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The Midlands Meander has always been a favourite Sunday adventure for the Crookes family. We love the idea of all the little stores and different things we can collect. Some of our favourite foods and snacks are found hidden away in the hills of the Midlands. There is something that is calming and rejuvenating about the Midlands air, it is perfect way to spend a Sunday wondering around, the Midlands air will refresh you so that your Monday blues are not so blue... maybe a bright blue!
I will be reviewing the spots we visited on our last trip. Unfortunately, some of my absolutely favourite places were closed due to COVID-19.
* Click on the names of the places to be taken to their websites
The best way to meander through the Midlands is to start early... but not too early because everything only really opens up after 8:30/9am. First find a coffee shop, stop and get out, enjoy the views and the warm coffee.
Just after the Nelson Mandela Capture Site is the cutest little coffee shop made from a shipping container and a wooden structure with the greatest view of the railway. This is on the of the stops of the Rovos Rail. They serve Terbodore coffee and have some additions that you could to your coffee that may make this little coffee shop even more interesting - CBD or HTC drops. This may make the rest of the meander that much more relaxing and interesting. They also sell edibles, just ask to see their tray. They sell muffins and other snacks too, just normal ones. They also cater for vegans and if you would something cold like a frappe. I would recommend sitting on the roof and visiting the bathroom, there's something exotic about watching trains go past as you do your thang on the toilet.
I had the hot chocolate with CBD drops, can't say I felt much but the hot chocolate was sweet and enjoyable. The savour muffin was really taste but a little dry.
Their prices are normal-good.
R35 for hot chocolate
R30 for cappucino
R10 for CBD drops (can add extra)
9/10
Right next to VT coffee cafe is The Platform, an art gallery that represents some of South Africa's best talent. There are a lot of really interesting pieces and amazing leather bags and belts.
I would recommend visiting and speaking to the really cool shop attendants about the incredible pieces that the have on display. One of my favourite pieces hangs from the ceiling, it is a stunning chandelier made from roots of tree. And if you can, please do support our local artists by buying one the incredible pieces that The Platform has on display.
9/10
Just next VT coffee cafe and The Platform lies The Nguni Guy. If you are looking nguni hides, he will be the person to see. There is a great selection of quality hides, which we, ourselves, have in our house.
The next stop on our meander is just off the R103 and down the road from VT coffee cafe and The Platform. Piggly Wiggly is a collection of many little store that sell items from furniture, linen, chocolate, food, clothes to fireplaces , there is also an art gallery worth visiting. All the stores stocked with locally crafted items that can truly impress some locals. A little train runs around the center of the collection of stores which kids(and adults) can ride. There is a restaurant, if you do decide to spend the rest of the day in this little paradise.
Stores worth visiting; Zulu Lulu, The Linen Loft and Chocolate Heaven.
But my absolute favourite place; Wedgewood Emporium.
One of the most beautiful stores I have ever been to, from the art to the products to how the staff dress and treat every customer. Not only do they make the most sensational nougat but their nougat biscuits are to die for, my favourite is the Angel collection SALTED CARAMEL. Plus, you can buy the wrapping used as art in the store at just R25 a roll and you can buy beautiful presented gift boxes fulled with amazing treats, this may make from incredible wedding presents or birthday presents.
9.5/10
Off the R103, up a steep not paved road (maybe difficult to get up if you are in a small or low to the ground car) lies Swissland Cheese. Swissland Cheese is renown for their use of goats milk in their cheeses, but they also use cows milk sometimes. They do their own cheese on site, including the milking of the goats. Swissland Cheese is a picnicking site but do not bring your own food. Here you will be given a basket and a picnic blanket, fill your basket up with biscuits, wine, platters of cheese and other items such as the most amazing red onion marmalade, also add goats food to your basket so you can feed the goats during your picnic. They will also give you glasses for your wine and knives for the cheese. Find a spot and set out your picnic. The different cheeses are truly sensation and can be enjoyed by everyone in the family as in each platter there are several types of cheeses and there has to be one everyone will like. There will be mixtures of hard and soft cheeses.
Please don't forget to recycle at their allocated bins.
9.5/10
Another picturesque spot. We stopped at the brewery side as a gin and tonic was call us. Everything was clean and old-fashioned which was the perfect setting for this well-known hotel. The shop with curios and some printed tees was well priced and had some really cool things, such as a red vintage-inspired rugby jersey with a Notties logo which was a perfect gift for my teenage brother. The bathrooms were clean and so well decorated. The service was great, the staff was friendly and helpful.
I had the Rawdon's mixed berry gin and tonic on tap. Highly recommend, it came with pieces of pineapple, blueberry, orange, rosemary and lemon. The flavouring was soft and enjoyable for a sunny Sunday afternoon. It was refreshing.
I would recommend stopping here for a drink and maybe try their tasting menu. A lot of people were ordering it around me and it looked AMAZING.
9/10
The Bierfassl is located close to the center of Nottingham Road on the R103. It is a German inspired restaurant with a the reputation to have the best Eisbein.
The table wasn't very clean and it was a bench, but that is okay.
I ordered the Rawdon's mixed berry gin and tonic on tap again as I was so in love with it but it definately didn't taste the same. It tasted like tequila but didn't kick like tequila. Please don't order the Rawdon's mixed berry gin and tonic on tap from the The Bierfassl, just rather go to Rawdon's for the drink, it's so much better. Unfortunately, they did not have many beers because of no stock due to the alcohol band just being lifted and not many had been delivered. They also didn't have a few food items due to COVID as well.
The service was good, but they could of told us before hand what the don't have before we order and get told "no, sorry we don't have that." I do understand that it was not their fault that they do not have certain items on their menu, I just don't like having to change my order once I decide on something.
Unfortunately, I was not up to tackling an Eisbein in fear of it eating me first, it had been a long day and I had already filled up on cheese and crackers from Swissland Cheese but I did hear that the Eisbein was really good, not great but good. I ordered Crumbed Wild boar with a plum and red wine sauce, chips and salad, but they didn't have plum so I had a cranberry sauce instead. I was not overwhelmed, it was quite average. I wasn't in the mood for crumbed food but I wanted to eat traditional and I know German food is often crumbed. The meat wasn't too tough, but the crumb wasn't crispy which leads me to believe the wild boar was not freshly crumbed and rather frozen in the crumb, which I don't appreciate. The salad was an average salad with normal things like cucumber, tomato, onion and lettuce, the salad dressing amazing. I actually bought some from the shop at R40 for the bottle.
I wouldn't recommend The Bierfassl if you are looking for a pretty, well presented, light-ish lunch, but if you are looking for a bar, rustic-type feel for a lunch with traditional food then this is the place for you.
6/10
In conclusion, the meander was a Sunday well spent. It was an adventure and a time that was thoroughly enjoyed due to the best company, the greatest little spots and ,for the most part, good food. I can not wait until the next time we journey back up to the Midlands as it truly is one my happy places.
and remember to love yourself first,
Love Amber
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