Guidebook for Guests of Franschhoek Farm Cottages
Food Scene
Its got the best French food with good service. Its in the main road so you get to sit on the patio and enjoy a glass of bubbly while taking in the Franschhoek vibe. How formal is it? Formal being 10 and casual being 1, I would give it a 7/10.
39 locals recommend
The French Connection Bistro
48 Huguenot StreetIts got the best French food with good service. Its in the main road so you get to sit on the patio and enjoy a glass of bubbly while taking in the Franschhoek vibe. How formal is it? Formal being 10 and casual being 1, I would give it a 7/10.
It is a very nice restaurant on the Leeu Estates property. It is a big yes if you have a special occasion or if you are a foodie. It is expensive, about R800 per person, but the view, the food, the service...ALL Excellent.
Le chêne Restaurant
Dassenberg RoadIt is a very nice restaurant on the Leeu Estates property. It is a big yes if you have a special occasion or if you are a foodie. It is expensive, about R800 per person, but the view, the food, the service...ALL Excellent.
Love this informal beer brewery. Nice tapa style food with a big drinks menu. Great from 5pm to 10pm. Also on the main road. Good vibe!
40 locals recommend
Tuk Tuk Microbrewery
14 Huguenot StLove this informal beer brewery. Nice tapa style food with a big drinks menu. Great from 5pm to 10pm. Also on the main road. Good vibe!
Great place for everyone. Even your dog is welcome. Great and interesting food. Chill vibe. Good beer. Beatiful building and setting. Very spacious. Book in advance.
12 locals recommend
Hey Joe Brewery
R45Great place for everyone. Even your dog is welcome. Great and interesting food. Chill vibe. Good beer. Beatiful building and setting. Very spacious. Book in advance.
Very good Fine Dining Restaurant. If you are a foodie this is the place for you. Not family friendly. Adults only.
33 locals recommend
La Petite Colombe
Dassenberg RoadVery good Fine Dining Restaurant. If you are a foodie this is the place for you. Not family friendly. Adults only.
The name says it all. The "baby" of the famous Le Colombe. Fine dining taken seriously by the menu by not by the atmosphere. Very nice setting, food is fantastic, the atmosphere is just more relaxed than it will be at a 5* fine dining restaurant. I will highly recommend this place if you would like a fine dining experience at a good prices
11 locals recommend
Protégé
18 Huguenot StThe name says it all. The "baby" of the famous Le Colombe. Fine dining taken seriously by the menu by not by the atmosphere. Very nice setting, food is fantastic, the atmosphere is just more relaxed than it will be at a 5* fine dining restaurant. I will highly recommend this place if you would like a fine dining experience at a good prices
Beautiful and Historic wine farm. There is a gallary of the famous SA artist, Pierneef.
41 locals recommend
La Motte Wine Farm & Restaurant
R45Beautiful and Historic wine farm. There is a gallary of the famous SA artist, Pierneef.
Love this place. Good food, good dècor, very spacious, great for families, great wine at good prices, beautiful scenery and a beautiful farm shop selling the most gorgeous things.
They do a very good Rotisserie lunch. Book!!
31 locals recommend
Leopard's Leap
R45 Main RdLove this place. Good food, good dècor, very spacious, great for families, great wine at good prices, beautiful scenery and a beautiful farm shop selling the most gorgeous things.
They do a very good Rotisserie lunch. Book!!
The Hoek Espresso Bar
Grab a quick coffee here!!
Great place!
Great place... beautiful, a bit far from town. Book a picnic. Its a good spot for children. Very spacious. Very classy wine farm, do not let the "good for kids" scare you away.
130 locals recommend
Boschendal Wine Estate
Great place... beautiful, a bit far from town. Book a picnic. Its a good spot for children. Very spacious. Very classy wine farm, do not let the "good for kids" scare you away.
A new and very trendy restaurant and wine tasting room at your doorstep. Enjoy a 5 min walk to this gorgeous spot. On the farm, see the map in your cottage.
Deux Lions
Excelsior RoadA new and very trendy restaurant and wine tasting room at your doorstep. Enjoy a 5 min walk to this gorgeous spot. On the farm, see the map in your cottage.
This restaurant and wine tasting room is on the farm, make sure to pop in, it is something to remember!
Deux Lions
This restaurant and wine tasting room is on the farm, make sure to pop in, it is something to remember!
Drinks & Nightlife
Its the best place to enjoy a night out with friends. Usually has live bands on Fridays and Saturdays. Very informal with good bar food (burgers, pizzas, anything deep fried ) Best variety of drinks, local biers, craft gins and local wines.
