Homecoming to Fancy Fritz
Homecoming to Fancy Fritz
Experience Swakopmund’s Unique Charm at Fancy Fritz: A Blend of History, Comfort, and Hospitality in the Heart of Namibia’s Coastal Gem.
Text Charene Labuschagne | Photographs Taryn Germishuizen
From the Spring 2023 issue
In a town filled to the brim with guesthouses and hotels, it’s hard to come by a stay that is truly unique. Swakopmund is the epicentre of tourism in Namibia, and with good reason, as it offers historic architecture, specialist shops selling antiques, homemade goods and curios and activities for the entire entourage. Yet, none seem to have captured the essence of this small coastal town within an accommodation space quite like Fancy Fritz.
Fancy Fritz is the new kid on the block at the corner of Leutwein and Windhoeker Street, centrally located to all the abovementioned sights and to-dos, and they have effortlessly pulled off the old-meets-new home away from home with their three exclusive suites.
The brain (and love) child of Jandré and Taryn Germishuizen, Fancy Fritz used to be a historic home. The original floor plan of the property hangs sentinel over the foyer, testament to the fact that the couple have used the original building’s solid “bones” as the blueprint for their renovations. Both avid travellers, the onset of 2022 saw Jandré and Taryn venturing to create a stay that ticks all their seasoned-lodge-guest boxes, with comfort being the number one priority.
Fancy Fritz’s three suites, bar and lounge all open onto an enclosed courtyard. On the Namibian coast, this is pure genius. The landscaped garden, sunken bonfire and trickling fishpond form a refuge from the often unpredictably windy and wet weather. When the sun sets, a crackling camelthorn wood fire invites guests to huddle around with a drink from Fancy Fritz’s super-stocked bar, before heading out for dinner in town.
Curled up in their crisp cotton bedding, a deep, restful slumber is inevitable. Roller blinds block out every slither of light, so if you’ve planned any morning activities during your stay, be sure to set an alarm. It is ridiculously easy, and frankly recommended, to sleep in when staying at Fancy Fritz. The suites also have a nifty tea and coffee station, fit with Swakopmund-roasted coffee pods, and a boisterous cookie jar, just like at your gran’s house. Plush occasional chairs beckon for a book-reading, and guests can even get a little admin done at the desk. But you must wear one of their fluffy robes while doing so!
With so many great eateries in town, Fancy Fritz ushers guests to support the local restaurants, while they offer only breakfast on request. Their breakfast basket can either be delivered to your suite, or served in the cosy dining room sporting a gallery wall filled with intriguing art pieces, a fiddle-leaf ficus flourishing in the corner and French windows overlooking the quiet street. Pair that with a croissant and bacon, and Bob’s your uncle!
Lovers of design will revel in the lounge and bar area, where skylights flood velvet and cane couches with ambience. A row of double doors open onto the patio, where bistro-style tables and umbrellas cement the old-meets-new vibe, and inside, carefully considered coffee table books, knick-knacks and guitars are enveloped in a colour palette of peach and olive green.
After a day’s gallivanting in Swakopmund, returning to Fancy Fritz is a homecoming. Sleep well, bask in a sunlit room while paging through a picture book, sit around a Namibian fire and drink a generous gin and tonic. Few things say “home” like this combo does.
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