The 10 Best Places to Stay in Franschhoek

Just a short drive east of Cape Town, you’ll find this petite slice of Provence, where a handful of French Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago (in 1688, to be precise).

Meaning “French corner” in Dutch, Franschhoek offers the perfect weekend getaway for visitors wanting to explore its unique heritage and breathtaking natural beauty – flecked with multi-cultural flavours.

The town has an eminently walkable main road, filled with boutique shops, art galleries and world-class restaurants. Go beyond (perhaps on the hop-on, hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram) and you’ll find world-renowned wine farms, not to mention fynbos-covered mountain slopes with trails aplenty for hikers, runners and mountain bikers.

If you’re looking for somewhere special to eat, see our 20 Best Restaurants in Franschhoek, and for things to do during your stay, consult our 20 Best Things To Do in Franschhoek.

Sterrekopje Farm

Tucked away in the lush foothills of the magnificent Franschhoek mountains, Sterrekopje Farm is a soulful, whimsical place of restoration, regeneration and healing rest. Here, you’ll find a slice of what can only be described as paradise, complete with magical overgrown gardens, hand-crafted furniture, crackling fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, climbing vines, natural pools and meditative nooks aplenty. What’s not to love?

The lodgings

• 11 private, individually decorated suites (known as Sanctuaries), either in the Main House or scattered across the farm
• ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower and deep-soaking bathtub
• spacious living area and private terrace
• outdoor bath or shower in select suites
• indoor fireplace in select suites
• saltwater pool
• Old Farmhouse with shared library, orangery, bakery and kitchen (including a large farmhouse table for meals)
• farm gardens featuring indigenous and heritage plants
• Atelier offering creative classes
• Bath House offering massage, yoga, sound bath, reflexology and other healing rituals
• Chakra Garden + private outdoor spaces for contemplation and meditation
• dam for wild swimming and canoeing
• rates include all meals and beverages (including alcohol), daily treatments (Rituals), daily group activities (Farm Rhythms), laundry service and mini bar

Child friendly? No
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per suite
Cost From R15 300 per room per night; minimum two-night stay
Where to find it Excelsior Road, Franschhoek
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La Cotte Farm Cottages

Aside from being an ever-popular wedding venue (one look at the scenic surrounds and you’ll understand why), this beautiful wine farm is also a sought-after destination for those seeking a quiet reprieve in a bucolic setting. An undeniable sense of peace and tranquillity (it’s hard to believe that town is just a short walk away), coupled with beautifully appointed lodgings, makes this country escape dating back to 1698 a firm favourite for people visiting the village.

The lodgings

• 10 Orchard Cottages (one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom)
• 9 Forest Cottages (mezzanine, one-bedroom or two-bedroom)
• ensuite bathroom with bath and shower
• open-plan lounge and dining area with indoor fireplace
• smart TV with select DStv channels and Netflix
• private pool at each Orchard Cottage
• shared pool for Forest Cottages
• shaded verandah with a braai and outdoor seating area
• air-conditioning and heating
• La Cotte Restaurant serves breakfast and brunch
• view-drenched bar for afternoon and evening drinks

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 – 6 per cottage
Cost Orchard Cottages: From R4 555 per cottage per night
Forest Cottages: From R3 915 per cottage per night
Where to find it 24 La Cotte Street, Franschhoek
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La Clé Lodge

Among sweeping vineyards and beautiful gardens, La Clé Lodge is the epitome of a sequestered farm stay. Its Cape Dutch-inspired interiors (courtesy of Jacques Erasmus of Hemelhuijs), coupled with a tennis court, helipad, duck ponds, water features, and lush lawns as far as the eye can see, make this the ultimate hideaway – not to mention a team of experienced chefs on hand to tend to all your dining desires.

The lodgings

• 2 Garden Rooms, 2 Petite Rooms and 1 Courtyard Room
• ensuite bathroom with a shower and/or freestanding bath, heated towel rails
• king-size beds and small seating area
• private patio leading out onto the garden (Garden and Courtyard rooms)
• TV with select DStv channels
• tea- and coffee-making facilities + complimentary snacks
• spacious shared living and relaxation areas
• farmhouse kitchen
• swimming pool and dam
• manicured gardens and vineyards
• tennis court + chip-and-putt lawn
• in-house massage treatments
• bicycles (subject to availability)
• helipad
• breakfast and shared dinners available to book

Child friendly? Yes, 12 years and older
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per room
Cost From R7 200 per room per night
Where to find it 32 Cabriere Street, Franschhoek
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

7 Koppies

Perched on a small hill at the top of a long, winding dirt road, 7 Koppies is a tastefully quirky five-bedroom farmhouse in the Franschhoek Valley with spectacular, unhindered views of vineyards, the Simonsberg Mountains and an eminently hikeable fynbos reserve – all of which are best enjoyed at sunset, with a glass of vino, from the edge of the 25-metre-long pool.

