“Franschhoek is the birthplace of fine South African wines and gourmet cuisine with an international flavour.” Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Located in the heart of the South African wine route, the picturesque Franschhoek Country House & Villas is framed by a scenic backdrop of vineyards and mountains. The striking yellow accommodation can be found just outside Franschhoek, the small quaint town right in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Reminiscent of an luxury French country abode, the two storey five-star hotel offers just twenty-six luxury rooms set in stunning manicured gardens.
We stayed in an elegant Villa Suite that had a large bedroom, separate lounge with dining area and en-suite bathroom with free standing bath and separate walk-in shower. The spacious suite had two private balconies to kickback and relax while taking in the views of the gardens lined with flower entwined arches, fountains and statues. A series of interconnecting garden paths link all the buildings together as well as access to the outdoor swimming pools.
Drinks are served in the ground floor bar area and the daily complementary breakfast is served upstairs offering guests an array of baked goods, fresh fruit, cheeses, cold meats and an a la carte menu of hot dishes cooked to order.
Located within the hotel grounds is the award-winning Monneaux Restaurant that serves a menu of modern cuisine with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce sourced primarily from the Cape region. The stylish restaurant, housed in a former perfumery dating back to 1890, is open for lunch and dinner and of course due to its locality has an extensive wine list. The food is beautifully presented and delicious, choose to sit inside or dine alfresco on the lawned area.
The onsite spa offers a menu of facials, massages and signature treatments. Bikes are available to hire and we took full advantage to explore on two wheels, cycling into Franschhoek village to experience the local weekend market and roam around the cute shops, cafes and wine shops. We also cycled out into the country to nearby wine farms which was a test of fitness levels!
Franschhoek Country House & Villas is a fabulous, tranquil place to relax and the ideal location to explore the neighbouring wine farms. My top tips would be to book the Franschhoek Wine Tram to ferry you between all your wine-tastings at the different vineyards, dine at Monneaux restaurant for some cotemporary fine dining and leave plenty of room in your luggage for all the delicious wine you purchase from the area. Franschhoek is a must-visit place as is nearby Stellenbosch, to experience all the natural beauty this area has to offer.
The Nitty Gritty
Franschhoek Country House and Villas, Main Road, Franschhoek, Western Cape, 7690, South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0) 44 501 1111
Website: www.fch.co.za
Check-in: 2:30pm
Check-out: 10:30am
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The Good…
Location in the stunning Cape Winelands
Elegant & luxurious accommodation
Fine dining restaurant with an extensive wine collection
Free and fast wifi
The Not so Good…..
Not the cheapest option in the area
Read more about South Africa in previous posts HERE
The views in this post are all my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2017. All rights reserved. Additional photos used with courtesy of www.fch.co.za