Small hotel, big experience: 10 out of 10

How's this for a novel idea.

With big hospitality industry names behind the project, including chef Reuben Riffel who has a Reuben's Restaurant there, Boekenhoutskloof wine estate's Marc Kent and Vinimark's Tim Rands, this property ticks all the boxes when it comes to industry nous.

I was impressed by the meticulous attention to detail and the unusually fine cellar and I liked the juxtaposition of new architecture alongside the heritage buildings.

just 10, rooms - and free Wi-Fi

It's quaint, comfortable, and well worth a stay.

The Robertson Small Hotel has 10 rooms. The Manor House is where reception, restaurant, bar and suites are located while the spa and additional suites are built into what were once the stables. We stayed in one of the pool suites that run along the length of the narrow pool. Despite the hotel's historic 1909 Cape Victorian connections the interiors are contemporary glam.

I especially liked that good-signal Wi-Fi was freely available and that the mini-bar contents were included in the room price. I also liked that there were plugs of many shapes so I could charge computer, phone, camera and iPad all at the same time. Not enough hotels nowadays have sufficient plug points at desk height or bed-stand height available.

This is what you fall out of and into the pool.

light relief in the bathrooms

I don't care for peek-a-boo bathrooms and the one in our suite at least allowed us to close the shutters for visual if not auditory privacy. I was impressed by the clever architecture that positioned narrow, horizontal bathroom windows high up to allow for light and ventilation but also privacy from the outside.

Time to relax.

It was too chilly when we visited to use the pool (if it were up to me five stars would only be granted to hotels with heated swimming pools) but I loved the idea of being able to step straight off our balcony into the pool and to sit akimbo with my legs dangling into the frigid water.

Shaken, not stirred

You'll look long and hard to fine a better place to repose.

Dinner and breakfast at Reuben's were a highlight. I thought the food better than at his Cape Town location. The complementary canapés served in the bar before dinner were so delicious I might have spent the whole evening there. Speaking of drinks, I recently received a breathless media release about '"Sunsational Signature Sundowners @ The Small" causing a stir on Wednesdays from 1700 to 1930 and bookings are essential.' They're trying their best to draw on the hype of the new Bond movie with oh-so-cute names for their cocktails and, given the hotel is 90 minutes from Cape Town, appealing to local Robertson/McGregor types. Nothing wrong with that. I salute all they do to keep their property top-of-mind and draw people in for mid-week visits. When last I checked weekends at the hotel were chocoblock and that's without a bottle of Marc Kent's famous Chocolate Block wine being used to lure guests. For that wine and a stay at this hotel, 90-minutes is an easy drive.

Contact The Robertson Small Hotel at Tel: +27 (0) 23 626 7200 or send an email to moc.letohllamsnostreboreht@snoitavreser and see www.therobertsonsmallhotel.com.