Neighbouring the affluent suburb of Hout Bay, Constantia is famed for its centuries-old Cape Dutch architecture, lush rolling vineyard estates and world class wine and beautiful Constantia Villas. Boasting some of the top restaurants in the world with international gastronomic influences, it’s the crème-de-la-crème of Cape Town’s southern suburbs.
Constantia and its neighbouring suburb of Bishopscourt are situated about 15 kilometres from central Cape Town and are both easily accessible in about 20-30 minutes drive from the City centre along one of the main freeways that runs south towards the Cape Peninsula through these and other popular “southern suburbs” as they are known. Both are lush and leafy neighbourhoods on the wooded lower slopes of Table Mountain whose properties often have large private gardens, swimming pools and even their own tennis courts.
This area is one of the oldest suburbs of Cape Town and is rightly famed above all for its wines, being one of the earliest settled wine regions in what is still known as the “new world” of wine. The estate of Groot Constantia (Great Constantia) was established back in 1684 by the then Dutch Colonial Governor of Cape Town, Simon van der Stel.
These days there are now 8 wine estates operating in the wine route, all of very high quality, including the oldest estate, Steenberg which was established even earlier in 1682, as well as Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig. All of the estates that form the Constantia Wine Route are well worth visiting not only to taste and buy their excellent wines but also to enjoy the fine restaurants that most of them offer in beautiful locations on these historic estates (our favourites being La Colombe restaurant at Constantia Uitsig and Bistro 1682 at Steenberg).
We also recommend a visit to the Iziko Museums and historical buildings at Groot Constantia that tell the story of this historic wine estate and the introduction of wine making into South Africa.
Discover our Constantia villas and mansions here.
Visit historic estates such as Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Steenberg and Constantia Glen.
Enjoy award-winning restaurants set among the vineyards.
Visit the famous botanical gardens, just a few minutes away.
Walk or run the network of greenbelt trails through the valley.
Ride along the trails of the Constantia Valley and Tokai Forest.
Drive over Constantia Nek to Hout Bay, or head to the False Bay beaches.
Constantia is a leafy valley in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs and the oldest wine-producing region in South Africa.
The city centre is about 20 to 25 minutes’ drive away.
Yes. Large gardens, pools, wine estates with play areas and outdoor activities make Constantia very family friendly.
Hout Bay is about 15 minutes away, and Muizenberg and the False Bay beaches about 15 to 20 minutes.
Constantia offers space, privacy and a country feel, with world-class wine and dining on your doorstep.
