IL Castello Boutique Hotel

We had excellent services

Nothing

A warm welcoming atmosphere, spacious comfortable quiet room, well taken care off serviced room and their balcony offering a private pleasant space.

Maybe consider changing your menu for different days especially for guests staying for longer periods more than 2 nights.

Was great to be back exceptional and appreciate the extra spoil of glass of Sparkling 🥂

Staff, reception and the cleanliness of the place, the beauty of the room actually everything.

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Lovely position away from the town square so nice and quiet

Its a bit tired, could do with a refurb. Our shower was tiny and we small people not sure how bigger people fit in the shower

From our arrival we were treated like VIP's. The staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. The rooms are superior and the views exceptional. We were given a Cheese platter and complimentary champagne with a personally written postcard from the owners, apologizing, as the wind were blowing through the night and they felt we could not rest well.

Nothing to add here. Everything was good and above expectations.

We did not eat Breakfasts, but got take away packages to take with us.

This is not on the Hotel but more the other guests. Someone in the room next to us or below us smoked weed and the smell traveled into our room. This was not a comfortable situation as I had ny 14yr old son with me.

Beautiful, huge room (Mona Lisa) with fantastic rooftop veranda. The staff were super friendly and everything was done in a super professional and friendly way.

The cut fruit at breakfast was a little tired.

Baie lekker ontbyt, baie dankie Personeel vriendelik Kos goed en smaaklik voorberei

Stort se pyp bo wat uit muur kom het gaatjie ingehad wat mens nat sproei. Het dit rapporteer.

Wonderful ambiance

Nothing at all

The breakfast was good and the server was very friendly

The road to the hotel is a bit rocky

Excellent service, clean and warm rooms and beautiful hotel. The restaurant also had great food which we enjoyed for dinner.

The road to the hotel is not paved and is a little rough but it's manageable even with a small sedan.

It was exceptional. The in-house options, we tried something new that we could have and we were not restricted.

Nothing please keep up the service provided

Talk about exceeding expectations! The staff, the handwritten welcome note from the owner, Brenda. The chefs food and overall staff is so friendly and professional.

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Stunning hotel on a hilltop short distance from the town square. Little Italy in Clarens. Clean, comfortable and with the most amazing staff who attended to your every need and want. Spectacular views, grand breakfast and delicious meals from the restaurant. 5 Star boutique hotel.

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Friendly and helpful staff.

Noisy room, but we will be back.

Excellent breakfast with various options to choose from. Well received from check in with a complimentary drink. Such a beautiful hotel.

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Absolutely loved our room! We were lucky nought to be upgraded to the Mona Lisa suite. The staff were amazing! Always friendly and incredibly helpful

Nothing not to like

Sehr gute und reichhaltige Karte zum Auswahl des Frühstücks und leckere Zubereitung. Zudem noch ein Buffet für Cerealien

nichts

Excellent setting Dinner was exceptional Special mention Steve was very friendly and gave excellent service

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Firstly i would like to mention the staff. They contribute to the success of IL Castello. Furthermore we felt treated. I will definitely recommend the place.

The roads in Clarens is terrible. Luckily we drove a 4x4.

Loved our beautiful comfortable room, which had a private veranda on the top floor. Great options on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is very quiet with beautiful background music. Close to town, walking distance. Safe parking. Staff very professional and friendly.

The people The view The food

Beautiful luxury accomodation

Luxury

Perfect Location

We thoroughly enjoyed everything and the breakfast was fantastic.

Our room was above the kitchen, so was very noisy from before 6am. Will stay on the other side of the hotel next time.

The view and the attention of the staff

Beautiful views, food and friendly staff

Beautiful Property

Gravel Road with Potholes leading to the property

Stunning place, wonderful stay overall.

Little bit difficult to manage luggage on the stairways.

Lovely big room, very clean. The staff were so nice and helpful and really tried their best.

Our toilet was a little loose and the one plug sparked a little in the other room.

Excellent service and rooms. Staff makes you feel welcome.

Staff welcoming and processional

The staff were excellent. They catered for all needs. The hotel and room was homely. The food was delicious. I highly recommend the hotel .

Actually leaving and going home.

Everything was perfect! I absolutely loved everything about this gem!

Really can't fault them, they say they aim to impress and they definitely don't miss!

It is an amazing place to stay

Everything was special. Accommodation,staff and amenities were 5 star plus.

Nothing!!

Beautiful lotation,staff very friendly and helpful.A lovely hotel set up in Italian style.Spacious rooms.Really 5 star quality.Personal note left by owner with Chocolates. Beds get made up and heated.Top notch will definitely recommend.

The suite was beautiful, spacious and has a huge terrace with lovely views. The staff are all friendly and helpful.

The restaurant food does not match up to the lovely hotel and great staff. Various dinner dishes were not up to standard considering how lovely the hotel and staff are.

Very nice and clean. Staff very frienly.

This hotel exceeded my expectations. It was so beautiful, an absolute gem. Felt like I was in an Italian castle. The rooms were so spacious and perfectly decorated with top of range furniture. It was so comfortable. We had the Valentino room which had two bedrooms ensuite and the Guiseppe room. The staff are super friendly and added small little touches to make our stay extra special. Beds were turned down and electric blankets switched on every evening which was truly special. Breakfast was just amazing. We also received a personal note from the owner making sure our stay was comfortable. I will definitely visit again, Thank you Il Castello team:)

Excellent location beautifully designed fantastic comfort

Breakfast was very disappointing food was tasteless omlette was rubbery and had little or no filling.

Breakfast !

Beautiful views and great service

Nothing comes to mind

The castle design is unusual and beautifully appointed. The staff is wonderful. Wandile is especially attentive. The small touches (chocolates on turn down, etc) are delightful. Its location on a hill just outside of town is spectacular. Rooms are large and inviting. The food is good with enough choices to keep it interesting plus a charcuterie board to start the meal. A lovely bast from which to explore Clarens.

