26/08/2026
Cape Town is blessed with a ton of things to do, but some days you just feel for a road trip and to go in the opposite direction to traffic, you know? One such thing that we've wanted to do for a while is the Spice Route in Paarl!
I'll be honest, I didn't quite know what to expect. I've only heard of the Spice Route from a historical context before, and then the farms that do it in Zanzibar, Tanzania. So I was very curious to see what we'd get. If you, too, don't know what to expect, this blog is especially for you!
So, in a nutshell, Spice Route is a destination in Paarl. I can best describe it as a farm kind of area or estate that has a ton of different things that you can do there. We did a day trip, and only went here after relaxing at the Taal Monument, so we had to choose what looked the most appealing to us. But if you're staying nearby, you could spend two or more days here!
Being in the Winelands, there are quite a few options for artisinal wine/gin/beer tastings, and also lots of restaurants. Some of the restaurants are best known for only using ingredients from the Spice Route, which adds to the flair, while others have stunning views.
Of course, being in the gorgeous mountains of Western Cape, you also have hiking and biking options nearby! Depending on what trail you're doing, you may need to pay a permit fee. Additionally, you can spend some time at a spa or getting in touch with your inner artist on ceramics with MĂŽigoeters Creative Studio. Even more exciting, you can enroll your kids into the Spice Route adventure at R80 pp, which will take them on a scavenger hunt of sorts around the ground. How fun!
But wait, there's more! There are a bunch of stores you can shop at as well, for locally made artisinal wear and crafts. These include the infamous Trading Company, which showcases products made from natural materials by local craftsmen, Brenda's, who sells the most delicious looking jams and preserves, and the Lucky Bamboo, which has the widest range of plants for yourself and gifting!
We didn't do any of this, though đ
