Eendracht Hotel Review: A Boutique Gem in the Heart of Stellenbosch
Intimate. Individual. Homey. There’s a lot to like about small hotels like Eenracht Hotel and Apartments in Stellenbosch. With only a handful of rooms to reserve, Eendracht is exclusive by virtue of its size, but the unique feeling of intimacy of this family-run hotel comes down to a built-in layer of local personality and authenticity that’s sometimes hard to pin down in larger, big-name hotels.
Located in the heart of the historic Stellenbosch town, Eendracht is proof that good things come in small packages. Housed in a beautifully restored historic home on Dorp Street, the thirteen-suite hotel is steeped in history.
The original building, a small two-roomed cottage built in 1710, dates back to the beginnings of Stellenbosch when Governor van der Stel first explored the Eerste River Valley. By the 1960s this humble little cottage had been changed, modified and significantly rebuilt. The Eendracht Hotel & Apartments as it is now was built and founded in 1996 and is, to this day, an owner-run establishment.
Even all these years later, the elegant building’s charm is relatively untouched, save, of course, for modernisations designed to accommodate 21st-century travelers. In addition to the thirteen guest rooms in the main building, Eendracht’s charismatic dwellings also include three self-catering apartments, an intimate conference/meeting facility (called the Huddle Room), and a restaurant — Senobia’s.
The guest rooms are beautifully decorated, and I love the mix of old-world charm and modern conveniences in the rooms. The beds are dressed with luxury, whisper-soft bedding while air conditioning, flat-screen smart TV, a bar fridge with self-serve mini bar, and a fully-equipped coffee station round off the creature comforts offered in each room.
You’ll also find ample plug points, USB charging ports, and plug adopters throughout the room as well as an in-room desk to ensure all your digital devices and laptop are fully charged throughout your stay.
Eendracht prides itself on being a heritage-style hotel with modern technology. All the TVs in the rooms are smart TVs with streaming platforms such as Netflix and Showmax offering hours of streaming entertainment alongside the traditional DStv bouquet.
What’s more, the hotel boasts super-fast fibre and fixed-line internet connections with free WiFi for guests. The dual internet lines ensure that guests enjoy uninterrupted, smooth streaming while also allowing for seamless video conferencing for those guests who are working from the hotel. Solar power keeps the lights on at Eendracht when Eskom comes knocking with its load-shedding schedule.
Every nook and cranny of Eendracht Hotel is informed by the hotel’s historical bones — especially in the downstairs restaurant and reception area, where the walls are adorned with historical photographs and the floors still boast their original wood. The original fireplace keeps the space even cosier; while a fire-side lounge pocket invites guests to sit and read the newspaper or indulge in a good book.
Eendracht’s intimate restaurant, Senobia’s is open for breakfast and lunch daily for guests and to the public. The restaurant offers traditional wholesome South African dishes and daily specials. Dinner is offered on request for in-house guests, but Eendracht is also within close walking distance of more than 60 excellent restaurants, so you will be spoilt for choice when you do decide to go on a foodie adventure.
The location of this fabulous small hotel is hard to beat. It’s ideal for couples who are after a romantic overnight getaway with a special someone or small groups wanting to travel together. You couldn’t find a more central location from which to explore Stellenbosch on foot and there are plenty of foodie, cultural, and art finds a stone’s throw away from the doors of the hotel.
The hotel also makes for a great base for those who travel for work often; if you’re sick of feeling like another number in a large hotel then you’ll love what Eendracht has to offer.
A member of Cape Country Routes (CCR), Eendracht is a shining example of small time charm — something that all the Cape Country Routes member properties seem to have in common.
Cape Country Routes is a group of owner-operated and managed accommodation and activity establishments encompassing privately owned hotels, lodges, and guest houses located on the scenic and historic routes in the Western and Eastern Cape. All carefully selected for their character, charm, and romance, they offer the best accommodation and activity options to suit every taste and budget.
For more information and to book your stay visit the Eendracht Hotel and Apartments website. You’ll get a special discount for booking direct when you use the code “DIRECTG”.
