes to share.
Life & Leisure offers accommodation options for all travellers looking for a stylish, yet relaxed modern vibe – weather for business, as a family or even for those looking for a self-catering apartment. I can honestly say that we would have preferred to soak up this gorgeous setting as a duo (& not a trio – eek, I said it), because a three year old has no desire to nap, take long bubble baths or explore the town. If he could stay in & play with his Lego all day, he was the happiest camper.
Located at 18 Van Riebeeck Street, Stellenbosch, means it is walking distance from many gorgeous shops, restaurants, the botanical gardens & much more.
Tel: +27 (0) 21 8866 955
Mobile: +27 (0) 61 489 3480
Email: reservations@lifeandleisure.co.za
The toughest decision that you will have to make during your stay at Life & Leisure will be whether to just stay in (like our little Oliver loved to do) or go out & experience all that Stellenbosch has to offer.
Thank you to Margie & the team for making us feel so very welcome.
Yolandi ♥
Images: Yolandi North © or supplied.
Our accommodation was complimentary, however this review contains my honest views (as if I paid with our own cash).