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Quiet location, great view. Friendly staff and good food.

The bathroom didn't have a door. I would have liked a door for some privacy.

Everything

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Friendly and helpful staff

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Incredible staff and facilities, truly made us feel so welcomed and the stay so special, lots of small gestures and practices that add to the experience

Breakfast was great!

The proximity to town, the grounds and how spacious the room were things I liked about the property.

The road leading to the property is gravel and had a nail in a tyre. A consideration to invest in paving the road might be a good idea.

We had an enjoyable stay overall and would like to start by saying that the hotel itself is beautiful. The staff were a real highlight – friendly, professional, and clearly well trained. Their service was genuinely appreciated and contributed positively to our stay. That said, given that this hotel comes at a premium price point, we unfortunately did not feel that the room offered good value for money. The shower in particular was a major disappointment. A shower directed straight at the wall does not provide a comfortable experience, and the problem was made worse by the shower door that does not close properly, allowing water to leak onto the bathroom floor. In cold weather, ending up with a wet, cold bathroom is very unpleasant and detracted significantly from the comfort of the room. We also experienced issues with the air conditioning while it was on heat mode. Although this was attended to, the unit remained noisy, and in the end we chose not to use it. Similarly, the fridge in the room was quite disruptive at night, to the point where we switched it off in order to sleep. Another aspect that limited the experience, especially during colder weather, was the absence of cozy communal spaces. While the hotel is visually stunning, it would greatly benefit from warm, inviting fireplace sitting areas where guests can relax comfortably. In summary, we enjoyed certain aspects of our stay and sincerely commend the staff for their excellent service. However, we would not return, as we believe there are other accommodation options that provide better value for the premium price paid. We do hope this feedback is taken in the spirit intended and helps the hotel improve the experience for future guests.

see previous question's response

The staff's reception and willingness to assist. They were all friendly and courteous at all times.

Special welcome for my mothers birthday. Restaurant staff very friendly. Great champagne upon arrival.

Very surprised that so few negative reviews. Very noisy. In our room (De Angelo) there was the AC or HVAC units to the left that went on and off the whole night (pic below) and to the right of our room the kitchen extraction which got going for breakfast. Both meant you couldn’t have windows open in bathroom, nor room respectively. There was also, what sounded like someone knocking on the neighbours door, every 45mins?/frequently. No sound proofing on room/unit doors, which leads me to the next point. Only a privacy screen to the bathroom with no doors, even for the toilet. Each to their own as to how intimate you want your toilet time to be, but remember you can’t open the window with the AC/HVAC. The premium charged for this place (R4.200) doesn’t come anywhere close to value. Place is tired, noisy and expensive.

This property started off as a bit of a disappointment, traveling with a young baby we were in the suite allot, the DSTV and old tv's were not ideal for a modern hotel, this was corrected and smart TV's were installed on our last day, well done, there is 1 individual that really went beyond for us, his name is Wandile, what an asset they have, this man is top notch and i hope the hotel know what they have in this employee, The food was perfect and tasty, drinks menu options are great, the turndown service is a lovely add-on, beds were comfy and warm, water pressure is great. well done all around,

Noise level from day/night visitors, walking around and being loud, Noise from the rooms above the Suite i was in, Slippery floors when raining, no one mopped when the rain stopped, car garage is to far from rooms and i needed to carry luggage through dining area, It is not clear of who the most senior person is on duty, everyone seems to be doing their own thing.

Hotel is beautiful 😍 and service was perfect.. Food

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Breakfast was 5 star plus. Another great reason for staying at this wonderful hotel.

Initially we were unhappy with our room size,but the owner of the hotel was very kind to explain to us that the problem was through our own fault,during the booking process .

This was my fourth stay at Il Castello, and it continues to impress every time. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Clarens. The staff are exceptionally responsive and attentive, always willing to assist and resolve any issues quickly and professionally. The breakfast is excellent, and the dinner offering is equally impressive, making dining at the hotel a real highlight. Overall, a consistently high-quality stay that keeps me coming back.

For the best experience, I would recommend specifying your room preferences in advance to ensure everything meets your expectations.

Clean and comfortable room. Breakfast and dinner was terrific. Staff exceptional.

A once in a lifetime opportunity, A little piece of Italy right on our doorstep. Perfection

We liked it all

The food was exeptional, the staff were very helpful and location was splendid, though the rains almost spoiled our stay.

The wet road to the hotel could be worked on.

All the staff was very professional. Handled every request with a shift action.

Staff was very friendly Breakfast was excellent Very good location

Nothing really

Attentive caring staff, comfy elegant rooms, beautiful views of beautiful gardens and mountains, delicious food.

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Experience amazing! Second stay at the Castle and it was just as amazing as the first time. The chef is amazing. We never go out for dinner we always have dinner in the hotel because of the chef. For any romantic getaway this is the best in Clarens.

Amazing all the way nothing I can say that was not perfect

Your hotel is amazing !!!! The staff is so tentative and helpful. The best we experienced in a long time. The garden is beautiful.

We would like a toilet door in the bathroom.

Clean and beautiful aesthetics😍

The staff! You could see them talking about you and they did not care. We called the reception asking for ice and the one staff member asked the person who answered the phone 'ba batla eng bao'. Also they assume everyone speaks Setswana. Even when we responded in English they continued to speak English. There was just one gentlemen who worked the night shift who was amazing. He warmed our food with no hesitation. The others just said we don't have a microwave only the one in the kitchen...and waited for us to ask them to go to the kitchen and warm for us. Other than the gossiping staff and attitude towards guests the place is lovely.