DescriptionAre you looking for Drakensberg or Midlands Meander accommodation?in a tranquil rural setting where you can relax and regenerate?where you can enjoy the spaciousness of 100 year old architecture?and relish healthy country cooking using only farm-grown ingredients?with sundowners or candlelit diners in front of blazing log fires? Accommodation All guest accommodation is accessed directly from the garden via private entrances. We can only accommodate 12 people so every guest will enjoy our warmest, personal attention. "Sunbird"Our first room features a queen-size bed, a large en-suite bathroom (with shower), a private courtyard and has excellent indoor / outdoor flow. A separate structure, situated at the eastern extremity of the house, this room is one of our most private and enjoys the warmth and light of the early morning sun. "Bulbul"Our second room is attached to the west side of the house and is a cosy, afternoon suntrap. It too has a queen-size bed and an en-suite bathroom. Access and outlook are directly into the garden. "Masked Weaver"Our third room is most frequently used as a “family suite”. One of two rooms located in a completely separate wing overlooking the west garden, it is our most spacious room and has a separate antechamber containing two bunk beds. The bed is queen-size and there is an en-suite bathroom complete with shower."Paradise Flycatcher"Our fourth room caters for those who prefer single beds. It is the room furthest from the main house on the western edge of the complex. It has a bathroom and a separate toilet. It too overlooks the western garden. "Crested Eagle"It is extremely spacious and being integral to the house, has that “old world” feel with its 100 year-old Oregon pine floors and antique furniture. It has an expansive sitting area and opens onto the eastern garden, catching the early morning sun. It too has a large en-suite bathroom complete with shower. We've made our first amateur video. It's not great but I think it'll give you a good feel for what it's like here. (If you've got a slow connection it might "stop & start" a bit). Restaurant We’re justifiably proud of our breakfast – you won’t get better anywhere. Bold statement you say? Well, we know it’s true because our guests keep telling us, time and again. This is one Drakensberg restaurant on the Midlands Meander where you won't go hungry. Start with fresh fruit. Varied and lots. Freshly squeezed fruit juice. Homemade yogurt. Follow that with with bacon and hash browns, eggs to order, fried sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms along with lots of toast. And there is a large selection of marmalades, jams and preserves that are all sourced from home industries on the Meanderor made right here in our kitchen. We don't do instant coffe. You probably won’t need lunch. Here’s a sample dinner menu. Start with a cold vichyssoise – a thick, creamed potato and leek soup garnished with a dash of paprika and freshly chopped chives – served with warm, crusty homemade bread. Follow that with oxtail slowly braised in sherry until it falls off the bone, served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and veg of the day. Round off with a homemade cheesecake garnished with a seasonal berry sauce. How’s that for country cooking! We lived in France for three years. We didn't do any cooking courses there, but ate out a lot, I have always been a keen cook and was inspired by the simple French approach to food. Most of the famous French dishes, like Boeuff Bourguignon was actually "peasant food" made with the bits that "rich folk" didn't want. Now imagine what you can achieve when you use the best and freshest ingredients! This fits with my take on food, so fast food is not what we're about. Rather, everything is cooked slowly and carefully with the emphasis on taste and appearance. I love cooking and I cook with love. I derive a lot of inspiration from the "foodie" channel on DSTV - I love Delia for her "fussiness" and Jamie for the "real food" touch. And they've both got great web-sites!”. “My food philosophy is simple: the freshest, best quality ingredients (organic wherever possible) carefully prepared, with an eye on technique to preserve taste. Colour and texture too, are important. Presentation does count, but it’s last on my list…” Our restaurant has been created by linking what used to be two separate rooms using archways. This provided the required space but also created an “island” of back-to-back fireplaces and, in the Midlands Mist Belt and close to the Drakensberg, these fireplaces are frequently in use, even in summer! The restaurant looks out over rolling hills through a bay window on the one side and over the west garden, towards the Drakensberg, on the other. The 100 year-old Oregon pine floor has been restored and partially covered with an inset carpet for a softer and quieter feel. The interior décor has been carefully co-ordinated and the ambience is warm and rich. Or perhaps you'd like to see the kind of dishes you might find on
RatesR550 *Bed and Breakfast*Per Person Per Night Sharing* If you've liked what you've seen on this web-site and you'd like to enquire about availability:
DirectionsTake either one of the two Mooi River exits from the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban (either Mooi River South or Mooi River North). Follow Giant's Castle signs. You'll find us outside Mooi River on the Giant's Castle road (on the right-hand side). We're the last guest house on the tarred road to Giant's Castle. So access is not a problem. |
Halls Country House
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