Checking into Eendratch Hotel is like stepping into a by-gone era. The hall-way is decorated with interesting antique pieces, an old-school umbrella stand in the hallway, and just one person behind a check-in desk and of course there is a fire-place to make you feel right at home.

A stay at Eendratch hotel will force you to behave like one of the locals quickly as it is within walking distance of top restaurants, museums, markets and pharmacies for emergencies while on holiday; which is important to know as I was travelling with my 6 year old daughter. I checked into room four on ground floor with a swimming pool view and is also fully equipped to accommodate wheelchair bound guests.

The hotel itself has a rich history and because it’s small it has kept its old-school charm and guests will find something new they haven’t noticed previously each time they visit. Breakfast and lunch is served at the Senobia, the hotel’s restaurant but for other meal options you will have lots of options to choose from within walking distance.

With just 12 rooms in the hotel, you are guaranteed privacy and it is perfect for families travelling together or for special occasions. If you are keen to make your own meals while on holiday there are self-catering apartments available but I was very content with letting someone else do the cooking for the weekend.

Senobia is ideal for indoor or outdoor dining and has a Huddle Room with a nice long table for families to huddle together and enjoy a meal away from other guests. Stellenbosch of course isn’t all about leisure but with so many award winning farms in the area you can be sure that the town is open for business. The Huddle Room can also be used as a conference venue with half-day and full-day packages offered.

My breakfast was delicious so I made a note to come back and dine at Senobia for lunch. I learnt a long-time ago that if there is a special-of-the-day, it’s always best to try that dish.

So I chose the creamy chicken curry and finished it off with a decedent brownie with vanilla ice cream that was still warm from the oven.  I was so content after lunch that I was tempted to grab a book and read by the swimming pool, but with not one but three markets close by I had go and checkout the Blaauklippen Family market situated at one of the oldest wine farms in Stellenbosch. It is also home to Hamm & Uys Eatery restaurant.

If you are travelling with kids this market is for you. They do not only have food, jewellery, clothing stores by local talent but they also have a fun park for the kids with a  state-of-the-art kiddies play area with a cycling track and a massive jungle gym. For R75 per child your kids get to have fun and they can bring their own bikes.

You can easily spend a day at the market, grab lunch at the food stalls or go for a sit down lunch and enjoy an antique show. And of course there are lots of photo opportunities, as the farm has so many picturesque spots. All this yet you can be back at the hotel within 10 minutes for a quick nap before dinner. Whether you are travelling with kids or not, the location has easy access to the best of what Stellenbosch has to offer.

Eendracht Hotel is a member of Cape Country Routes, a collection of privately owned hotels and activities around South Africa. For the environmentally conscious visitors they would be happy to know that the Eendracht has its own Electronic vehicle charging station. The Cape Country Routes is currently running winter specials here to book your stay.