Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, with a history that goes back to the 1690s. It sits in the Franschhoek wine valley, at the foot of the Simonsberg mountain.
The garden is what most people come for. It covers about 5 hectares of fruit and vegetables, with more than 300 varieties growing, and it's laid out in a formal grid of beds, orchards and paths. It was inspired by the Company's Garden in Cape Town, which once fed Dutch East India Company ships sailing between Europe and Asia, and by the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon.
What grows here ends up on the table. The farm follows a farm-to-fork philosophy, with seasonal menus shaped by what the garden is producing. You can eat at Babel, the Greenhouse or the Bakery.
Then there's the rest of the farm: a farm shop, a wine tasting cellar with cellar tours, olive oil tours, a spa, and Soetmelksvlei, an interactive farmyard set in the late 19th century, a short shuttle ride away. If you'd like to stay on, the farm hotel is set in converted farm buildings with thick whitewashed walls and fireplaces.
Getting there from Green Gables
Babylonstoren is on the Klapmuts–Simondium Road, just off the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek. From Strand, drive via Stellenbosch and over the Helshoogte Pass. It takes about an hour.
Opening hours and entry
The farm is open every day, including public holidays, except Christmas Day. The garden is open from 09:00 to 18:00 in summer (September to April) and to 17:00 in winter (May to August).
There's an entrance fee to the garden, payable at the ticket office by card only. At the time of writing it is R190 per adult, and under-18s get in free. That ticket doubles as a year's membership: register it on the free Babylonstoren app and you can return as often as you like for 12 months.
If you book lunch at the Greenhouse, garden entry for the day is included.
Garden tours
A daily garden tour starts at 10:00 in front of the Farm Shop. One of the gardeners leads it, and you are encouraged to pick, taste, smell and touch as you go.
From Monday to Friday at 11:30, a second guided walk visits a different collection each day: succulents and cycads on Mondays and Fridays, the Healing Garden on Tuesdays, the vegetable gardens on Wednesdays and the bees on Thursdays. The app also has an audio guide if you'd rather explore on your own.
Tips for your visit
The restaurants get very busy, and Babel especially can book up weeks or even months ahead in summer, so reserve early.
The garden paths are gravel, and some are covered with peach pips, so wear comfortable flat shoes. Bring a hat in summer, and wellies and an umbrella in winter. Paths can be tricky for prams and wheelchairs.
Only food and drink bought on the farm is allowed, and pets must stay at home (guide dogs are welcome). Children love the donkeys, who live opposite the Farm Shop.
Make a day of it
Franschhoek is a short drive further along the R45, so you can pair a morning in the garden with an afternoon in the village. Babylonstoren is also a stop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram's Orange line.
