Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
River Manor Boutique Hotel is located in the very heart of historic Stellenbosch within easy walking distance of the very many restaurants, galleries, shops and attractions that this beautiful oak tree-lined town has to offer. The hotel is housed in two adjacent manor houses and set in a truly magnificent, landscaped garden which boasts many quiet corners and two large pools with loungers. The interior of the hotel is breath-taking, impressively combining contemporary comfort and convenience with a flair for heritage design so fitting to these historic buildings. There are eighteen double guest rooms; each one designed to maximise space and light. All rooms have an impressive range of facilities including king size bed, ensuite bathroom, a laptop safe, plasma TV, free Wi-fi, air conditioning, and designer bathroom amenities. Included in the services offered are a 24-hour concierge, breakfast served until 11am every day, an all-day dining menu, in-house laundry, a bar, and Spa Treatments, either in the comfort of your room, or at the Zest Spa treatment room. River Manor Boutique Hotel is part of The Living Journey Collection and beautifully compliments The Tree House Boutique Hotel in Cape Town, Zest Boutique Hotel in Cape Town, Chapter House Boutique Hotel in Franschhoek, and One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel in Hermanus.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Residential Neighbourhood
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
6-8 The Avenue, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
River Manor Boutique Hotel
4.7 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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River Manor Boutique Hotel comes highly recommended for its excellent value and prime location near Stellenbosch's city center. The hotel's atmosphere is frequently described as charming and cozy, with a homey lounge and well-kept grounds.
While most guests enjoy the spacious rooms and amenities, a few have noted issues with room assignments. The attentive staff receives accolades for their friendly service, and the hotel's cleanliness and inviting pools are additional highlights that contribute to an overall relaxing and enjoyable stay.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Good
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Relaxing
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The hotel is beautiful I’ve given it 5 stars as the issue with the size of our room is purely down to us.
Our fault for not reading room descriptions when booking we booked a studio room but should have read description thoroughly . Room was very compact with sliding door to very small shower room. Only one hook in the bathroom none in the bedroom. Little room to store our suitcases. Toiletries smell divine . Not keen on the water saving bucket in the shower . Switch for bathroom light was by the room entrance which is not ideal if you need to go in the night but when I spoke to reception we were given a chargeable light to use at night.
Food excellent and staff were outstanding .
Room facilities were good including lovely gowns , nice quality towels turn down service a nice touch
Breakfast very good and ambiance of the hotel lovely.
Pool area lovely and relaxing
Would we return yes but would make sure we booked a much better room. Having said that the rate we paid for the studio room was a very fair price especially as it included breakfast.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Wendy Thank you for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Stellenbosch, and for taking the time to post such a wonderful review. Unlike modern hotels, River Manor is made of two buildings which are National Heritage Sites and Listed buildings. As a result, the rooms come in all different shapes and sizes, which definitely adds to the interest, history and charm of the hotel, but it also means that the ease of 'one size fits all' descriptions is not available to us. I am delighted that you appreciated the other services and the great standards throughout the hotel. Please stay in touch and contact us directly when you are making your next booking. We would love to be able to advise you specifically on your requirements either at River Manor Boutique Hotel, or another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Hermanus and Robertson. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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A wonderful little personal hotel very close to central Stellenbosch. We got a wonderfully large and nice room, very cosily furnished in a farmhouse with only two rooms. No. 6 was our room and it was right by the one pool. Wonderfully! Around the pool were the sunbeds with thick lovely cushions and a towel waiting. Breakfast was a small buffet of fruit salad, some cold cuts, yogurt etc So you had to order the hot breakfast from a menu of breakfast dishes. Nice breakfast room and also some tables out in the yard if you wanted to sit there. Nice treatment by all the staff, but above all I liked the atmosphere itself in a less personal hotel with lots of charm. Will be more than happy to come back here! .
