Travel writer Julia Freemantle discovers why Riebeek Kasteel should be on your radar – particularly Kokos Huis, a olive-country oaisis.
Located on a 200-year-old farm in Riebeek Kasteel, Kokos Huis was created by Prisca Llagostera whose hospitality background (she founded l’Ovella Negra – a Design Hotels lodge in the Pyrenees mountains) helped inform her first foray into the winelands.
Personalised and cosy – this was the feeling Prisca wanted to create, that of being ‘hugged’ (by the warmth of the hosts and the sensory comfort in the space) – the house celebrates simple pleasures, done well. Peaceful low-tech bedrooms with great linen, bathrooms with beautiful amenities, delicious breakfast highlighting local produce.
This ethos extended to the design – and she exercised the same restraint with the interiors. Instead of overfilling the spaces, she’s focused on good materials, simple beautiful pieces and warm earth tones, allowing the house’s natural features and soul to shine.
There are six bedrooms in the main house (one a family suite), and downstairs a central fireplace divides the laid-back lounge from the dining room, while a cosy ‘cognac’ room offers a private spot for a drink. Three (self-catering and pet-friendly) studios outside offer seclusion to those who prefer their independence. Likewise, you can choose if you want to venture into the surrounding countryside for wine and olive tasting or relax in one of the many spaces created here – under the covered island- inspired cabana, around the firepit or in the heated pool. Top tip – book the whole house for a special getaway.
This article was originally published in the July 2023 issue of House & Garden as part of travel writer Julia Freemantle’s top winter destinations. To read the full story, as well as many other great features, get your hands on a digital copy today, by clicking here.
