CHARTFIELD GUESTHOUSE, KALK BAY

Sandra Caganoff
Jul 4
3 min read

When I lived in Johannesburg I was part of a regular coffee group, meeting every Friday to talk about kids, menopause, skin care, fashion, sex, sometimes politics, all the important stuff. Now we are scattered around the country, and world, but still in regular contact. When one of the coffee girls suggested a reunion in Cape Town, we were all IN.

Almost. The coffee girl who suggested it suddenly had a wedding to plan. Fair enough. And another coffee girl was doing a lengthy trip with her husband to the bush. Also fair enough.

Which left four.

Of the most BEAUTIFUL, STRONG MINDED, FABULOUS WOMEN IN THE WORLD.

Who could also be a bit picky.

Being the one who works in travel, I booked four deluxe rooms at Chartfield Guest House in Kalk Bay. I did this with some anxiety. Would the temperature control be right, the mattresses firm enough, linen 1000% cotton good enough? Did they really offer the best breakfast in Kalk Bay as they said on their website? And what about the service.

Never mind the weather, which we knew was going to be awful.

Well, I can tell you that Cape Town in winter can be rough going. But if you need to brave out a storm, or a coffee girls’ reunion, Chartfield Guesthouse is the perfect place to do it. The furnishings are beautiful, contemporary with a bit of a Afri-Scandi flair, there is a terrific and creative art collection, all local artists, and the ocean and harbour views divine. It is intimate and personal and exceptionally well priced. The position, a flight of steps down from vibrant Main road and two blocks from the harbour, excellent.

The service, I wasn’t really worried because South African service is always good, was delightful. The staff welcomed us warmly, and briefed us while we sat around the fireplace, all close and cosy on the circular Houtlander bench, oh my gosh magnificent, also a local design. This bench became our focal meeting point, hey love your jacket, jeez those are nice sunglasses, can I use your lipstick please, where is Sandi, why is she always late…

As a coffee group, we all appreciated the good quality coffee machine at the bar, and that the staff are well trained as Baristas too. And appreciated the Cosy Corner of Infinite Stories, a large container filled with books, and even more, the container filled with pipingly-hot hot water bottles!

Every touch feels carefully considered, conscious and imaginative.

Chartfield is a lovingly restored 120 year old home, personal and intimate, 16 rooms in total. And Kalk Bay is just 30 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, a fishing village with a stunning pier and lighthouse, colourful boats, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, tidal pools for swimming, beaches for suntanning, great shopping and music and ice-cream and dining, ideal for a few hours or a few days.

Chartfield Guesthouse may well offer the best breakfasts in Kalk Bay. Like the furnishings, the menu is creative and thoughtful. Produce is locally sourced and biodynamically farmed, which means with a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to agriculture. It is a step beyond organic farming, using lunar cycles for planting and harvesting, and conscious preparation for soil and plant health.

The menu is divine! Whipped feta with Za’atar, a creamy coconut dahl curry, Lebanese styled omelettes. Or eggs of any kind, fruit and pastries, cheese, chorizo, oats and pancakes and french toast and comfy chairs and fresh flowers and ocean views, also, more coffee, no problem, have another.

After breakfast you can pop your head into the kitchen to say thank you to the chefs.

THANKS CHEF!

On a good weather day, the garden is gorgeous and the pool inviting. On a bad weather day, the beds are comfy, the blankets divine and the televisions large. We spent an afternoon, four of us in one bed, watching the rugby and texting the missing two coffee girls, all talking at the same time. And then we put on our raincoats and walked and shopped and ate and drank champagne instead of coffee and reminisced and shopped some more and ate some more and came home to a roaring fire and books and bed and the very beautiful Chartfield Guesthouse.

Highly recommended for a reunion. Or a family holiday. A weekend away. A night on the town. A honeymoon. Or, just for breakfast!

Thandeka Africa. 079 192 4557 thandeka@icon.co.za

You can book with me.