Before the world stopped, I used to spend many of my weekends exploring parts of Cape Town. This often led me to popular venues mostly used for a good Instagram selfie. But, these mini-adventures and road trips also helped introduce me to already discovered places that were still not considered mainstream. I'm talking about the hidden gems that were right there all along, overshadowed by the more Instagram-friendly venues.

By chance, I stumbled across Old Nectar while searching for public gardens in the Stellenbosch/Jonkershoek area. I've searched these gardens before but nothing ever grabbed my attention. However, after driving through the not-so-little farming town, I decided to search for a location "near me" and now that trick has become my go-to for discovering hidden gems. All thanks to its discovery of Old Nectar. 

Nestled between the Jonkerhoeks mountains, Old Nectar is a bright light that's filled with the type of serenity and beauty that you'll find in the movies. Its old Dutch style and pristine gardens were a treat for two people that just wanted to be immersed in nature for a while. And Old Nectar certainly kept us occupied for some time.

We were warmly welcomed by the owner and their dogs, given a map to explore, and promised complimentary ice tea once we reached the veranda. For an added treat, we were also welcomed to explore the old manor, which has been converted into a lovely hotel. Honestly, the whole experience has stayed etched in my memory for a year now because of the peaceful three hours we spent here. Thankfully it was a less crowded day and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. All we did was walk and talk and enjoy the sun, the amazing homemade ice tea, and explore some more.