The Hydro at Stellenbosch Review

Thank you for a great afternoon spent at the HYDRO! The treatments were great value for money and the best BABOR facial I have ever had!

I joined a close friend from lunch that day. The lunch was delicious, healthy and filling. Certainly not rabbit food. Selection of wonderful hot prepared tea and water available. The design and interior decorating is first class.. One immediately relaxes. After a full body massage in peaceful, hygenic treatment room - one can relax completely. After the treatment and a casual walk around the tranquil, well kept estate, we had a veggie juice at the outdoor natural swimming pool. What a treat. Lovely informed, well mannered staff.. All made the visit sublime.
Go and visit.. It is well worth every minute.

Thank you so much Stellenbosch Hydro for the 28th Mindfulness session of the August Women's month. I had a really restful time and the friendly, caring staff was heart warming and the ambience is lovely created for serenity life style. thank you SHydro for tranquil space.

The upgraded hydro is now finally worth its cost. A beautiful peaceful space with divine food and excellent service.

I visited the Hydro first in 1982. Still the best value!

Such a disappointing experience - almost R7k for nothing.
First of all - we came only for 1 day - from Saturday to Sunday, because we are looking for a detox place where we could come every weekend - and this is definitely not the place. The receptionist told us that "nothing much is happening over the weekend" - and for real, while we were there, there only was meditation on Saturday, and i was hoping for some yoga or aqua aerobics.
Then you check in at 2pm (you have breakfast, lunch and dinner included) and you don't get lunch on check in but after check out - which doesn't make sense, because you check out at 11am and then lunch is between 12 and 2pm.
So we checked in at 2pm, i asked waitress if there is something to eat - i literally wanted anything - at least fruits or salad, she said we can't order any food, so we waited until dinner to have a lentil soup. I saw people were eating at the time i asked - approximately at 3pm, if we knew, we would have brought lunch with us.
And for breakfast there is only a sweet choice of food, which might not work for everyone. I love healthy vegetarian/vegan food, but muesli is not a healthy food at all. Anyways, what i liked that, i wrote in comments for breakfast that would be nice to have an avo toast, and they brought me avo toast for real,i was very thankful.
But unfortunately the impression already was spoiled - the most disaster for us was massage - R1.8k for that - it's so unreasonable - my therapist was very tired and did it very soft even though i told she can go a bit stronger. My husband's therapist forgot to massage his one hand and already told him to turn and then didn't do head massage at all. Even though I got a head massage. We were schocked.
Also at the first day I asked for a juice and asked if they can bring it to the pool, i was waiting for half an hour, no one tried to brind it, i came back to the kitchen and they said :"it's here, it's done long time ago". The next day i witnessed how bossy and almost rude woman came to the kitchen and called the waitress by her name and said:" i want this juice - and i will be there". It was VIP service for her - she really had her juice by the pool. So if u are polite - u are loosing, u just have to be bossy with their stuff in order to get any service - and i am not a person like that. Such a waste of money, pity:(

Awesome experience, left feeling peaceful and healthy!

Peace and tranquility in a beautiful setting, delicious vegan food, caring staff and world class treatments for anyone, but especially those who are stressed or unwell in any way. Perfect spot to unwind and get mind, body and spirit back into balance.

Just recently spent 2 days at the Hydro, was very relaxing and good detox. Will definately be back.

This is Shirley Pearl Klix , Luke's mom...and I am most disturbed by the treatment on the phone which I received from various staff members as I phoned a few times..They were quite rude on the phone as I was trying to get hold of Tashia the Manager....Courtesy on a phone costs nothing and leaves me with distaste for even considering to go to The Hydro...Not taken well....

Excellent service, very friendly staff and just an all round great experience.

Best detox foods ever! The treatments are great but not extraordinary. Only giving 4 due to treatment quality and variety.

Small corner of paradise in the countryside. A high-level SPA, excellent decontracting massages.

In all respects I had a wonderful break at the Hydro. Definitely the right place to escape from the hectic life out there, calm down and get rid of all the stress. Highly recommended!

