The historic Alphen Hotel located in the Constantia Valley in the Western Cape has now reopened as a five star boutique hotel property.
The Alphen Boutique Hotel is owned by Paul Kovensky and forms part of Kovensky’s PK Portfolio that includes a group of successful, established Atlantic Seaboard restaurants – Paranga, Zenzero, The Kove, Pepenero and the Bungalow.
The property that had been in the Cloete family for 150 years closed down last year.
At the time, its owners were examining various options including turning it into a retirement home, an office or even a school.
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Centrally situated on the Cape Peninsula and located a mere 20 minutes from Cape Town CBD, Cape Town International Airport and False Bay, The Alphen Hotel aims to attract leisure and corporate, local and international guests.
Property history
It went through an extensive revamp last year and the 11.5 acre property now offers boutique accommodation with two independently operated restaurants.
A modern and playful twist has been added to the décor and design, while preserving the rich backdrop of history.
The concept is marrying 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.
Offering Cape Hospitality since the18th 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.
The rooms have a sense of repose, rejuvenation and calm, which are all white oases of calm and serenity, where oversized custom still life artworks provide a nature based sensory experience.
It boasts 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 is owned by Paul Kovensky and forms part of Kovensky’s PK Portfolio that includes a group of successful, established Atlantic Seaboard restaurants – Paranga, Zenzero, The Kove, Pepenero and the Bungalow.
Kovensky explains that the hotel was named after an area in Holland by one of the Alphen's first owners, Abraham Leever, also known as the 'Monsieur from Amsterdam'.
He purchased the farm on which the Alphen stands today after Simon Van Der Stel died and the land, which was once part of the farm Groot Constantia, was apportioned off.
Leever also built the present homestead.
The Salamander is the symbol of the Alphen and the property has witnessed and withstood many challenges - changing ownership and structures, wars, torrential rains and possible closure.
“Yet the renaissance of the Alphen continues under the watchful guard of its symbol, the Salamander - a mythical beast who endures fire without itself being burnt,” says Kovensky.
Boutique rooms
The newly refurbished property features 21 luxurious suites and visitors can choose to stay at the cool suites, amazing, stunning or magic suites, all beautifully done and what one would expect from a five star property.
In creating this new look and feel, 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.
Kovensky says visitors can enjoy their stay anytime of the year at the property and with special prices, there is no reason not to experience the hotel hospitality.
On a normal rate, cool suites are priced at R2 900 while magic suites cost R4 400. With the special rate, the cool suites are now priced at R1 900 and magic suites at R4 400.
The rooms feature his and her bathrooms, rain showers, 3-tier mini-bars, Lavazza pod coffee machines, multi-media entertainment systems, in-room business services, iced fruit bowls, king-size beds and private terraces.
The rooms have a sense of repose, rejuvenation and calm, which are all white oases of calm and serenity, where oversized custom still life artworks provide a nature based sensory experience.
Design and décor
The property owner chose renowned Adam Court, interior designer for Antoni & Associates, who did a splendid job of restoring and refurbishing the property interiors.
Court explains that the theme is that of contemporary opulence perfectly combined with the rich history of a bygone era - a complete marriage of old with new.
“The Alphen 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 building itself has charm and character that cannot be fabricated or designed, it is something that can only evolve and mature over hundreds of years.
He says this rich backdrop provided the base from which they worked and provided the root of the design story.
We wanted to create different emotions and responses throughout the hotel, there are three bars, two restaurants, a deli, a spa, 21 bedrooms, pool area, as well as conferencing and meeting rooms.
We wanted to create different emotions and responses throughout the hotel, there are three bars, two restaurants, a deli, a spa, 21 bedrooms, pool area, as well as conferencing and meeting rooms.
“The over-riding feeling of the hotel is that of a golden era of hedonistic glamour, a little eccentric, somewhat bohemian, rather eclectic and casually elegant and definitely sensual.”
Court says they wanted a property that is another world, an escape, a romantic, dramatic and sensual wonderland that takes you on a journey from room to room, always tantalising the senses and instilling a sense of fantasy and hedonistic indulgence.
“Holidays, hotels are about pleasure, escape and romance and the Alphen provides exactly that, but it is not all sensory overload by any means at all,” says Court.
Throughout the hotel the artwork creates a stimulating backdrop and over 300 classical artworks have been incorporated into the new look.
These came from the Cloete private collection and juxtaposed some art pieces were specially commissioned contemporary new works, meticulously crafted nature based still lives and tableaux inspired by the environment and location.
Many of the artworks are also purposefully excessive in size and are reminiscent of oversized renaissance story telling tapestries, says Court.
Dining at the Alphen
No luxury was spared when this property was revamped. The design extended to the dining area, which Court says to enhance their visit, hotel guests have the option of being shuttled to these restaurants during their stay.
It features three bars, a deli, a conference & business centre and outdoor events facilities - all open to the public.
Throughout the hotel the artwork creates a stimulating backdrop and over 300 classical artworks have been incorporated into the new look.
In creating this new look and feel, 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 day venue La Belle Café & Bakery with deli and retail section specialises in light meals, breads, patisseries and salads while 5 Rooms with its dark, rich colours, heavy fabrics, dramatic décor and cosmopolitan cuisine provide a warm atmosphere for evening dining.
Both restaurants offer indoor and outdoor seating under ancient oak trees.
Unique to the Western Cape is The Rose Bar, a garden bar and terrace overlooking the extensive, re-designed, landscaped garden with water features, pool and rose garden.
“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,” says Kovensky.
He says the Alphen offers an unforgettable experience of spending time in one of South Africa’s national monuments.
Having dined at either La Belle or 5 Rooms and relaxing or socialising at the Rose bar before enjoying one of the 21 luxury suites the Alphen Boutique has to offer, is an experience any traveller ought to have, he says.
Court says they wanted a property that is another world, an escape, a romantic, dramatic and sensual wonderland that takes you on a journey from room to room, always tantalising the senses and instilling a sense of fantasy and hedonistic indulgence.
Asked to comment on the hotel industry and where Alphen is headed, he says they believe that despite the somewhat unpredictable financial climate, there is still a strong desire to travel to South Africa and more specifically Cape Town.
“At our highly competitive rates, close proximity to major attractions and outstanding offerings - including facilities, amenities, cuisine, design & decor and 5 star trimmings - we have an edge in the hotel industry.”
He says their competitive advantage is the fact that they are multi-faceted and can cater to a large audience, both local and international, corporate and leisure.
The previous hotel was not 5 star graded, was run-down and not managed correctly, hence it failed as a hotel.
But with the complete revamp and replacement of the entire management team and service staff, one simply cannot compare the previous operation with the current.
He adds that they are now in a completely different league from the previous operation. – Denise Mhlanga
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