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The Royal Hotel
33 Main St, Riebeek Kasteel 7307 South Africa
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About
4.5
#1 of 1 hotels in Riebeek KasteelLocation
Cleanliness
Service
Value
"The grand old lady finally has her new dress on" is what the locals said when The Royal was refurbished and upgraded to the highest standards in 2005/2006. After serving more than seven generations, the oldest hotel of the Western Cape occupies a very special place in the hearts of both local and international visitors.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Fishing
Meeting rooms
Massage
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast in the room
Concierge
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Sun terrace
24-hour front desk
Clothes dryer
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Extra long beds
Bath / shower
Room service
Safe
Telephone
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
33 Main St, Riebeek Kasteel 7307 South Africa
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Grade: 74 out of 100
74
Cape Town Intl Airport
43.6 mi•
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Car Hire
15 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
388Reviews1Q+A75Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
It is eight years since we were last at The Royal and our stay this time was four nights in the same garden room as we were last in!
Little has changed although they have now built some modern suites in the garden which we did not get the chance to inspect.
Maybe it is a little jaded now with "faded grandeur" but it is still a charming colonial style hotel with friendly staff. The rooms could do with a freshen up probably in lighter colours which would make them brighter.
The continued "load shedding" (power cuts to you and me) meant the air conditioning was off for long periods of time which was not ideal but as the hotel does not have a back up generator the staff cannot do anything about it. This did cause some problems at breakfast time as the breakfast was from a menu and it was often not possible to make coffee. perhaps a cold buffet would have been better.
We dined one evening in the restaurant when the power was fortunately on and the food was simple but nice.
Plenty of parking is available and the hotel is right opposite the centre of the very small and charming village.
Little has changed although they have now built some modern suites in the garden which we did not get the chance to inspect.
Maybe it is a little jaded now with "faded grandeur" but it is still a charming colonial style hotel with friendly staff. The rooms could do with a freshen up probably in lighter colours which would make them brighter.
The continued "load shedding" (power cuts to you and me) meant the air conditioning was off for long periods of time which was not ideal but as the hotel does not have a back up generator the staff cannot do anything about it. This did cause some problems at breakfast time as the breakfast was from a menu and it was often not possible to make coffee. perhaps a cold buffet would have been better.
We dined one evening in the restaurant when the power was fortunately on and the food was simple but nice.
Plenty of parking is available and the hotel is right opposite the centre of the very small and charming village.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Garden rooms have a nice outlook with outside verandas
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You can not be more grateful to find your favorite hotel in Riebeek Kasteel in such a brilliant condition AC. I was welcomed with a smile and stayed in one of the King suites, loved the views over the valley and mountain range. The bar and the famous gin cocktails on the stoep were a blast, the new interior is so appealing and then dinner: I had oysters and calamari as a starter, the best cesar salad the royal way and cubes of meat and crispy fries afterwards. It was a teat, as was the breakfast. I think this is the only place where you actually get a three course breakfast menu. I was excited to be back and my expectations were met for a 100%. Go and see for yourself.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is a beautiful, colonial style building and the location in the centre of town is great.
The terrace area at the front of the hotel is a lovely spot for food and drinks, and was the highlight of the stay for us. We ate at the restaurant twice for dinner, and it was great both times. Prices are reasonable for both food and drink. The gin selection is huge, but there's no menu so you have to ask about each gin individually (which is a pain for both the customer and staff).
Our room was in the main building and was clean and comfortable enough, but the four poster bed in our room was very hard and made for a pretty uncomfortable nights sleep. Whilst I liked the traditional decor of the room, it was very dark. The shutter doors could be opened for some light, but as the view was onto a wall, it still felt dark. I would stay in a larger room with pond views if I came back.
The a la carte breakfast was tasty, and there were plenty of options (the eggs benedict were delicious).
The pool deck area was small but perfectly adequate for a dip. Towels are provided, and there are a few comfy sun loungers.
The electricity supply was intermittent and cut out frequently (albeit only for a few minutes at a time, but it was inconvenient nonetheless). There was no loadshedding in the area, so I assume the issue is hotel specific. This made the wifi slightly unreliable.
The terrace area at the front of the hotel is a lovely spot for food and drinks, and was the highlight of the stay for us. We ate at the restaurant twice for dinner, and it was great both times. Prices are reasonable for both food and drink. The gin selection is huge, but there's no menu so you have to ask about each gin individually (which is a pain for both the customer and staff).
Our room was in the main building and was clean and comfortable enough, but the four poster bed in our room was very hard and made for a pretty uncomfortable nights sleep. Whilst I liked the traditional decor of the room, it was very dark. The shutter doors could be opened for some light, but as the view was onto a wall, it still felt dark. I would stay in a larger room with pond views if I came back.
