🎨 Villa Verde

Villa Verde sits in the Johannesdal wine valley between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, around an hour from central Cape Town.

The farm was created by Danish stylist and curator Lonny Castle and her husband Matthew. They live nearby with their three children and built Villa Verde not as another polished wine-estate destination, but as a place where family life, food, nature, music and art can exist together.

The property includes Petit Pantry, a small café serving coffee, fresh bread, pastries, breakfast and lunch. There is also a contemporary art gallery and an artist residency where artists can live and work before showing projects created during their time here.

One of Villa Verde’s strongest features is not an artwork at all. A huge gallery window frames the surrounding mountains so precisely that the landscape starts to feel like another piece in the exhibition.

Outside, there are gardens, fruit trees and a working farm with chickens, ducks and pigs. The programme can also include intimate exhibitions, music evenings, book launches and shared-table dinners.

For a longer stay, Villa Verde also has a private guest studio with a balcony, kitchenette, pool access and views across the valley.

This makes more sense as a slow outing than a quick coffee stop. Come for breakfast or lunch, leave time for the gallery and farm, then continue towards Pniel, Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.

Exhibitions, events, menus, access around the farm and booking requirements can change, so check the latest details before visiting.

In short: ☕ Petit Pantry · 🖼️ Contemporary art · 🎨 Artist residency · 🌿 Family farm · 🐓 Farm animals · ⛰️ Johannesdal views · 🛏️ Guest studio · 🍽️ Intimate events