This world-class venue in the Breede River Valley at the foot of the Waaihoek Mountain is the perfect hideaway.
Meaning “small bushes” in Dutch, Bosjes opened in mid-March this year and has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most beautiful venues in the Western Cape.
Located at the foot of the Slanghoek and Waaihoek mountains, the Bosjes farm has been in the Botha and Steyn family since 1831. It’s now open to the public for day and overnight visitors and offers stunning facilities for weddings and other celebrations. For those who want to spend the night, the farm boasts a barn-turned-guesthouse which features five luxury suites and a gorgeous pool in the centre. The house has been decorated in muted shades of sand, and accents of chartreuse and copper by interior designer Liam Mooney.
The Bosjes Kombuis restaurant
Though each aspect of the farm is a work of art in its own, it’s the avant-garde chapel that draws your eye. Designed by South African-born Coetzee Steyn of Steyn Studios, the chapel is inspired by the bible verse Psalms 36:7 “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” The white, winged roof surrounded by the splendour of the chapel gardens makes Bosjes a stunning wedding venue.
The Bosjes chapel
For those looking for a bite to eat, the Bosjes Kombuis will offer lunch from Wednesdays to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. Consultant chef Pete Goffe-Wood, who designed the menu, adds: “People can expect to see hearty rustic fare on the menu. Keeping true to the Kombuis name, we will make as much of the menu in-house – bread, pasta, ice cream, pickles, etc. Over time we will source as much of our ingredients from the surrounding valley as is humanly possible. We will present a small, ever-changing menu that will reflect an artisanal slant.” Day-to-day operations of the kitchen will be in the capable hands of executive chef Kim Cox.
A scrumptious Bosjes Kombuis dish
The restaurant boasts high ceilings, glass walls and a wooden terrace, but the most remarkable feature has to be the blue-and-white mural (the Tree of Life) on the outside wall of the kitchen. “Artists Lucie de Moyencourt and Michael Chandler were briefed to design something interactive and also something that represents the heritage of the farm. They were given a list of 100 species of fauna and flora endemic to the farm and each one is hidden in the mural,” says Carlen Vorster, marketing and events manager at Bosjes.
Now that the farm is up and running, what’s next?
"We’re investing in the local school down the road, not only rebuilding and furnishing it, but also equipping them with technology to be self-sufficient," says Carlen.
For more information contact:
- Bosjes | 023 004 0496 | bosjes.co.za
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
