History of Houw Hoek Hotel in Grabouw 1779

Did you know that the oldest licensed hotel in South Africa is the Houw Hoek Hotel?

Built in 1779, in the days of the Dutch East India Company, it was originally the site of a toll gate on the wagon road to the eastern interior. First known as the Houw Hoek Inn, it received its liquor license in 1834 and has been in continuous operation for longer than any hotel in the country.

It has seen many expansions and improvements over the years, and, in one form or another, the Houw Hoek Hotel has offered hospitality to travellers for more than two centuries.

Have you been to the hotel? 

Do you have a special Grabouw or Elgin story, memory or photo to share? Email us at info@xplorio.com and help keep our town’s stories alive.