Hotel Review in Luxury Lifestyle Magazine: Future Found Sanctuary: Cape Town, South Africa.

Rooted among the lush mountainous jungle on the other side of Table Mountain is Future Found Sanctuary, a private, design-led escape from Newmark Hotels. A collective of contemporary, African-inspired villas built along the slopes of the landscape, here can be found a secluded handful of luxurious spaces that invite guests to check out of daily life, and into the inherent rhythm of nature.

With views of the mountain tops that tower above the villas and glow in the morning sun, Future Found Sanctuary is reflective of an incredibly stylish hostel than another cookie-cutter hotel. Encouraging an interactive set-up between guests that goes beyond a standard hotel – we eat, swim and chat with the few other guests whilst being taken care of by the villa’s brilliant butler.

The hotel

Future Found Sanctuary is ‘Cape Town’s first and only five-star regenerative travel destination’. A place that holds emphasis on the wellbeing of its guests and the indigenous flora and fauna; each villa features sparkling natural pools, a ‘healing garden’ that provides for guests, whilst supporting the local environment, plus an abundance of wellness offerings including a gorgeous gym and spa.

The property embodies founder Jim Brett’s adoration for this beautiful mountain hideaway. Wanting each of his guests to check in and reconnect with nature and build a stronger connection to the wildlife, Brett says that “it was the land and the nature that inspired us to create a deeper sanctuary experience based on a philosophy of wholeness”.  This thoughtful attitude can be seen throughout the sophisticated spaces, which reflect the colours of the landscape, fused with sunlight and architecture that frames the stunning mountain views from beneath. 

Rooms and suites

We spent two nights in the capacious Grand Master Suite, the largest within the Maison Noir villa. Five bedrooms, polished furnishings and natural woods are set alongside local African art that add a sense of place within the wild gardens. The epitome of a mountainside retreat, the Grand Master Suite with an elegant freestanding bath and rain shower, is a huge private space for couples to spread out. With ski-high ceilings, the king bed looks up onto mountain-top views with an interior that complements the landscape.

Encouraging guests to be at one with nature, large windows allow the morning light to stream into the suite (which can be managed with the use of eye masks also left on the bed). For the cooler months is a huge, charismatic open fireplace; whilst outside is a large private decking that leads directly out to the sparkling blue swimming pool and shared dining area. 

Meanwhile, up the hill of the seven-acre estate is Villa Verte, Future Found Sanctuary’s four-bedroom ‘architectural masterpiece’. This villa feels like entering an exclusive celebrity home as we are welcomed by the private chef cooking in the beautiful kitchen. Here is also the hub for the wellness facilities, including the stunning gym (a dream for any fitness enthusiast) the spa and a space for yoga which we enjoyed with a local teacher one morning. Villa Verte also includes a natural swimming pool, plus a natural rock pool for refreshing cold dips.

Earlier this year Future Found Sanctuary welcomed the new Mountain View Villa. Surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains, this new villa is an exclusive use option with two bedrooms. Situated in a striking cylindrical stone tower structure, the Mountain View is made of a sumptuous lounge, dining area and kitchen which opens onto a wooden deck adorned with sun loungers and bean bags.

The Mountain View Villa also features a second apartment which can be accessed from the villa’s lounge area through a glass atrium or a separate entrance. In keeping with the style of Future Found Sanctuary, here is also an aesthetically led design concept, finished in a modern African-inspired style with neutral-toned fabrics and furnishings interspersed with vivid wallpapers and leather hide rugs.

Food and drink

Each villa has a private chef on hand who prepares relaxed breakfasts in the open kitchen each morning with iced coffees, fruit platters and eggs. Lunch and dinner are offered an additional extra and prepared throughout the day depending on what you have planned. Reflective of the nature-first philosophy, all dishes are farm-to-table culinary creations, with wholesome options to fuel personal wellbeing.

This year the estate welcomed Milda Deale as head chef. With a food ethos built upon farm-to-fork dining, Milda grew up picking fruit from the orchards, baking bread with her grandmother and eating lamb from the farm. At Future Found Sanctuary, her ingredients are sourced from 30 organically grown vegetable and herb boxes, from trees in the expansive Hout Bay gardens and honey from the property’s bee hives. Milda’s cooking aligns with the property’s wellness and food philosophies, preparing family-style meals with harvest table dishes.

Nearby Future Found Sanctuary are many of Cape Town’s finest restaurants which are a short drive; this includes the famous Chef’s Warehouse, fine-dining hot spot La Colombe and the vineyards around Constantia which are rooted in the heritage of South Africa’s world-class wine. Beyond this, there are food markets (notably the weekly market at nearby Hout Bay), popular brunch spots and the endless eating options in the city.

To do

Wellness experiences are the core of Future Found Sanctuary, combined with exploring the estate’s gardens designed by horticulturist Cherise Viljoen who previously worked with the neighbouring Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (a key local attraction). Also nearby are the beautiful vineyards which produce some of the country’s finest blends, and Hout Bay beach for surfing and sundowners.

In a nutshell

Future Found Sanctuary is a wellness infused haven, hidden in the hills which border Cape Town’s Table Mountain National Park. Whilst residing in a design-led setting, guests are invited to take time for personal wellbeing in the verdant valley that carves beneath the mountains and down towards the Atlantic Ocean.

View the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine article here.