Property

South Africa’s oldest hotel which was once an 18th-century toll gate

Kirsten Minnaar • 1 August 2026

The Houw Hoek Hotel, South Africa’s oldest licensed hotel, has operated since 1779, and has evolved from an 18th-century toll stop into a modern country hotel.

Located in the Western Cape, the Houw Hoek Hotel has been welcoming travellers for two and a half centuries, making it one of South Africa’s most historic hospitality landmarks.

The hotel was built in 1779, during the era of the Dutch East India Company. It was originally known as the Houw Hoek Inn and stood along the wagon route leading towards the eastern interior.

The site was first used as a toll gate, where travellers and wagons could stop during the journey through the Houw Hoek Pass.

Since the route was so difficult, the inn became an important stopping point for people travelling between Cape Town and the interior.

The hotel was officially licensed in 1834 and is recognised as having the oldest liquor licence in South Africa. It has also remained in continuous operation for longer than any other hotel in the country.

Over the years, the business continued to develop and expand the property, adding a second floor to the building in 1861.

The name Houw Hoek has changed over the years. Historical variations include Houthoek, Houhoek, Haue Hoek, Houhoeck, and Houdhoek. There are several explanations for where the name came from.

One theory is that it relates to the need for travellers and animals to stop and rest after navigating the steep and difficult pass. Another suggests that “Houw” is a Khoi word meaning “cattle”.

While the meaning remains debated, the location has long been associated with rest and travel through the mountains.

One of the Houw Hoek Hotel’s oldest and most recognisable features is a large bluegum tree which stands near the entrance.

The tree is believed to have been planted in 1850 by Johann Paul Beyers, a former German missionary who was the hotel’s proprietor at the time.

It was planted to mark the birth of his fifth child, Maria Gertrude, on 28 August 1850. According to the hotel’s history, Gertrude was born in a room opposite the tree.

She later married Walter McFarlane, a Scotsman who became a co-owner of the Houw Hoek Hotel. McFarlane went on to build the Marine Hotel in Hermanus in 1902 and became the first mayor of Hermanus.

The bluegum tree has continued to grow for more than 175 years. Its trunk has a circumference of 11 metres and remains a prominent feature at the hotel entrance.

The Houw Hoek Hotel today

In the 247 years since the hotel first opened, the Houw Hoek Hotel has changed and expanded considerably. However, the hotel’s history remains central to the property.

Today, it is a large country hotel set among the mountains of the Western Cape, roughly 80 kilometres from Cape Town and close to the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

The historic property has 99 rooms and can accommodate up to 279 guests. Most rooms have private balconies with views of the surrounding mountains.

The Houw Hoek has also expanded beyond traditional accommodation. It now operates as a popular holiday destination.

The hotel features two swimming pools, two padel courts, putt-putt, indoor games rooms, and other activities. Hiking and mountain biking routes also start in the surrounding area.

The property includes a spa, while a farm stall and shop sell food, gifts, and other goods. The hotel also has a wine room featuring wines from the surrounding region.

The hotel has also installed solar panels with a total capacity of 180 kWh and provides electric vehicle charging stations.

It also regularly hosts business events. The property has seven conference venues that can accommodate anything from small meetings to larger gatherings of up to 250 delegates.

Some of the conference spaces are located in older farm buildings that have been adapted for modern use while retaining elements of their original character.

The hotel’s mountain setting and historic buildings have also made it a venue for weddings and other private functions.

The hotel’s guests can also enjoy Houw Hoek’s two restaurants, with the main dining room serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Meanwhile, the other restaurant, the Loggia, offers views of the surrounding mountains. The property has also retained the tradition of a Saturday dinner dance.