Villa St James is a beautiful, historic mansion, built in 1850 and has over the years been home to the British admiralty, the Greek royal family and League of Nations founder, Jan Smuts. The villa was renovated in the 1930s in the Italianate style of today. The villa is now open to guests, who can enjoy its grandeur, wonderful decor, large gardens and views of the Indian Ocean and the mountains.
There are 8 bedrooms in the main house plus 5 bathrooms. All the bedrooms are different in design and have special features such as hardwood floors, full length mirrors, colourful Moroccan kilims and art deco light fittings. All bedding and towels are provided. The bedrooms and bathrooms are all located on the upper storey, which also has a long gallery and access to the garden. All rooms have either mountain or sea views and some have a private balcony. There is also a shared enclosed terrace. There is another bedroom in the Grapevine, a separate guesthouse located near the main house, which also has an ensuite bathoom and living room.
Downstairs in the main house are the reception rooms and kitchens. The sitting room has a collection of books, covering such diverse subjects as nature, photography, art, culture and history. There are also some 400 CDs and a state of the art hifi system. There are doors leading to the outdoor dining terrace. The TV room is perfect for relaxing, watching TV, playing cards or reading. The billiards room has a half size snooker and billiards table. The dining room is very grand, with Venetian mirrors, silk curtains, chandeliers, a gilded ceiling and a parquet floor. The centrepiece of the room is the huge dining table which can seat up to 22 guests. All rooms have beautiful period features and decor such as panelled walls, brick fireplaces, decorated cornices, antique furniture, artwork and candleabra. The Ship's Bar stocks a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It also has a collection of board games. The Gapevine patio leads off the bar and is the perfect place to enjoy sundowners.
Outside the villa has a large front garden and separate, secluded back garden. The latter is a private sanctuary. It has an umbrella-shaded dining table for relaxed al fresco dining and a whale watching deck. Meals can also be enjoyed by the pool and there is a barbecue on the braai deck. The swimming pool is in the front garden and has views of False Bay. There is a poolside hot and cold shower. The garden has over 260 species of plants, some well-known and some rare. There is a large lawn, ideal for inpromtu games of badminton or football.
St James is usually offered as self-catering accommodation. The kitchen is superbly equipped, and has crockey and cutlery for up to 26 people. There is a separate scullery and pantry. Should guests prefer, they can hire the service of a professional chef, who can cater for all or some meals during their stay. There are also several restaurants and cafes in St James and Kalk Bay, which is just a couple of miles away. If desired, guests can have access to a concierge who can arrange all kinds of excursions, tours and services. The villa can be hired out in its entirety for a large party, or by the room by individual guests.
The villa is situated just above St James beach. With its rock and tidal pools and warm water, this is great place for swimming. There are lots of excellent beaches along the False Bay coast and some great surfing and windsurfing, as well as opportunities for other watersports. Other activities within easy reach of the villa are tennis, golf, walking and sea kayaking. Above the villa is the Silver Mine nature reserve, open to the public for receational purposes, and a great place to spend a lazy afternoon or enjoy an invigorating walk. There are several shops nearby selling antiques, books and crafts while St James has the oldest house on the region, Hit Posthuys, built in 1670, and some fine museums.
