Perfect Hideaways: Parrot House

Parrot House – Some say that the remote little settlement of Misty Cliffs, along the Cape’s revered Peninsula route, between the quaint hamlets of Scarborough and Kommetjie, is one of the best-kept secrets along the shores of the Atlantic.

With a blend of old and quirky, suave and contemporary bungalows tiered into the mountain and towering over the ocean, this secluded stretch of bliss beckons the wanderer in to its abounding Eden.

Set on many levels of living, reclining and entertaining spaces, gently staggered into the cliffs and cascading down corridors of stairways that lead to resting rooms and reading nooks, outdoor showers and secret gardens, this hideaway is like a character out of a Charles Dickens novel, revealing its curious attributes as you explore further. Natural light nurtures every room like a long maternal embrace. Its sweeping open-plan living, dining and kitchen spaces flow like the currents of the ocean at its heels, out onto the terrace and into the courtyard where a braai and pizza oven sits adjacent the outdoor dining area.

Sets of stairways soar up onto the roof, where more languid seating, another braai, a wood-fired hot tub, a meditation deck and sun loungers imbibe the magnificent sea views, and the mountain behind, as if emerging from the fynbos. The cavernous bedrooms occupy the lower levels of the home, where bathtubs overlook the changing tides and outdoor showers expose themselves from stone and creeping ivy.

The Dickens character continues in the gallant art and dapper furnishings of the home that the owners have collected over the years, either from their travels or from the Villa Africa Gallery in Cape Town. Beautiful traditional and contemporary pieces consciously curated, layer upon layer of texture, making poignant statements on style. The vibrancy mirroring the mood of the wilderness outside.

A beach-time experience

With the long stretch of beach being a couple of minutes walk away from the front door, down the stairs through the gardens, beneath the trees and the birdbaths, you’ll start your day strolling along the shoreline. The morning sun has escorted you onto the roof terrace for a bit of meditation and pacifying reflection. A coffee on the terrace then an amble in nature. The energy of the Cape of Good Hope engulfs as it sets your stride into motion for a day of adventures. In the ocean, around the neighbouring villages sourcing ingredients for hours of feasting that will be spent in what feels like your own fortress.

The views are ever-changing with the light of the day. The occasional whale, seal and dolphin, the amazing birdlife and the sound of the waves crashing will add to the theatre of your daily existence at Parrot House. As you settle amongst the vastness of the landscape and allow your great expectations of a holiday beside the sea to deliver on every front.