Recently, on Good Friday the Other Half & myself were invited by friends of us to join them for a pre-Easter lunch at Bosman’s. This iconic place is the restaurant of five star luxury retreat Grande Roche Hotel, located in Paarl. Located at the foot of the Paarl Rock, you are quite high up and the views of the mountains and vineyards are fabulous. The Manor House of Grande Roche is a historical example of architectural craftsmanship. I enjoyed the lunch at Bosman’s very much. The staff was friendly and efficient, the wine and food excellent and the location very special. Below you’ll find a brief photo report of the afternoon we spend with friends at Bosman’s.
A lunch with this view is always a good idea.
My starter: local burrata (without a doubt the best burrata I have ever tasted), garden cocktail tomato salad, oxalis crème and Parma ham. Not too many ingredients on one plate, good quality, extremely fresh, so delicious. This is the type of cuisine I can really appreciate. 
As it was Good Friday, I didn’t want to order meat as a main. I am not very religious, but these traditions do remind me of my childhood, and (even more) of the stories about the childhood of my parents, and that is a good thing. This delicious hake, pan-fried to perfection (warm and done but still moist) with the crispy skin, baby potatoes and the creamy mushroom sauce was divine. Perfect with a full bodied Chardonnay, but also with a light red wine, like a Pinot Noir.
A bit of cheese to finish off the red wine. Because a foodie has to do what she has to do 😉
And something sweet; Panna cotta, nectarine, vanilla and biscotti. The taste of this dessert made me think of the French classical dessert îles flottantes.
How dreamy is this picture? I believe these are a few hotel rooms of Grande Roche. Although I live in Franschhoek, which is of course very close, I would love to stay at Grande Roche one day. To do a full weekend of Paarl’s hidden gems discoveries…
…and wake up with a view like this.
And have sundowner drinks on this stoep.
The Facts
Grande Roche is a five star hotel and part of the ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ group.
Besides Bosman’s fine dining restaurant they also have a more simple, bistro style menu and there is a room for private functions. The wine list is quite extensive and they offer both well-known bulk wines, but also more special and exclusive finds. If you are a foodie, looking for a special place for lunch or dinner, book Bosman’s! Check upfront if they serve their full fine dining menu that day, as some days of the week (with winter around the corner) they might only offer the bistro menu. Which is also nice, but different. More information can be found on their website.
We definitely will be back soon for another experience at Bosman’s. Can’t wait to try the duck breast as a main!
*Note: I have been invited by friends – who payed the bill in full – to join them for lunch at Bosman’s. It was my own idea to write about the visit, and I don’t get paid or sponsored by a third party. All photos in this article are mine.