43 locals recommend
Elephant and Barrel Village pub
48 Huguenot StIts the best place to enjoy a night out with friends. Usually has live bands on Fridays and Saturdays. Very informal with good bar food (burgers, pizzas, anything deep fried ) Best variety of drinks, local biers, craft gins and local wines.
Its great. If you love wine or not, this is great. A lot of fun and exciting. All ages can join. The ticket office is as you enter town, close to the Pick n Pay. Online tickets also available.
Please organize a shuttle with us or use Uber. No drinking and driving please.
196 locals recommend
Franschhoek Wine Tram
Cabriere StreetIts great. If you love wine or not, this is great. A lot of fun and exciting. All ages can join. The ticket office is as you enter town, close to the Pick n Pay. Online tickets also available.
Please organize a shuttle with us or use Uber. No drinking and driving please.
Best view, best red wine, best bubbly and greatbscenery! A very good all round if you are here to visit wine farms!
44 locals recommend
Haute Cabrière Restaurant & Terrace
Lambrechts RoadBest view, best red wine, best bubbly and greatbscenery! A very good all round if you are here to visit wine farms!
A little Gem as you enter town on the R45. 7 km out of town. Great place. The wine maker is usually there to greet and answer questions. Nice and non commercial!
Eikehof
R45A little Gem as you enter town on the R45. 7 km out of town. Great place. The wine maker is usually there to greet and answer questions. Nice and non commercial!
Its Sir Richard Branson's wine farm. Its nice but not my first choice. Maybe something nice to visit just to tick the box.
11 locals recommend
Mont Rochelle
1499 Dassenberg RdIts Sir Richard Branson's wine farm. Its nice but not my first choice. Maybe something nice to visit just to tick the box.
Nice place to taste MCC. They have good bubbly. Good snacks as well, may be a bit expensive.
18 locals recommend
Le Lude Estate and Orangerie Restaurant
Lambrechts RoadNice place to taste MCC. They have good bubbly. Good snacks as well, may be a bit expensive.
Sightseeing
It is breathtaking from up close. It very cheap to enter and the big garden with surrounding mountains are just beautiful. Its not the same from the side of the street. Take time to enter, the history is very interesting.
72 locals recommend
Huguenot Memorial Museum
Dirkie Uys StreetIt is breathtaking from up close. It very cheap to enter and the big garden with surrounding mountains are just beautiful. Its not the same from the side of the street. Take time to enter, the history is very interesting.
It is beautiful, it's active, it's fresh it's for the nature lover. If you like walking please spoil yourself to this amazing trail. There is a ticket office at the top of the pass.
64 locals recommend
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve
It is beautiful, it's active, it's fresh it's for the nature lover. If you like walking please spoil yourself to this amazing trail. There is a ticket office at the top of the pass.
This place is wonderful. They have the most beautiful and creative gardens. My personal favorite place around Franschhoek. Its 20 min out of town, but worth the drive. There is a place where you can have lunch or just a coffee.
They also do wine tastings, have a restaurant that is formal and they have a spa. The spa is amazing but very full and expensive! Maybe you are in town for a special occasion.... :)
183 locals recommend
Babylonstoren
Klapmuts - Simondium RoadThis place is wonderful. They have the most beautiful and creative gardens. My personal favorite place around Franschhoek. Its 20 min out of town, but worth the drive. There is a place where you can have lunch or just a coffee.
They also do wine tastings, have a restaurant that is formal and they have a spa. The spa is amazing but very full and expensive! Maybe you are in town for a special occasion.... :)
There is a car museum at L'Ormarins Wine Farm. If you like wheels go there, It is quite something. It is the Rupert Family car collection. Lots of fast cars, convertibles, old cars and also F1 cars. Very nice!
75 locals recommend
Franschhoek Motor Museum
R45There is a car museum at L'Ormarins Wine Farm. If you like wheels go there, It is quite something. It is the Rupert Family car collection. Lots of fast cars, convertibles, old cars and also F1 cars. Very nice!
If you would like to rent a bike and explore, this is your go to place!
12 locals recommend
Franschhoek Cycles
2 Main RoadIf you would like to rent a bike and explore, this is your go to place!
Horse back riding and wine tasting. Very nice outing. Be sure to book this if you are up for the adventure.
8 locals recommend
Paradise Cottages and Stables, Franschhoek
Robertsvlei RoadHorse back riding and wine tasting. Very nice outing. Be sure to book this if you are up for the adventure.
Best clothing store for the ladies. Beautiful pieces.
