Serenity in divine style

Published Apr 26, 2015

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‘It’s faaabulous” drawled Quentin. “You must visit”. Decorator Quentin’s taste is irreproachable and so it was, that on a scorching summer afternoon, I was ringing the bell atop the steps at Avatara (manifestation of the Hindi Divine Mother) high up in the Cape Town suburb of Greenpoint on the slopes of Signal Hill.

Cher Poznanovich saw the potential in a grotty boarding house and six years ago transformed it into a charming, peaceful, very relaxed hideaway in the bustling suburb. The 1880 Victorian building seems to be enjoying its revival. It’s a calm and serene place - open and casual.

If I’m repeating myself, it bears repeating. It’s as if, when stripping away old paint to reveal the beautiful wood beneath, Poznanovich breathed some of herself into the timbers.

Visual cues and clues affirm, yet gently challenge, perceptions and sensibilities throughout the place. It could have been twee and faddish but it isn’t. Good on her.

Cher wasn’t there in person. I was briefed about the honesty bar system and what was where in the kitchen and then was on my own.

There is a bar fridge in the kitchen as well as on the upstairs landing, outside the lovely suite that was mine. The high ceilinged bedroom had an inviting king size bed with crisp percale linen and fluffy big pillows which bode well for a good night’s sleep. At the foot was a decorative fireplace below a large mirror and there was an enclosed balcony with a sleeper couch in front of wide louvre windows.

Between the bedroom and the large bathroom was a little hallway cum study area with an old school desk. There is complimentary wi-fi and plenty of plug points.

The bathroom had double basins, a shower, heated towel rails and huge corner tub, with no plastic bottles. Environmentally friendly organic beauty products, recycling (with a heat pump for winter warming) are some of Avatara’s commitments for a better future (there are others).

There are two other upstairs rooms and several downstairs - all quite different. Also downstairs is a glass roofed conservatory style breakfast area and some comfy seating for just hanging out.

Fair weather meant everyone was out. It’s a short drive from Avatara to Cape Town’s must-see spots, and Greenpoint is a walking neighbourhood with shops, cafes and restaurants close by and the beach promenade 10 minutes on foot.

When I did meet Poznanovich she was flushed from her jaunt with her dogs in the award winning Green Point Urban Park, next to the football stadium which is very close to the V&A Waterfront, where I had a dinner date. Anyone who eats out in Cape Town knows Baía on the upper level, if only by reputation. With covered outside dining areas spread across four terraces, Baía is pricey, elegant, superb. Mike and I enjoyed the magnificent wraparound views of the bay as much as the food.

He devoured juicy oven baked snails for starters while I warmed to a warm goat’s cheese salad with artichokes, grapefruit wedges, walnuts, cherry tomatoes and lime and honey dressing.

Then it was a fabulous seafood platter for Mike and, for me, melt-in-the-mouth kingklip with crayfish thermidor on sautéed spinach with a creamy garlic sauce with button mushrooms, asparagus and savoury rice.

Death-by-chocolate semifreddo and baked Lindt chocolate pudding with ice cream followed.

On the subject of food, I must mention Avatara’s breakfast. Cher makes the perfect omelette and is a lovely host. If you need pointers during your stay, or help with arranging things - even an in-room reiki treatment, she will oblige. Thank you Quentin!

* Call 021 433 0341/087 808 6930 or visit www.avatara.co.za

Adrian Rorvik, Sunday Tribune

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