If you enjoy travelling, you’ll have that list.  That list that contains all of the places you’d like to stay in your country before you die, a local bucket list of sorts.  Well, I’ve had luxe places like The Twelve Apostles, the Oyster Box and pretty much ANYWHERE on safari or in the bush (especially places like Jaci’s Safari Lodge, Samara Game Reserve or Marataba Safari Lodge) on my list for some time.

On our recent trip to the Cape, we had the absolute pleasure of spending a night at The Twelve Apostles.  It was quite literally a dream come true for me, and when we arrived and checked in, I couldn’t quite believe it.  I just so wish that the weather had played it’s part, but it was rainy, misty and very chilly during the time we were there.  Despite the poor weather, we took many photos of the gorgeous hotel, so be prepared for a photo-heavy post!

We were booked into a Luxury Room for the night, and after signing the usual check-in forms and accepting a glass of bubbly, we were taken on a brief tour of the property by one of the lovely ladies in reception.

I loved the ornate bed and beautiful bedding, and the room was gorgeous, but is it crazy that I found the pillow and soap menus even more exciting?  After booking your stay you complete a guest preference form, and can select a number of different pillows, but if you neglected to choose, or you change your mind, in your room you have a menu with 9 different pillows to choose from.  NINE!

I am one of those pesky travellers that very often travels with their own pillow.  I have huge issues with my neck, and just one night of sleeping on the wrong pillow can throw my neck out for weeks.  However, it’s pretty rude to take your own pillow to a hotel, and I wasn’t going to be THAT person on the plan from Durban, with my own memory foam pillow in it’s satin pillow case.  I had selected the Neck Support Pillow on our guest preference form, and it was waiting for me when we walked into our room for the night.  With this, I had the best night’s sleep of our entire week in the Cape.  They even have an Anti-Snore Pillow – something I need to invest in, and possibly gift to Hubby for Christmas this year.

There is also a soap menu, so if you’re not a fan of the scent of the soap that comes in your bathroom, you can order one of 9 different fragranced glycerine and cream soaps for your stay.  Some of these include Cape Seaweed, Cape Lavender and Moisturising Coconut Cream Bar.

Speaking of toiletries, I’m a big fan of hotel toiletries, but quite often they’re lacking in quality.  The B¦Africa toiletries on offer at the Twelve Apostles are absolutely fantastic, and I even used and enjoyed the shampoo and conditioner.

With the current water issues on the Cape, you’ll find that the bath tubs at the hotel have been removed from rooms.  The Twelve Apostles are big on water conservation, and have taken every possible measure to ensure that while you have a wonderful stay, there is no water wasted.  The hotel has actually reduced their water consumption by 42%, by reducing tap and cistern water flow, and encouraging guests to have shorter showers.  There is even a little hour-glass in the shower to help you watch the length of your shower.

We’d very kindly had a bottle of Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc placed on ice in our room for us, however we were pretty wine-d out, having been wine tasting and generally drinking copious amounts of wine in general on our trip up until our stay.  Such a pity we didn’t indulge in it though – their wines are absolutely delicious!

Once we’d settled in and dropped off our luggage, we decided to take a stroll around the property and see what was on offer.  There is so much to see and do at The Twelve Apostles.  There are two restaurants – the Café Grill with more relaxed dining, and the Azure Restaurant, their fine dining restaurant, and where we’d be eating dinner that evening, and where breakfast is served each day.  There is also the Leopard Bar, the restaurant bar and where you can enjoy the famous afternoon Tea By The Sea with all the trimmings.

We weren’t in the mood to grab a cocktail, as it was so chilly, and instead opted for a delicious hot cup of tea.  The Leopard Bar offers a number of loose-leaf and luxury teas.  I went for my favourite, the Indian Masala Chai, while Hubs chose the Sri Lankan Ceylon.  Both were superb, and came with a little dish of dried mango and nuts.

The Leopard Bar also offers a range of other wonderful experiences, such as a Gin & Canapé experience, the Gin Making experience and the Craft Beer & Canapé experience.  You can read more about the details of these and prices HERE.

After our hot cuppa, we headed back to our room, stopping a couple of times along the way.  The hotel has two swimming pools, but while the main pool has a gorgeous sea view, I think the rock pool was my favourite.  We caught it when the mist had rolled completely in over the mountains, and while we didn’t get the spectacular mountain view, it looked magical nonetheless.

The Twelve Apostles also boasts it’s own private cinema, and often have Dinner & A Movie packages where you can really enjoy the most luxurious of date nights.  Something that Hubs and I would love to do if we lived in the area.  I would also have loved to visit the Spa – I love nothing better than a good massage or facial, and I just wish we’d had more time in the area, as we could easily have booked a couple’s treatment the following morning.  However, we left for Hermanus straight after breakfast, as we were meeting family there.

That evening we headed to the Azure Restaurant for a fabulous fine dining experience.  We were lucky enough to be enjoying Chef Christo’s signature menu, a 5-course delight that showcases the best seasonal fare available.

We were attended by the wonderful Samantha, who was an absolute star, and ensured that we wanted for nothing.  We enjoyed a delicious plate of breads and anchovy pate, followed by an amuse bouche of Smoked Salmon Tartar, and then the feast began.

Each course was incredibly delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of octopus.  The highlights for me though, were the Barbequed Pork Belly (melt in your mouth, and that barbequed carrot puree was exceptional) and the Chocolate & Karoo Honey dessert (I would eat an entire bowl full of the honey ice cream alone, but the entire dessert was sublime).

We honestly had the best sleep of our entire trip that night, and woke to yet again another gloomy day, this time with extra drizzle.  Can’t deny the Cape the water they so badly need though, so we threw on some warm clothes and headed back to the Azure Restaurant for the infamous buffet breakfast.

Their continental breakfast buffet is out of this world.  On offer you have fresh fruits, yoghurts, cereals (including Bircher muesli), meats, cheeses and pastries galore, along with dried fruits, nuts, fresh juices and the most luxurious breakfast items – sparkling wine and oysters.  There is also a hot buffet, with the best bulk-made scrambled eggs I’ve ever eaten, sausage, potatos, mushrooms, tomatos and bacon, with toast to compliment your choices.

In addition to this, you can also choose from a number of plated hot breakfasts, and for this I was excited.  I opted for pancakes with maple syrup, and Hubs chose his favourite breakfast of all – Eggs Benedict.  My pancakes were amazing, and while Hubby’s Eggs Benedict didn’t have the best, zestiest hollandaise we’ve tried, it was still delicious.

With our breakfasts (and that glass of bubbly) warming our tummies, we checked out and hit the road for Hermanus.

Overall, our stay at The Twelve Apostles was absolutely magical.  It was luxurious to the max, and we would go back in a heartbeat!  The service, the surroundings and the food are all the best of the best, and you leave feeling well fed, rested and spoiled.

If you’re based in the Cape (or heading there for a holiday), don’t forget to check out the upcoming events for the remainder of 2018 HERE.

In November, they will be launching a brand new Sushi Bar, they are offering some spectacular Picnic Packages for the summer, and they are the ultimate venue to host those year-end celebrations or festive parties!  You can contact the hotel on banqueting@12apostles.co.za or 021 437 9029 to enquire and make bookings!

**DISCLAIMER – while we were hosted by The Twelve Apostles and Azure Restaurant, all opinions are honest and my own.**