Opposite the church in the main road. Next to Senqu; best place to shop for kiddies, or get yourself a puffer jacket if the winter comes quicker than expected.
Desray
48 Huguenot StBest clothing store for the ladies. Beautiful pieces.
Opposite the church in the main road. Next to Senqu; best place to shop for kiddies, or get yourself a puffer jacket if the winter comes quicker than expected.
Necessities
All your medical and pharmacutical needs. Make-up to pain killers. All there. In the main road
7 locals recommend
Clicks Pharmacy - Franschhoek
25 Main RdAll your medical and pharmacutical needs. Make-up to pain killers. All there. In the main road
Pick N Pay, Franschhoek
13 Main RdBig Grocery store.
Good quality grocery store. Best if you want to buy ready meals or braaivleis (meat for barbeque)
There is also a great coffee shop for breakfast or a quick coffee.
33 locals recommend
Woolworths Franschhoek
19 Huguenot StGood quality grocery store. Best if you want to buy ready meals or braaivleis (meat for barbeque)
There is also a great coffee shop for breakfast or a quick coffee.
For the best hair cut or a quick blow dry, try this place! They are good.
FHB - Franschhoek Hair & Beauty
1 Huguenot StFor the best hair cut or a quick blow dry, try this place! They are good.
Best beauty salon in town. The sell products if you need and the facials are to die for. You will be treated.
Franschhoek Skin Care Clinic
1 Main RdBest beauty salon in town. The sell products if you need and the facials are to die for. You will be treated.
This is the doctors rooms. There are 3 doctors at the centre. We go to Dr. Van Der Merwe.
Dr Alexander Heywood
Cabriere StreetThis is the doctors rooms. There are 3 doctors at the centre. We go to Dr. Van Der Merwe.
Traveler advice
Ways to save
Avoid a fine from Traffic Officers
In Europe and the UK you are allowed to park on any side of the road. In SA only on your left.
At the 3 stop, at the Monument, as you enter town there is usually a traffic cop making sure everyone stops. Stop to avoid ticket.
Traveling with kids
Child Friendly spots
Hey Joe Brewing Company
Franschooek Cellar (lunch is great)
Col'Cacchio's Pizzeria
Leopard's Leap Winery
Eikehof Wine Farm (nice open space, quiet and usually a chicken or 3 walking around)
La Bourgogne Wine Farm (Play gym, just 300m from Bourgogne Cottages)
Montagne guests are welcome to use the play gym in the main house garden.
Useful phrases
If you want to make friends
Just say:
" Lekker my bra!"
Its means something like "Nice to see you friendly person!" :D
''Lets braai!''
It means lets have a barbecue together.
''Awê my friend"
It means hallo my friend
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
Xhosa for Lord bless Africa
Getting around
Use Uber as the cheapest option
Uber offers the best rates, but can sometimes take too long as there are only a few opperators. Lots of local taxi's available, ask us for a few contacts as it can get very expensive.
Don't miss
Saturday Village Market
Lovely!!! Usually a live band or solo artist, great food and a good vibe all over. If you love books, they sell the best books at giveaway prices.
Customs and culture
Do not tip for parking in Franschhoek
The Municipality has decided not to make use of car guards in town. The locals stop every 2 minutes and it is impossible to tip everyone. We have no paid parking in town except for weekends on the church grounds, but if you need to pay you will be charged before you enter.
Don't miss
Bastille Festival in July!!
Great Vibe!! Do not miss this festival
Don't miss
There is Literary Festival in June every year
If you love debates, books, speeches, presentations and all things intellectual, this is the festival to attend.
Don't miss
The Blossoms on the farm.
Every year the blossoms are amazing.
It starts mid Aug and ends Mid Sept. DO NOT MISS THIS!!
Don't miss
Harvest time ( Dec to March)
Harvest time is usually a bit more busy on the farm, but it is an great sight to see. The trees full of yellow, red and purple plums. The tractor with all the bins, the workers, the forklift. And best of all, you get to taste!
Customs and culture
A few friendly farm customs
The dogs will love you... enjoy their beautiful souls.
We love friendly guests.
We leave our guests in peace after check-in for them to enjoy the privacy, please contact us or visit reception if you need anything, we want to help.
Please visit the dam, it truly is beautiful!
Walk on the farm, its part of the experience.
Ways to save
Don't but the first piece of art you see
In Franschhoek there are many Art Galleries. Each unique, with the most beautiful pieces!! Some local, some African, some strange and some just ridiculously expensive. Walk through the whole of the main road before making a decision. There are LOTS to choose from.