Babel at Babylonstoren — Restaurant in Drakenstein Local Municipality

Overall disappointing experience at the Babylonstoren Estate.

We recently visited Babylonstoren to celebrate my best friend’s wedding as part of her bachelorette. We had booked lunch at Babel Restaurant followed by spa treatments at the Garden Spa for a group of four. Given the reputation of Babylonstoren and the significant amount of money spent, we expected a seamless and thoughtful experience. A few of us have visited before and have had good experiences, and we all also regularly shop the online store and love Babylonstoren products. Unfortunately, what should have been a beautiful and memorable day was marked by frustration and disappointment.

From the start, we made it clear to the restaurant staff that we had spa bookings at 3 PM and would need to leave on time. It was pouring with rain, and we requested some form of transport to the spa to avoid walking through the mud in our bachelorette attire. No clear assistance or plan was provided.

Despite repeated reminders to our waiter from around 14:20 that we needed to wrap up in time, dessert took exceptionally long to arrive. It was finally served around 14:56—far too late—and we had to rush through it. At the same time, the flowers and gift meant for the bride were brought out, but in the midst of the chaos and time pressure, the moment lost its meaning. To top it off, the card read “Happy Birthday” instead of acknowledging the bachelorette, which was careless and frustrating.

We were told that transport had arrived (twice), only to discover at the front of the restaurant that no vehicle was waiting nor would one arrive anytime soon (because all vehicles were occupied with guests and bags at the hotel). With no other option and time already cutting into our spa bookings, we walked through the rain and mud to the spa—still dressed up, still without even umbrellas being offered. By the evening, our friend (the bride) had developed a terrible cold (with her wedding taking place in less than a week).

While at lunch, we had called the spa to inform them of our delay, but were told nothing could be done as there were clients booked after us. Once we arrived (around 15:20), we asked if we could shorten our treatments to 30 minutes and pay accordingly or receive a voucher for the remaining time. The spa staff were understanding and tried to accommodate us. While we didn’t get a full 50% refund, we did receive a partial voucher, which we appreciated. Our therapists were also kind and did their best to uplift our spirits.

Unfortunately, the disappointment didn’t end there. After our treatments, we found the bathrooms at the spa to be quite untidy and soaked, the bins were full (with wads of hair visible)—unexpected and unacceptable at a luxury establishment where basic cleanliness should be a given.

Overall, it was extremely disheartening that the different parts of the estate seemed to operate in silos, with no coordination or effort to deliver a cohesive guest experience. For a premium venue known for excellence, the customer service was surprisingly poor. What should have been a joyful and relaxing part of our celebration ended up being a source of stress and irritation.

We sincerely hope Babylonstoren will take this feedback seriously and work towards improving their coordination, communication, and attention to detail—especially when guests are there to celebrate...

Today I had an unfortunate experience at a restaurant that left me quite disappointed. After hearing positive reviews about the place, I decided to give it a try. However, my experience was far from satisfactory due to several reasons.

Firstly, the lack of responsiveness from the restaurant's staff was concerning. I made several attempts to contact them by phone before my visit, hoping to inquire about their availability and make a reservation. Unfortunately, despite numerous calls, no one answered the phone, which left me feeling frustrated and unsure about the situation.

Undeterred, I decided to take a chance and visit the restaurant in person. To my surprise, I had to endure a 35-minute drive on a rainy day only to be informed upon arrival that the establishment operates solely on a reservation basis. While I understand the importance of reservations for managing customer flow, it would have been helpful if this information was communicated clearly on their website or through a voicemail message when I called earlier.

What added to my disappointment was the fact that there were vacant tables available for the next 1.5 hours and the restaurant was almost empty. Despite this, the staff refused to serve us, stating that they were already booked for the evening. It was disheartening to see that they were unwilling to accommodate us, especially when we were prepared to dine within the time frame before the next reservation arrived.

This refusal to accommodate walk-in guests, coupled with the lack of responsiveness and communication, left a sour taste in my mouth. As a customer, I value transparency and good service, both of which were lacking in this experience.

It is crucial for restaurants to ensure they have efficient communication channels in place, such as a responsive phone system or an online reservation system, to avoid frustrating situations like the one I encountered. Additionally, a more flexible approach to walk-in customers, especially when there are available tables, would greatly improve customer satisfaction and foster a positive dining experience.

Regrettably, based on my encounter, I cannot recommend this restaurant. It is my hope that they take these shortcomings into account and make the necessary improvements to provide a better experience for their...

I'm visiting from Pretoria on holiday, but I’ve been to this restaurant several times for various reasons. I remember sitting here with the owner of the winery on my first visit—the food was so exceptional that I later brought my family and friends. Without a doubt, their cuisine is top-notch, and the restaurant’s atmosphere and setting are excellent.

Last week, I spontaneously decided to bring my family again. I noticed the winery’s entrance fee had increased to R150 per person. Without a reservation, I asked the winery’s front desk if we could dine at the restaurant, but they said no. After touring, I tried my luck by going directly to the restaurant (as you can imagine, I was really looking forward to dining there again). We were pleased they could seat us outdoors (we noticed other walk-in guests seated outside too).

Overall, we were satisfied with the food—the lamb shoulder was as delicious as ever. While waiting for dessert, the weather suddenly changed (you know Cape Town winters): it grew windy and cold. My wife and mother decided to walk around the orchard to warm up, while my 8-year-old daughter and I waited for her much-anticipated chocolate dessert.

However, at this point, the staff moved a nearby table of white guests indoors without asking us. I approached a staff member to ask if we could also be moved inside due to the cold. She told me there was no space inside, explaining that many outdoor diners had moved indoors because of the weather. Ironically, everyone else outdoors had been moved inside, yet no one had approached us.

Even more unbelievable was that I could clearly see an empty table through the restaurant window. The staff explained again that the table was only for two, while we were four, so it couldn’t be arranged. So, was I just supposed to enjoy my dessert in the rain?

True service, I believe, means proactively considering guests’ potential needs. Clearly, my expectations of this restaurant were higher than reality. Deeply...