10 day detox was great. Came out feeling very healthy

This is a beautiful place and its always a pleasure to visit

The hydro has made a concerted effort to upgrade areas that needed it, but more than that the staff were amazing - very friendly and accommodating. A beautiful week I spent there with every need catered to among exquisite surroundings. Fabulous food too!

Very peaceful and relaxing. Friendly staff. A little on the expensive side though.

Incredible views, peace, tranquility, treatments and healthy food

A bit date the Farm at St Benito is a better option. Didn't like their for. Raw vegan has gourmet options they can try.

we visited friends there and they take very good care of their staff and terain

Try the Hydrowater therapy and finish off with a Swedish massage!

We didnt know exactly what to expect .What abeautiful place.Very friendly staff.Massage and faciela were fantastic.The food just as nice and tasty..Definitely want to go again

An amazing experience - tranquil - awesome healthy food, fresh veg juices, stunning rooms and the staff are simply amazing! - a must visit even if you just come for the weekend - you are treated like family - will most definitely be back

My most favorite place to unwind, enjoying the healthy fresh food and of the best treatments. A place to find that quiet space to rethink how we do life in the race. Slow down.. think. Pray. Reconnect. Find the beauty in unexpected places!
PS The Ginger & Cinnamon tea: *****

Beautiful facilities. Delicious lunch.
For the price paid I expected a more professional treatment. The treatment did not stand out above other places I have been to.
Staff at reception are friendly.

I've taken a long time to post this - my bad! Had a life-changing experience at The Hydro in May 2019. Wonderful facility but what really makes them world-class is the people - the therapists and every other staff member from the kitchen to cleaners, reception and supervisors.

The Liquid Body treatment by Jenny Bovim is absolutely unique and not to be missed if you are visiting, as are her mindfulness talks and sessions.

Great food and professional and friendly service from the kitchen staff - I hardly missed all my bad habits for 10 days.

A very belated but sincere thanks to all the staff including Mario, Reinette, Leroy, Wendy, Engela, Riaan, Noma, Libby and of course Jenny! I'm really looking forward to visiting again in a few months' time.

The perfect place to relax and enjoy healthy food as well as treatments for the body.

I was a day visitor on Heritage day 24th September 2020 and had an extraordinary experience. I had the In-Body Composition Analysis, Oxygen chamber treatment and full body hot stone massage. I enjoyed it all thoroughly. The health practitioners explained to detail and I really relaxed before indulging in the scrumptious heritage braai lunch prepared outside in the garden where the delicious aromas floated the air. I would have been thrilled had there been some Heritage atmosphere with Jerusalema dancing and music!

I would give full five stars to all of the above, apart from one small snag regarding waitressing etiquette. The lady who served me was not polite, forgot to bring cutlery with my starter and clumsily placed my lunch plate in front of me while I was still eating the starter. When I turned around to see if she was bringing the cutlery, I noticed that she was cleaning the table behind me, told me to wait and proceeded to pile all the dirty dishes and glasses on an already full plastic tray which looked very wobbly and bendy. Luckily for her, she did not drop anything and must give merit for her balancing skills.

I am writing this, as I feel that such a prestige and top class destination, should have skilled, pleasant looking waiting staff who are the frontline of a guest's experience. When you are greeted by a waiter who looks as if they had just finished with housekeeping cleaning (PS: the uniform needs major revival), it is not a happy site. Furthermore, the waiters need to engage with the guests and not rush the meals - it is all about the experience when eating delicious well plated food. In other words, much training is required for the waiting staff.

Apart from that one snag, I had a great relaxing day and would definitely market The Hydro, far and wide, as the destination not to be missed. There is nothing more appealing to the eye than nature's beauty which surrounds this amazing place. Thank you for the opportunity to be spoilt.

Good but expensive In view of the self serve vegan only offering. Being older I should have been advised that a strict vegan diet has side effects. My sodium dropped to a point where I almost landed in hospital on a drip

My favorite place to detox and unwind. A real health hydro.

Relaxing holiday in a beautiful setting with amazing views, very friendly staff and delicious vegetarian food