The Old Rectory, Plettenberg Bay 

This chic beach hideaway in pretty Plettenberg Bay is housed in a restored rectory dating back to 1777.

Housed in a National Monument building, The Old Rectory is a modern boutique hotel close to some of Plettenberg’s gorgeous, golden beaches. The original Cape Dutch features have been delightfully revived with clean white walls and bold colours, while quirky features like wooden beams and exposed stone walls retain the building’s original character. From a back garden gate, you can walk to the golden sands of Hobie Beach in just two minutes – at night you can even hear the ocean waves from some of the suites. For the local restaurants and coffee shops of Plett, as Plettenberg Bay is affectionately known, it’s a short drive, and there’s a spacious car park on-site for those guests stopping on their road trip along the Garden Route. Opposite the hotel, there’s another piece of Plettenberg history to discover: The Timber Shed is a National Monument, built by the Dutch East India Company in 1786.

There’s a small pool with decking to lounge around and a small and perfectly formed spa for traditional massage therapies and beauty treatments. At the restaurant, the head chef is passionate about creating dishes of locally sourced and sustainable produce. Breakfast here is plentiful; choose from pastries, granola and fruit accompanied by a menu of cooked-to-order hot dishes. The bijou bar is a lovely space to spend an evening, where copper finishes and tapestry chairs pack plenty of character into the small room. The heritage building means the each of the Suites differs in layout. The décor is bright and calming – think elegant white-washed walls and modern furnishings. Garden Suites are accessed from a stone path and have their own private garden and semi-outdoor rain shower, which features a sliding door that opens up to a small courtyard. Closer to the pool, the Pool Suites have freestanding bathtubs and a terrace with retractable dividers that are great if you’re booking more than one suite for a stay with family or friends.