Our ‘Mothers Day’ East Coast Adventure Part 2
With only a few days left on our East Coast adventure, it was time for mom and I to settle down and enjoy all the wonders that Chintsa has to offer – and there are many.
Our first stop was to the upmarket Olivewood Private Estate & Golf Club where mom and I were given a personal tour of the facilities… and boy… are there facilities! With not a blade of grass out of place, or a particle of dust anywhere to be found, Olivewood can be summed up in one word … flawless! The experience starts in the perfectly manicured parking lot and only gets better with each step. Before entering the Club House, we were greeted by one of the hugest most gorgeous trees I have ever seen, with a trunk and base larger than most bedrooms, this majestic Belhambra (Dikhout) tree dwarf’s the impressive entrance offering a taste of things to come.
The Clubhouse facilities ooze timeless elegance. The architecture, with it’s wide sweeping veranda’s and outdoor seating and dining, perfectly captures the magnificent views and celebrates our fantastic South African outdoor lifestyle. Understandably these facilities are for residents, members and players only.
But don’t despair, because while taking in the views which are utterly beautiful, you cannot help but be mesmerised by another of Olivewood’s unique features – their outdoor eating area under a majestic Tipuana (Rosewood) Tree. The base of the tree is surrounded by a beautiful wooden deck (larger than most upmarket South African homes) with outdoor tables and seating – creating a unique one of a kind outdoor restaurant… which the public can go to – provided you have made a reservation. Sadly our visit was outside of restaurant hours so we could only look but not indulge.
On the other side of the Tipuana Tree, we got a sneak peak into their new restaurant, The Wine Bar – which opened a few months ago. From the royal blue on the ceilings to the rich wood furniture and the elegant persian rugs, The Wine Bar is understated elegance – that makes a big impact! Open on Fridays & Saturdays (+ Wednesdays during holiday season) from 5pm to 9pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 2pm, The Wine Bar serves delicious Tapas dishes… something I will most definitely be enjoying on my next visit.
Everything about The Olivewood Private Estate and Golf Club impresses from parking lot to the bathrooms and everything inbetween. What impressed me most you may ask? Well it has to be how they have successfully embraced and made features of the awe inspiring nature to create their unique and inviting spaces. If you have not yet been, do yourself a favour… book and go – you will not be disappointed!
A visit to Chintsa is also not complete without a dinner at The C Club. Over the past few years I have visited regularly and it never fails to impress. Another favourite with the locals, The C Club is constantly growing and evolving and has become a warm, homey country venue with great food, good service and in the winter months… a welcoming wood fire. The only way to best describe it is … it just ‘feels’ good to go there! It makes me happy (and no, I am not referring to the wine – although that makes me happy too)!
From the restful decor to the alfresco dining on the veranda and on the new deck in the garden – The C Club has it all. The sports mad patrons get to watch the game and hold up the end of the bar while the young families get to safely let their children (and sometimes even their pets) loose while they take a well deserved break and catch up with friends. Well known and not so well known musicians are also regulars and provide the entertainment for throngs of local fans, who have been known to ‘nearly’ end up with nowhere to sit because the local cows have decided to make a meal of the bales of hay brought in as extra seating (this I personally experienced on one of my visits ;)). Here you can experience genuine laid back living and everyone just feels right at home. Mom and I got there early and enjoyed a great meal and bottle of wine… rewarding ourselves after a busy day. If you have never been to The C Club – why on earth not? You really don’t know what you are missing!
You cannot visit Chintsa East without visiting The Village Bistro for a laid back breakfast or lunch. The Village Bistro is in the heart of the village and is very popular with visitors and locals alike. With indoor and outdoor seating, a collection of eclectic and sometimes just downright weird gifts, it is a great place to browse, enjoy a meal, read the newspaper, gain some inspiration from the daily chalkboard quote… and exchange news with the owner. If you sit there long enough, you are sure to meet most of the village locals who constantly pop in for a coffee, a bite to eat, to read the newspaper and a good old fashioned gab. This quirky laid back eatery reflects the village and the locals who live there and really is a must when visiting the area – we even left with a free novel, compliments of the owner.
Another of my absolutely favourite places to go to while in Chintsa must be the Crawfords Beach Lodge. Out of season I always try to sneak in a visit for either a meal, sundowners or in this case, mom and I enjoyed the venue over a very good (and large) bodem of coffee. It must be one of the most unique and breathtaking settings I have ever visited and believe it or not, it reminds me of the guesthouses on the ski-slopes in the Tirol in Austria. Popular with foreign tourists, even the language spoken by the many German guests reminds me of those beautiful European mountains. That is, until I turn around and see the most spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and feel the warm South African sun on my face and smell the enervating fresh sea air.
The deck infront of the restaurant is a very special place. It is quiet, serene, and not a place where you will find screaming children or noisy adults. Serenity is encouraged with some unique and amusing signs to encourage the public to adhere to ‘the romance’ of the venue. It is this ‘romance’ that keeps us coming back time and time again.
Our last visit was back to the Emeraldvale Brewery – brewers of my favourite of all beers… ‘pale ale’ – honestly one of the finest craft beers I have ever tasted… and I am not alone in making this claim. Here again I have watched this business grow and evolve over the years and with every visit there is always something new and exciting to see.
We visited The Hops Shop (their inhouse gift shop) for the first time and left with a gift box of Pale Ale’s for my family (which I hope to be lucky enough to share). We also discovered an exciting new addition (be it still in it’s infant stage) of an essential oils nursery – run by a very knowledgeable and helpful aromachologist, who will in the near future be hosting events where you can make your own fragrance. Watch this space… exciting things to come!
And to finish … I have left the best for last. The best thing to do in Chintsa is FREE. It costs nothing, nada, niks, niets… you get the picture. A final walk on the beautiful Chintsa beach was a fitting end to a busy but wonderfully restorative mother & daughter East Coast Adventure. Hope you enjoyed sharing it with us.
Artilcle: Sandy loppnow