Local hotel wins title of ‘World’s most romantic retreat’

Franschhoek’s unique Akademie Street Boutique Hotel has recently stepped up to officially see itself placed among the world’s most romantic hotels. As well as being ranked seventh on Tripadvisor’s list of “Top 25 most romantic hotels in the world” list for 2019, the hotel was also just voted “The world’s most romantic retreat” at the World Boutique Hotel Awards.

Located in the breathtaking Franschhoek valley, Akademie Street Boutique Hotel was created in its present iteration by Ireland born Paul Kinney who explains that before Akademie Boutique Hotel his only experience with hotels was staying in them.

“I am not a hotelier, but a business consultant. I did, however, spend the most part of 25 years living and travelling throughout the world. Staying in so many hotels leaves a mark on you. I knew I could make a success of it with all that experience behind me. Looking back it was places like New York, Dublin, Mumbai, Rome, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong that I took most inspiration from. They all have something unique,” Kinney says. “My three favourite countries though (until recently!) were Ireland, India and Italy. The 3is, as I like to refer to them! But then I discovered Africa, or more specifically South Africa and fell in love again”.

The lounge at Akademie.

The secret to Akademie’s success is the unique touches that adorn nearly every aspect of the hotel from the grand entranceway, to the pool and each lovingly curated room.

“Our main objective at Akademie Street was, and indeed is, to create “experiences”. Travellers, especially those seeking a romantic retreat look for unique or special moments that evoke emotion. Many hotels have design themes running through their property that are production and repeated. Akademie Street is the opposite. No two spaces are the same. Think of it more as a home than a hotel, and one that has been curated over time rather than manufactured in a moment,” explains Kinney.

For Kinney it is the small touches that make the hotel stand out with all the artwork and collectables having been carefully layered over the years to deliver a truly special welcome.

“It’s the careful attention to detail that follows on throughout the property that brings the experience to life, with details like vintage Bluetooth gramophones on which to play your own music, antique French domino sets, sun hats, shopping baskets, vintage bicycles, a boules court, our own range of wines and cocktails, complimentary nightcaps by the fireside, homemade food (including our granola recipe to take with you!) and so on, and so on. This is what makes Akademie Street so special and, of course so romantic,” he says.

Kinney explains that the hotel space was “spiritual” before he started working on it, and this combined with the high perimeter walls that keep the sound out, created a space for him that was “remarkably quiet” despite its position in the heart of the Franschoek village. Since the initial purchase five years ago the property has been completely renovated with three additional suites added.

Metal baths give the hotel a unique touch.

“We have been extremely careful to ensure that that spirituality has continued to grow. Simple touches like a cascading water feature around the main pool, complimentary cocktail hour with our resident pianist, pot belly stoves in guest suites for cooler evenings and private wood burning hot tubs for couples to relax in after dinner, taking in the African skies are what creates those unique and special moments guests crave,” he says.

Many of the pieces in the hotel have stories attached to them. It is the demonstrable connection with previous owners that gives the hotel a clear sense of time and place and provides a range of stories that Kinney says the guests love.

“Many of these stories are highlighted to guests as part of their check-in procedure. That’s why I think guests immediately and easily form a connection with the property, calling it a “home from home”. One of my favourite pieces is a Steinway grand piano which was bought by a South African family in London in 1929 and shipped back. It remained in their family until I bought it a few years ago and had it completely refurbished. I still have the train ticket for the journey they took from Oxford to London the day they bought the piano, the brochure where they circled the piano and the original key to lock the lid. Whilst the piano creates history in our lounge, it’s the story that creates the romance,” he says.

For Kinney the hotel is clearly a passion project and it’s this evident love that really lifts the hotel above many of its competitors. This love of the hotel is matched by a self-confessed growing love not only for Franschoek, but for the surrounding area and Cape Town itself.

The bedrooms are all decorated in an individual style.

“I have many favourite places around Franschhoek and the surrounding area. Two stand out for me though, but for different reasons. Firstly,  Babylonstoren is a fantastic “field to fork” experience I would recommend to anyone. Somewhere you could easily spend half a day, or even an entire day. From the morning garden tour, to lunch and wine tasting and then finally shopping at their artisan food, linen and perfumery stores. It’s a truly magical experience. Secondly, and very different is Delaire Graff Vineyard. It’s a much more dressy affair and somewhere for a special occasion. For anyone who has never been, I would highly recommend lunch on the terrace, taking in the fabulous mountain views. I first visited there back in 2014, during my first ever visit to Cape Town. Thankfully I now get to go there a little bit more often,” he says.

Now having won the recognition of his peers in the Boutique hotel space Kinney says he feels vindicated for all the hard work he has put into making Akademie street the hotel that it is today.

“It is a passion project for me, which is why perhaps I lavished so much love and affection to its renovation. But it makes me proud that something that took nearly 5 years is almost now complete and is being shared and indeed loved by guests from around the world,” he says.

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