The a la carte breakfast was tasty, and there were plenty of options (the eggs benedict were delicious).
The pool deck area was small but perfectly adequate for a dip. Towels are provided, and there are a few comfy sun loungers.
The electricity supply was intermittent and cut out frequently (albeit only for a few minutes at a time, but it was inconvenient nonetheless). There was no loadshedding in the area, so I assume the issue is hotel specific. This made the wifi slightly unreliable.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I spent one disappointing night at Royal Hotel. We were accommodated in a garden room that was worth a 3 star grading, very small room with a dismal view, no mirror in bedroom, had to ask for hairdryer which was supposed to be in room. No coffee in tea/coffee provided. The ensuite bathroom was really nice with both a bath and shower and Charlotte Rhys soaps etc. Breakfast was satisfactory but we won't stay there again rather go to one of the charming B&B's
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
The check in process was nice and smooth, the staff are friendly and helpful. The rooms are spacious with a beautiful bathroom, unfortunately there was no hot water in the shower. Room service was fast but the wifi was slow. The bar and restaurant open till late which worked in our favour. The breakfast is good only ala carte no buffet. The swimming pool is inviting with great views and the fire place in the restaurant comes in handy on cold nights. All in all, our stay was fantastic, a definite must do again.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed in one of the very spacious garden suites. Extremely comfortable. Breakfasts were excellent, good choice. Dinners on the stoep are first class. Good service. Although there are umbrellas by the pool, they offer no shade and as the pool is elevated it us a steep climb up to it. Loungers in the garden, at ground level, so that you could sit in the shade of a tree would be an absolute boon. Rather expensive.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel has a wonderful colonial feel. We stayed in a king suite. These are newish.
The suites have their own patio plus sitting room and a fire.
The good points include a wonderful veranda where breakfast was served. The breakfasts are wonderful, fresh and delicious. The produce is of a good quality.
The hotel bar is great with huge choice of gin and other spirits. Great for a night cap.
We did not get to use the pool. But the beds look comfortable and there were umbrellas for shade.
The only constructive criticism I would offer - the carpets in the King Suite we stayed in - No1 - do need a clean and refresh.
Would stay again.
The suites have their own patio plus sitting room and a fire.
The good points include a wonderful veranda where breakfast was served. The breakfasts are wonderful, fresh and delicious. The produce is of a good quality.
The hotel bar is great with huge choice of gin and other spirits. Great for a night cap.
We did not get to use the pool. But the beds look comfortable and there were umbrellas for shade.
The only constructive criticism I would offer - the carpets in the King Suite we stayed in - No1 - do need a clean and refresh.
Would stay again.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were told that we can't leave Riebeek Kasteel without a gin & tonic on the stoep. What a nice idea. We popped in after our visit to the Riebeek Kasteel Garden Centre (now isn't that a lovely place). The stoep reminded me of my visits to the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Such blissful memories. The whole place has such a similar look - of old colonial days, gleaming polished floors, brass handles, palm trees and beautiful old cane furniture. It was a very nice gin & tonic indeed.
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Date of stay: June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tarryn was super friendly, whether for g&t's in the afternoon or dinner. All food, great value. The bar platter was really nice, as well as the squid starter. We didn't stay here as we thought the rooms were overpriced for such a small village, but the bar, stoep and restaurant was well worth the visit.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cannot believe that this hotel is a 5 star hotel. Their service is shocking. No drinks menu for the bar - you are expected to stand at the bar and look at hundreds of gin bottles and choose one. Staff are friendly bit useless. On the Patio I had to look for a waiter to serve us and then never saw them again once drink was delivered never saw any staff again. We had to get up and go and find staff to pay our bill. Seriously 5 star rating needs to include quality of service.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Service
Room Tip:Â Improve Service according to 5 star rating
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Unfortunately the special no longer exists, just one of the biggest selections of gin I have seen.
"Come early to get a seat on the stoop, especially at the weekends, as the hotel is now also serving food on the stoop."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
£97 - £101 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal hotel riebeek kasteel
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeRiebeek Kasteel
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingTHE ROYAL HOTEL - Updated 2024 (Riebeek Kasteel, South Africa)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Royal Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Royal Hotel?
Nearby attractions include The Wine Kollective (0.03 miles), Famous Moi Art Mini Boutique Gallery (0.1 miles), and Aitsa (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Royal Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at The Royal Hotel?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Royal Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Royal Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Royal Restaurant, Beans About Coffee, and La Parrilla.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Royal Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is The Royal Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.10 miles away from the centre of Riebeek Kasteel.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Royal Hotel?
Yes, laundry service and a clothes dryer are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Royal Hotel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Afrikaans.
Does The Royal Hotel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.