Daisy Darling is just that… absolutely darling! Our hosts, Fran Sexton and Dave Burger, gave us the warmest welcome, lifting our spirits after our dark and rainy drive with a glass of sherry and a brightly burning fire in the B&B’s lovely guest lounge. Fran’s paintings cover the walls, an enticing souvenir to buy to remember the Cape West Coast. We could have spent the rest of the evening sitting on the comfy couches chatting with our hosts but at Dave’s recommendation, we had a table waiting for us at The Marmalade Cat.
Find Daisy Darling on the West Coast Way Culture Route and Tractor Route.
Daisy Darling is perfectly located in the middle of the village and after a moment’s walk, we were seated in a cosy restaurant, ready for their popular Friday pizza night. Their pizzas are delicious with a perfectly crisp base and their drinks menu is proudly local. We paired our supper with Darling Brew craft beer and D’cider craft cider. After supper, we headed back to the B&B for a wonderful night’s sleep in our spacious and comfortable room.
The bedrooms at Daisy Darling are well appointed with all the amenities you could wish for: air conditioning, en-suite bathroom, quality furnishings, a tea and coffee station and free Wi-Fi. Our room is beautifully decorated in muted tones with antique furniture complimented by soft grey furnishings. The king-size bed with 100% cotton linen can only be described as vast and despite it being the middle of Winter, we slept snug and warm. The en-suite is modern and contemporary with partially exposed brick walls complimented by strong grey tiles and walls. The shower is huge with luxury soaps and shampoos by Charlotte Rhys, an internationally successful Cape Town brand with a stringent green policy. Between these and the water-wise shower head, my inner eco-warrior was well satisfied.
Breakfast at Daisy Darling is a generous meal with a buffet of fresh fruit, muesli, and yoghurt to tide you over while Dave works his magic in the Kitchen, preparing a classic breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, mushrooms, fried cherry tomatoes and lightly toasted sourdough bread. This morning we are also treated to sweetcorn fritters, made from a secret family recipe. Fuelled for the day, we head out to explore all that this quaint West Coast Town has to offer.
Darling is extremely picturesque and I quickly understood why it is included in West Coast Way’s Tractor Route. Time passes at a different pace and life is something to be savoured without hurry.
An olive tasting at Darling Olives followed by a cheese tasting at Udderly Delicious teach us two things: Darling is foodie heaven and the locals are happy to talk about their business, their lives and their lovely little town. If your itinerary isn’t already jam-packed, you will soon have a long list of recommendations to consider. Speaking of jam, Darling Olives also make delicious wines and their Shiraz Jam is an unexpected delight.
We made a quick stop back at Daisy Darling for tea – it’s right there after all. We could easily have spent the afternoon in their cosy courtyard, soaking up the sun like their friendly brood of felines.
Next up was a walk in through the Darling Renosterveld Local Nature Reserve where the wildflowers were starting to bloom. It was a short, easy walk along a single trail and well worth the view of Darling. Next time – yes, there will definitely be a next time – I will do the walk at sunrise so I can see the sun come up over the village and the surrounding fields.
A visit to Darling is incomplete without a visit to Darling Brewery. Their on-site restaurant, The Tasteroom, overlooks the shiny steel tanks of Africa’s first carbon neutral brewery and offers a wide variety of beer tasting options. We arrived during their ‘Slow Weekend’ Curry Special and indulged in a delicious gourmet bunny chow.
Upon our return to Daisy Darling, we discovered toffees from Darling Sweet on our pillows. It’s no coincidence that there was one of each of our favourite flavours. We had mentioned the fact in passing during a chinwag with our hosts earlier. It’s these little touches that make Fran and Dave’s hospitality stand out and will ensure that I will stay there again when I visit the area again.
Breakfast on the second morning was served on the patio under festive bunting that once decorated Fran and Dave’s wedding venue. It is these little romantic touches that make a stay at Daisy Darling a perfect couple’s weekend away serving as an example, along with Fran and Dave’s charming companionship, of enduring love.
A visit to Darling Sweet led to the delightful discovery of their new Rooibos Chai Toffee. The adjoining Toffee Gallery held a thought-provoking exhibit by Brenda Schmahmann featuring black and white photos Dolly Parton overlayed with the image of an African woman wearing bright red isishweshwe fabric.
The Toffee Gallery served as a reminder of Darling’s place on the West Coast Way Culture Route which will set the theme for our next visit. A show at Evita se Peron, a thorough exploration of the Darling Museum as well as the Wine and Nougat Pairing at Ormonde Private Cellar. There is so much to see and do in and around Darling and with Daisy Darling as a home base, I can’t wait for next time.
Find Daisy Darling on the West Coast Way Culture Route and Tractor Route.
Open 7 days a week
Where: 9 Main Street, Darling
Contact: +27 (0)492 2092 | [email protected] | www.daisydarling.co.za
West Coast Way is South Africa’s road trip with the most twists. Explore a unique collection of 101 road trip stops along themed routes by planning a self drive trip or guided tour for a nature and adventure-filled Cape West Coast vacation. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route, the West Coast Way Wild Route – as well as the newly launched Cape Way Route – all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many.
For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za o