The Alphen Hotel re-opens with five stars

The Alphen Hotel in the Constantia Valley recently re-opened as a five-star boutique establishment. After undergoing an extensive revamp, the 11.5 acre property now offers luxury accommodation with two independently operated restaurants. Other features include three bars, deli, conference and business centre and outdoor events facilities, all open to the public. Operator Paul Kovensky’s vision is to see these different facets function simultaneously, providing both hotel guests and the local community with a venue for relaxing, socialising, dining, celebrating and conducting business.

The hotel is centrally located on the Cape Peninsula, 20 minutes from Cape Town CBD, Cape Town International Airport and False Bay. It aims to attract leisure and corporate, local and international guests. The new design and decor are described as “modern with a playful twist”. However, the rich heritage of the property, than spans 300 years, has been preserved. They have looked to combine old with new and part of the décor is an extensive private collection of antique furniture and art, combined with specially commissioned oversized, contemporary new works.

The 21 luxury suites are designed to five-star standards, including his and her bathrooms, rain showers, three-tier mini-bars, Lavazza pod coffee machines, multi-media entertainment systems, in-room business services, iced fruit bowls, king-size beds and private terraces.

Kovensky explains his thinking on the revamp: “I am in the hospitality business because I’m a true epicurean – I love to eat, drink, socialise and relax in great surroundings and stay in unique hotels. I want to create and deliver the same to others.”

The food and beverage operations are include the day venue La Belle Café & Bakery with deli and retail section, specialising in light meals, breads, patisseries and salads, and 5Rooms has dark, rich colours, heavy fabrics, dramatic décor and cosmopolitan cuisine to provide a warm atmosphere for evening dining. It features its own accommodation upstairs for patrons wishing to stay over after a night of wining and dining. Both operations offer indoor and outdoor seating under old oak trees. The Rose Bar is a garden bar and terrace overlooking the extensive, re-designed, landscaped garden with water features, pool and rose garden.

“The Alphen Boutique Hotel was such a stimulating and challenging project, we wanted to work with the existing heritage framework, push it, exaggerate it but also provide some provocation, contemporary glamour and surreal fantasy. The many facilities gave us plenty of range to explore and expand different but connected themes and ambiances. It’s like stepping into another world,” says Adam Court, interior designer for Antoni & Associates.

Offering Cape hospitality since the 18th century and declared a national monument in 1973, The Alphen was originally part of the Groot Constantia Estate. Producing wine and export fruit, it was the first estate to grow grapes, make and bottle wine and sell it to the public. It has a rich, interesting history and has hosted the likes of Mark Twain, Cecil John Rhodes, George Bernard Shaw and Jan Smuts. It also features the oldest surviving mill on the Cape Peninsula.

The Alphen Boutique Hotel forms part of Kovensky’s PK Portfolio that includes a group of established Atlantic Seaboard restaurants – Paranga, Zenzero, The Kove, Pepenero and the recently acquired La Med (to be renamed Bungalow).  To enhance their visit, hotel guests have the option of being shuttled to these restaurants during their stay.

The Alphen Boutique Hotel team supports responsible tourism and plans to contribute greatly towards social responsibility and environmental sustainability.