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A garden of gifts, award-winning restaurants and wines, summer escapes and festive celebrations – November brings plenty of reasons to visit Babylonstoren.

A garden of gifts

Babylonstoren is getting ready for its favourite time of year as the farm begins to dress for the festive season. With celebrations, long lunches and happy gatherings on the horizon, this year’s festive theme, A Garden of Gifts, is coming to life in the Farm Shops.

Visitors can explore a dedicated festive pop-up shop in the Gift Room, featuring handmade Christmas decorations, candles for celebratory tables, cellar gems, pantry staples and beautiful gifting ideas for every palate and pocket. Gauteng visitors can also find festive inspiration from the farm at Babylonstoren’s pop-up at The Mall of Africa in Midrand.

Feathers in its cap

There is much to celebrate at Babylonstoren, with several prestigious accolades recognising its hospitality and culinary excellence.

Babel, the farm’s flagship restaurant, has been named Africa’s Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant at the 2026 World Culinary Awards. The award recognises not only the dedicated team at Babel, but also the growers, makers, bakers and butchers who work closely with the restaurant to bring the farm’s finest produce to the table.

Babylonstoren’s hospitality offering also earned the title of Best Farm Hotel in South Africa at the 2026 Luxe Hotel Awards, while its coastal sister estate, BLOU in Keurbooms, received the award for Best Self-Catering Accommodation.

Stay a little longer

Babylonstoren has been named South Africa’s number one hotel in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Guests can experience the award-winning farm with a two-night escape, available until 30 November 2026.

The stay includes breakfast each morning, time to explore the farm at leisure and access to the activities included in the experience. Guests are also invited on a complimentary drive to the secluded mountain pool, where they can swim, unwind and take in the sweeping mountain views.

Also available until the end of November is the Garden in Bloom Escape. This minimum two-night experience includes breakfast at Babel, farm activities, a special Farm Shop gift on arrival and a two-course set-menu dinner at Babel Restaurant for each guest. Late checkout is also included, subject to availability.

Visit the Babylonstoren website for more ways to linger longer.

Summer’s most splendid table

An ode to summer, abundance and the art of celebrating, Babylonstoren’s final Harvest Table of the year takes place on 5 December.

Set at a secret location on the farm, the evening promises one long table, a magnificent feast showcasing the finest of the summer harvest and exceptional Babylonstoren wines. An intimate and indulgent occasion, the Harvest Table is hosted just once a season – making it a special opportunity to welcome the festive season in style.

Reservations are recommended.

Gold rush

Babylonstoren is celebrating further recognition for its farm-made products, with its Sprankel Cap Classique earning two gold medals at the Amorim Cap Classique Awards. The 2021 Sprankel took gold in the Blanc de Blanc category, while the 2020 Sprankel received gold in the Brut Blend category.

Both the estate’s extra virgin olive oil blend and single-cultivar Coratina also struck gold at the SA Olive Awards, recognising the care and craftsmanship behind every bottle.

At the prestigious Veritas Awards, Babylonstoren received three double gold medals for Sprankel 2021, Nebukadnesar 2024 and Babel 2025. Adding to the celebrations, its Mourvèdre Rosé also claimed its first gold medal at Veritas.

A taste of Tuscany

Babylonstoren is bringing a taste of Tuscan life to the farm this November. Chef Federico Lucii from its sister estate, Vignamaggio in Tuscany, will join the team at the Old Bakery to serve Italian feasts on 17 and 20 November.

Expect two evenings of delicious Italian-inspired dining and festive hospitality. Bookings are recommended.

Summer loving, happy at last

The farm is entering the first flush of summer, with early peaches and plums ripe for picking. Num-nums, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries add to the season’s bounty.

Rose geranium and chamomile perfume the garden air, while the tunnels produce whimsical, old-world tea roses in gorgeous shades, with voluptuous blooms and heady fragrances.

Along the Puff Adder walkway, visitors can also admire Babylonstoren’s collection of bonsai trees, including indigenous specimens. These magnificent miniatures reward a closer look.

The bees’ knees

The inhabitants of Babylonstoren’s Byzantium are living up to their reputation. A walk through the Moestuin (Kitchen Garden) offers an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of bees in the estate’s dedicated bee temple and discover the essential role these industrious pollinators play in the garden.

BabylonSTORIES

Babylonstoren’s monthly vodcast, BabylonSTORIES, offers a glimpse into the people behind the farm, sharing their knowledge, skills and stories.

From the gardens and orchards to the kitchens and cellar, each episode explores the many hands and minds that contribute to making Babylonstoren what it is.

Watch or listen via the Babylonstoren App, YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Workshops in November

From festive decorations and baking to gardening, blacksmithing and woodwork, Babylonstoren’s November workshops offer plenty of opportunities to explore new skills and enjoy hands-on experiences.

A workshop also makes a thoughtful gift for someone who loves to learn by doing. For families looking to enjoy the outdoors, the Babylonstoren Koppie family hike offers a rare opportunity to discover the farm from a different perspective.