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Vårt rum va så perfekt, så jag rekommenderar det utan att egentligen veta skillnaden. Nr 6 eller...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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A fan of staying at the Tree House (Cape Town) 6 yrs ago prompted us to book with the Living Journey for the majority of our trip this time. The RM Boutique Hotel was second on our destination list. It’s situated so well for all in Stellenbosch.The team are fabulous always smiling (that’s genuine too) and always happy to help whatever we requested. The layout and style of this hotel is so laid back easy and relaxing. The room was comfortable, spacious and quiet, providing a fabulous sleep quality. The hotel provides a really good breakfast with fresh quality fruit, cereals yoghurts pastries and a list of cooked plates which the Full English is delicious. The pools here provide a peaceful haven to relax around and loungers ooze comfort. If only the weather could heat the water more quickly! Safe parking and easy access. Thanks to all the team and hello and gold stars to Sakhi and Phelo who were tops. On to the next LJ destination but this is a great memory to cherish. STAY HERE it does what it claims. Great value. Brilliant, thanks.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Nov 20, 2024
Good afternoon Many thanks for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Stellenbosch and for taking the time to write such a stunning review. We always say that the greatest endorsement of all if when guest come back repeatedly and move from hotel to hotel, so we are very appreciative of your commitment to the collection on this trip. Thanks for emphasising so many of the points that were highlights for you. The garden really is a special oasis, and whn sitting there it is impossible to imagine that you are in the middle of town! I have shared your kind words with the entire team, and I know that Sakhi and Phelo will be delighted at being singled out for special mention. We really appreciation your endorsement and strong recommendation. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to assist in planning an itinerary to incorporate the collection. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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We did a last minute booking on booking.com we specifically looked for hotels that gave us the option for a bath, this hotel came up with a full bathroom, we made the booking and payment only to find when we arrived that the superior room we booked only had a shower. The staff member that assisted us was arrogant and not helpful at all, when we asked for the manager details we where given the bookending ladies number. We eventually got through to the General Manager which told us that’s she’s our and frankly it’s not her problem as the hotel is fully booked and she’s take it up with booking.com - she was even so arrogant to suggest we book out. Very professional and very good service to your fellow South Africans!!!
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Mar 27, 2023
Dear Sm Brashaw Thank you for your review. I have had a chance to look into your booking and to speak with the relevant staff members. Your booking was made for a room without a bath, as the hotel was full there was no way of changing your room at that point. I understand that you had some drinks in the garden, and that you were kept up to date on all steps along the way. When we are at an impasse like this, we often suggest finding an alternative elsewhere - in this case, finding you a room with a bath in another hotel. Meeting our guests' expectations is very important to us, so when faced not being able to give you bath, finding an alternative hotel which could give this feature which was clearly really important to you, seemed like a reasonable option. You chose not to move and to stay with the shower. It is regrettable that we could do nothing more for you. Like I say, pleasing our guests is the business we are in, and when this does not work, whether through a wrong booking, or from a mistake, it is always disappointing to us and our guest service team. Warm regards Lorraine
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Great location, an easy five minute walk into town. Free but limited parking at the hotel. The hotel occupies a couple old colonial homes and room size was large. The rooms are full of furniture but lack shelf space to place your things. Our bathroom was quite large but with a simple sink and mirror along with bath tub and shower, there were not enough counters for my wife and I to place our toiletries. Our room had a large Armoire but it was difficult to open and not very functional. The TV was small although the bed was very soft and one of the best hotel beds we have slept in. The breakfast buffet is quite good with a nice spread and the option to have hot food cooked to order. Bottom line, nice place and big rooms but not as functional as we would have liked. Also no balcony and small windows. The biggest issue is that when we were there the hotel was pretty empty and the hotel did not turn on a generator when the electricity would go out. Very inconvenient. This meant after sightseeing for a day we would get back to our room to find out that the power would be out (load-shedding daily) from say 5:30 pm to 8pm and this meant no TV or wifi or ability to charge your electronic devices. Other hotels run generators as the power goes out daily, so the guests are not inconvenienced, this place did not when we were there for 3 nights and for the amount of money we spent, they should have. If I came back, I would probably opt for a different hotel.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Jun 5, 2023
