Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Beautiful views
Friendly staff
Excellent breakfast
Clean facilities
Cons:
Check-out time too early
Room cleaning issue
Parking difficulties

Categories

Cleanliness
8.61
Some concerns about room cleaning on the second day and parking difficulties.
Service
9.57
Friendly and helpful staff mentioned in multiple reviews.
Location
10
Beautiful setting and quiet location with great views.
Room Quality
9.07
Generally positive remarks, though some issues noted.
Amenities
9.09
Facilities were clean, but lacking hot water pool.
Value for Money
8.56
Some reviews mentioned the pricing as a concern.
Food and Beverage
9.61
Multiple compliments about the breakfast and restaurant.
Overall Experience
9.9
General sentiment is very positive, with a few minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-06 03:09

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
IL Castello, nestled in Clarens, offers elegant rooms with modern amenities like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. Some rooms even provide stunning mountain views from a private balcony.

Delicious Dining Options
Indulge in a variety of breakfast choices from buffet to à la carte at our on-site restaurant. Savor delectable dishes in a cozy setting or unwind with a drink at the bar.

Exciting Activities and Multilingual Staff
Explore Clarens with hiking and cycling or relax in the garden and terrace. Our friendly staff fluent in Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, and Zulu are ready to assist you with tour arrangements.

Book now to experience a memorable stay at IL Castello!

Important information:

Prepayment of 50% deposit is required within 48 hours of making the booking , to secure your booking.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for ZAR 600 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.3
Based on 845 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.61
Service: 9.57
Location: 10
Room Quality: 9.07
Amenities: 9.09
Value for Money: 8.56
Food and Beverage: 9.61
Overall Experience: 9.9
M
Mark • couple • za
10
Clarens stylish castle stay.
Pros:

The castle design is unusual and beautifully appointed. The staff is wonderful. Wandile is especially attentive. The small touches (chocolates on turn down, etc) are delightful. Its location on a hill just outside of town is spectacular. Rooms are large and inviting. The food is good with enough choices to keep it interesting plus a charcuterie board to start the meal.
A lovely bast from which to explore Clarens.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-05-15 • via Nuitee
W
Werner • couple • za
8
Very good stay. Quiet and a good location. Friendly staff and great food.
Pros:

Quiet location, great view. Friendly staff and good food.

Cons:

The bathroom didn't have a door. I would have liked a door for some privacy.

2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
V
Valerie • extended_group • za
10
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
S
Seelan • solo_traveller • za
8
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
L
Lance • solo_traveller • za
9
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
F
Francois • couple • za
9
2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sihle Asiedu-Darkwah • solo_traveller • za
7
2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
L
Leanne • couple • za
10
2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
I
Ivor • couple • za
10
We will definitely return on a future trip
Pros:

Friendly and helpful staff

Cons:

N/A

2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
A
Aaishah • solo_traveller • za
9
2026-05-04 • via Nuitee
M
Mishka • couple • za
10
2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
C
Cameron • couple • za
10
Great view and even better people
Pros:

Incredible staff and facilities, truly made us feel so welcomed and the stay so special, lots of small gestures and practices that add to the experience

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
P
Peet • family_with_children • za
8
Location great
Pros:

Breakfast was great!

2026-04-30 • via Nuitee
A
Attie • solo_traveller • za
10
2026-04-29 • via Nuitee
K
Katlego • couple • za
7
Pros:

The proximity to town, the grounds and how spacious the room were things I liked about the property.

Cons:

The road leading to the property is gravel and had a nail in a tyre. A consideration to invest in paving the road might be a good idea.

2026-04-29 • via Nuitee
R
Riekie Erasmus • couple • za
7
Beautiful hotel with excellent, professional staff, but disappointing room comfort for the price.
Pros:

We had an enjoyable stay overall and would like to start by saying that the hotel itself is beautiful. The staff were a real highlight – friendly, professional, and clearly well trained. Their service was genuinely appreciated and contributed positively to our stay.

That said, given that this hotel comes at a premium price point, we unfortunately did not feel that the room offered good value for money. The shower in particular was a major disappointment. A shower directed straight at the wall does not provide a comfortable experience, and the problem was made worse by the shower door that does not close properly, allowing water to leak onto the bathroom floor. In cold weather, ending up with a wet, cold bathroom is very unpleasant and detracted significantly from the comfort of the room.

We also experienced issues with the air conditioning while it was on heat mode. Although this was attended to, the unit remained noisy, and in the end we chose not to use it. Similarly, the fridge in the room was quite disruptive at night, to the point where we switched it off in order to sleep.

Another aspect that limited the experience, especially during colder weather, was the absence of cozy communal spaces. While the hotel is visually stunning, it would greatly benefit from warm, inviting fireplace sitting areas where guests can relax comfortably.

In summary, we enjoyed certain aspects of our stay and sincerely commend the staff for their excellent service. However, we would not return, as we believe there are other accommodation options that provide better value for the premium price paid. We do hope this feedback is taken in the spirit intended and helps the hotel improve the experience for future guests.

Cons:

see previous question's response

2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
R
Reggie • couple • za
7
2026-04-28 • via Nuitee
N
Nicholas • extended_group • za
6
Time for a refresh. De Angelo room not inhabitable.
Pros:

Special welcome for my mothers birthday. Restaurant staff very friendly. Great champagne upon arrival.

Cons:

Very surprised that so few negative reviews. Very noisy. In our room (De Angelo) there was the AC or HVAC units to the left that went on and off the whole night (pic below) and to the right of our room the kitchen extraction which got going for breakfast. Both meant you couldn’t have windows open in bathroom, nor room respectively. There was also, what sounded like someone knocking on the neighbours door, every 45mins?/frequently. No sound proofing on room/unit doors, which leads me to the next point. Only a privacy screen to the bathroom with no doors, even for the toilet. Each to their own as to how intimate you want your toilet time to be, but remember you can’t open the window with the AC/HVAC. The premium charged for this place (R4.200) doesn’t come anywhere close to value. Place is tired, noisy and expensive.

2026-04-27 • via Nuitee
M
Matete • solo_traveller • za
10
Pros:

The staff's reception and willingness to assist. They were all friendly and courteous at all times.

2026-04-27 • via Nuitee
D
Donovan • family_with_children • za
9
A wonderful stay, incredibly friendly staff, We will be back
Pros:

This property started off as a bit of a disappointment, traveling with a young baby we were in the suite allot, the DSTV and old tv's were not ideal for a modern hotel, this was corrected and smart TV's were installed on our last day, well done, there is 1 individual that really went beyond for us, his name is Wandile, what an asset they have, this man is top notch and i hope the hotel know what they have in this employee, The food was perfect and tasty, drinks menu options are great, the turndown service is a lovely add-on, beds were comfy and warm, water pressure is great. well done all around,

Cons:

Noise level from day/night visitors, walking around and being loud, Noise from the rooms above the Suite i was in, Slippery floors when raining, no one mopped when the rain stopped, car garage is to far from rooms and i needed to carry luggage through dining area, It is not clear of who the most senior person is on duty, everyone seems to be doing their own thing.

2026-04-15 • via Nuitee