Reasons to Visit Old Mac Daddy.

I was lucky enough to be invited out to the Old Mac Daddy hotel recently. Rather than waste your Monday with long boring stories on how much fun I had, here’s the lowdown: 7 reasons why you should book yourself in for a stay.

1. It’s like being in Sweden. Now you don’t need to go to Sweden to get a Scandinavian holiday complete with beautiful pine ski-lodge. Old Mac Daddy’s restaurant and bar with outside deck is like the Cape’s very own ski lodge. You might be disappointed if you’re waiting for snow (or ski slopes), but otherwise it’s the real deal. If you’re feeling racy, just go mountain biking down the nearest hill. They’ll even provide the bikes.
2. They’re in the Elgin Valley. It’s perhaps the most strangely undiscovered piece of country real estate outside of Cape Town. Apple and pear orchards, vineyards, rolling green hills and mountains on all horizons. Why isn’t this place packed with little country restaurants, B&B’s, pubs etc?
3. The Old Mac has Land Yachts. Vintage Airstream trailers. And when you’re sitting in the deck in front of them, wind whistling through the pine trees, it kind of feels like you’re on a boat. Without the sea sickness.
4. These trailers have names like For Better Or Boerewors. You see, it’s brought to you by the Daddy’s World folk. This means good design and cool touches. Like the SMEG refrigerators in each trailer (stocked with complimentary drinks). And a unique and quirky interior design for each trailer too. Mine, which happened to be For Better Or Boerewors, was decked out in classic old school South African paraphernalia. Think Ouma Rusks duvet covers, that sort of thing.
5. The restaurant serves great burgers and has a wood-fired pizza oven. Since Elgin doesn’t have many places to eat (aside from the excellent fine-dining restaurant at South Hill), this is your best chilled eating option. They source everything they can locally to support the regional farmers, and naturally that means they’ve got good wines too. Bonus is you don’t have to be a guest, you can just pull in for lunch here anytime you’re in the valley.
6. They’re very tolerant. Yes, everything in moderation, but in reality when you’re away for a weekend (in Sweden!) you want to cut loose a little. They don’t mind you taking pictures while pretending to be midgets in the bar area after dinner. Tolerant, very tolerant.
7. Everybody smiles. It’s not a 5-star hotel, but the staff are amazing, friendly and the overall service is superb. It ranks up there with my experiences at top 5-star hotels in the Cape countryside.

Believe me, you want to experience this place, and with summer around the corner, now’s the time to make a plan. For bookings and all the important information, visit oldmacdaddy.co.za.