Thank you for your very detailed review, and for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Stellenbosch. I am delighted to read how much you enjoyed the room product. It is a shame that you did not mention that you needed more storage room in the bathroom, this would have been no issue whatsoever to arrange. As you know, both parts of the hotel are a National Heritage site which mean they are under protection meaning we must respect the original integrity of the design and the building, something we are more than happy to do. Loadshedding is difficult at moment, but a generator is not the answer. There machines are loud, dirty and environmentally very unfriendly. We will be installing a better solution which is both silent and does not use fossil fuels. Once planning comes through from the Heritage authorities, we will proceed with this. Our other hotels have all been fitted with either solar systems or Lithium battery backups. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you back to River Manor Boutique Hotel, or perhaps another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Hermanus and Robertson. Warm regards. Lorraine
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My partner and I had the pleasure of staying at this beautiful hotel, and we will definitely go back, the staff was the friendliest Iv seen, you can see they love their job.
The breakfast was freshly made each morning and very delicious. Our room was equipped with 2 masks and hand sanitizer when we arrived and a blotter of still/sparkling water for each of us. Each night when we got back from dinner our bed was prepared for us to sleep.
Our room was directly to the pool and I think we had the best view and it was great.
Thank you to Samantha and the team for the warm hospitality.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Jan 23, 2022
Dear Wanderer Thank you so much for taking the time to post such a wonderful review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time in Stellenbosch, and at River Manor Boutique Hotel. Our 'mask and sanitizer' welcome packs, all environmentally packed in paper, are a new addition and have been really well received, so I am delighted that you also appreciated this little touch. The team always loves great feedback, and you are right, they work hard and are passionate about showcasing the hotel. I have shared you comments with them and they are delighted. I am very happy to read that you would like to come back. Please so stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to Stellenbosch, we would love to welcome you back to River Manor, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek and Hermanus. Warm regards and all the best for a wonderful 2022. Lorraine
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Incredibly friendly and helpful staff. Hospitality that comes from the heart . We had a room next to one of the two pools, equipped with everything you need: TV, Internet, etc . The breakfast had a great selection at the buffet and you could also still from a breakfast menu. Order
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Viele Restaurants zu Fuß erreichbar . Unser Tip : Fat Butcher mit außergewöhnlichem Preis/...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
When planning a week to spend in South Africa, we had heard about the Living Journey boutique hotels. We had stayed in the Tree House before and were looking for the personal touch experienced with this collection of boutique hotels and it was just as special as we wished. We contacted them and they suggested we spend one or two nights in some of their hotels. They organized transfers between hotels so we didn’t even need to hire a car which turned out to be a great decision. Everyone working in the hotels was incredibly welcoming and helpful. We wanted to eat out so the bed and breakfast option was ideal. All hotels are an easy stroll to town with a choice of restaurants. Breakfast is delicious with buffet food - fruit, pastries, cheeses etc and plenty of cooked options. There is a homemade cake every day mid afternoon and coffee /tea all day. The poolside deck chairs have thick cushions and are fabulously comfortable for relaxing by the pool. There is a bar for evening drinks before heading out. Some hotels have specialty gins/brandy. Each hotel is unique with its own style and personality which makes it very interesting to travel between hotels. We had a fabulous trip and will definitely book again when back in South Africa.
Stellenbosch has the real wow factor with two heritage buildings linked together. There are even two pools one favoring sun and the other shade ! Sam and the team gave us a great stay. The hotel is only five mins walk from a host of lovely shops cafes and restaurants. We went for lunch in ‘Wine tasting’. The deep fried squid / calamari was so good we went back again on the second day. In the evening, we ate in Stellenbosch kitchen / great pizzas salads burgers etc. I booked a treatment with Felicity in the spa which was fabulous. Stellenbosch was our last destination - definitely going back and staying in the Living Journey Botique Hotels - wonderful hotels with a real personal touch.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Dec 31, 2022
Dear Ella Thank you for posting such a wonderful review, and for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your recent trip to Stellenbosch. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time with us. The two gardens are a very special feature of the hotel and really has something to offer everyone. Both of the houses are about 140 years old, and one is a national heritage sight with wonderful old detail and interesting architectural effects. Even more special is that this outside space, with its planting and pools are right in the middle of town which is an aspect that everyone enjoys. It is great that you had an opportunity to try out the spa facility. This is a relatively new addition and is proving to be very popular with our guests. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you hack to any one of our hotels and look forward to seeing you again in the not-too-distant future. All the best for a great start to 2023. Warm regards Lorraine
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Such a wonderful stay. On a chilly Stellenbosch evening it was lovely to sit by the open fire with a delicious glass of wine. We had enjoyed a late lunch in the winelands so the beautifully prepared cheese platter in our room was just right. Staff were welcoming and very attentive, especially at breakfast the waitress took time to explain the options and kept the buffet looking fresh and well stocked. The location is perfect, just a short walk from the town, but in a quiet, tree lined street.. close to the river of course. We will definately book again to spend more time in and around Stellenbosch.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Jun 20, 2022
Dear Carole Thank you for taking the time to post such a wonderfully detailed review, and for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your recent stay in Stellenbosch. I am so pleased that you had a chance to try our new 'all day dining' menu. It has been very popular. especially amongst guests who have enjoyed a big, delicious winelands lunch! Thank you for highlighting the service and the team members. They really do a great job of striking the balance between passion, professionalism and friendliness. They will be delighted with the feedback. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you back to River Manor Boutique Hotel, or indeed to another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek and Hermanus. Warm regards and thanks again. Lorraine
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Wow! This hotel is extra special, like something out of a movie. Every part of our stay from start to finish was flawless. We were welcomed by such lovely staff, our room was huge and tucked away across the courtyard. The outside area was the most peaceful, relaxing little haven with birdsong. The pools and sunbeds were so inviting with towels and cushions. We were especially excited by the gin and tonics on offer in the afternoons, and coffee was available all day. The food was presented beautifully at breakfast with a vast choice of hot and cold options. The hotel is a short walk from Stellenbosch centre with the nearest restaurant only 5 minutes away on foot. The hotel is situated in the most beautiful peaceful area. We spent 2 nights here on our honeymoon and were treated so kindly by the staff, especially Leiman who made sure our honeymoon was extra memorable and treated us like royalty! Thank you!
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:You will not regret booking a trip here!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lorraine Schaefer, Owner at River Manor Boutique Hotel
Responded Dec 18, 2023
Deare Anna Thank you for choosing River Manor Boutique Hotel for your very special honey time in South Africa. I am so pleased to read how much you enjoyed your time with us. Making the most of special moments is how we try to differentiate ourselves, and the team has so much fun doing it. It is very rewarding to read how much you enjoyed all of the little extra touches. Please stay in touch and let us know when you are planning your next trip to the area. We would love to welcome you back to River Manor Boutique Hotel, or another one of The Living Journey Collection in Cape Town, Franschhoek, Hermanus and Robertson. Many thanks again and all the best for a wonderful festive season. Lorraine
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Hi Paula, the studio room is not very big (unfortunately). What dates will you be staying with us? Please email us directly if possible so that we see what we can do for you.
Thans, RM
There are more places to choose from in the Stellenbosch area.
PRICE RANGE
C$266 - C$414 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
river manor boutique hotel stellenbosch, river manor boutique hotel and spa
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeStellenbosch
NUMBER OF ROOMS
18
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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