The lodgings

• 3 ensuite rooms + 3 spacious suites
• one-bedroom Rockwood Cottage with a kitchen, private pool and balcony
• king-size beds
• open-plan communal lounge, fully equipped kitchen and dining area
• 25-metre lap pool
• outdoor terrace
• manicured gardens + 50 hectares of fynbos
• house manager, butler and security guard
• breakfast each morning

Child friendly? Yes, 13 years and older
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per room
Cost From R4 250 per room per night; minimum two-night stay
Where to find it Wemmershoek Road, Franschhoek
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Monument House

A haven of off-the-grid luxury, this Franschhoek retreat combines glorious design with contemporary Cape Dutch architecture and top-to-toe sustainability. It sits on two hectares of formal and indigenous gardens, where water features add a hint of Versailles grandeur. The estate was designed from the ground up by co-owner Wendy Smith, an interior designer who brings her Welsh heritage and many years living and working in Asia to the mix (she and husband Nishan live on the property). Each of the villas and suites is filled with pops of colour, luxurious finishes and airy indoor-outdoor living spaces. The estate is solar-powered, right down to the picture-perfect heated swimming pool and jacuzzi. It’s also just five minutes’ walk from the buzzing high street with its many restaurants, shops and galleries.

The lodgings

• 2 two-bedroom villas, each with open fireplaces, a fully equipped kitchen and private garden
• 2 one-bedroom luxury suites with private turrets
• ensuite bathrooms with walk-in shower and bathtub
• king-size beds
• air-conditioning and fans
• heated swimming pool and jacuzzi
• four acres of manicured gardens
• personal trainers, mobile beauty therapy and massage service, and private chef available on request
• rates include breakfast each morning

Child friendly? No (unless booked for exclusive use)
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per suite; 4 per villa
Cost From R7 700 per night; minimum two-night stay (three nights in high season)
CHECK AVAILABILITY + BOOK DIRECT

Mont Rochelle Hotel

As he is known to do, Sir Richard Branson took a 17th-century hilltop estate in the magnificent Franschhoek Winelands and turned it into Leisure Land, where polished service, plush (yet pared-back) furnishings and an unbeatable location are all part and parcel of the Virgin experience. The rooms are individually designed in a luxury but laid-back aesthetic with surprising and fun touches creating a haven for guests. Exposed-beam ceilings and oversized floor-to-ceiling windows offering killer views of the mountainous valley enhance the luxe factor.

The lodgings

• 22 luxurious rooms
• Manor House, comprising 4 deluxe suites and a bunk room for children
• king-size bed
• open-plan bathroom with a freestanding bath
• minibar and Nespresso machine
• TV lounge
• private balcony/terrace
• indoor wood-burning fireplace
• private plunge pool in Cap Classique Suites
• heated outdoor swimming pool
• tennis courts, boules and croquet lawns
• spa and vineyard-facing gym
• Miko and The Country Kitchen restaurants
• winery offering personalised wine-tastings + cellar and vineyard tours

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per room
Cost From R6 300 per room per night
Where to find it Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek
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La Petite Ferme

With arguably the best panoramas of the Franschhoek Valley and surrounding mountains, this intimate boutique hotel has always had a decidedly well-heeled reputation, despite its laidback ambience and the one-and-all appeal of its vineyard-facing front lawn. Perched on the northern slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains, all 15 rooms – and the charming glass-fronted restaurant – boast spellbinding valley and vineyard views.

The lodgings

• 5 Vineyard Suites, each with their own private pool
• 5 Manor House Suites that open onto a shared pool
• 5 Winery Suites overlooking their own shared pool
• king-size extra-length bed
• ensuite or open-plan bathroom with a freestanding bath and walk-in shower
• indoor fireplace in Vineyard Suites and 1 Manor House Suite
• minibar with complimentary wine
• tea- and coffee-making facilities
• air-conditioning and heating
• smart TV
• on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner
• swimming pool
• hiking and mountain-biking trails (bikes provided)
• rates include breakfast, a vineyard tour and wine-tasting

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per room
Cost From R8 090 per room per night (depending on season and room type)
Where to find it Franschhoek Pass Road, Franschhoek
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Leeu Estates

On the slopes of the Dassenberg mountains lies a 100-hectare wine farm with an immaculately restored Manor House, boasting sublime views of vineyards, gardens and fynbos. Owned by Indian entrepreneur Analjit Singh, this estate is one of four farms he acquired after a serendipitous visit to Franschhoek in 2010, during which he felt “a deep sense of belonging, of energy, a sense of place.” Interestingly, Singh means lion in Sanskrit, which translated into Afrikaans is leeu.

The lodgings

• 24 rooms, suites and cottages
• ensuite bathroom with a rain shower
• seating area and desk with media hub
• wood-burning fireplace in select rooms and suites
• hot tub, fire pit, fireplace and plunge pool in select suites and cottages
• private courtyard or patio in select rooms and suites
• minibar
• air-conditioning and underfloor heating
• Bokkie Garden meditative space
• Leeu Locally Grown edible gardens (guided tours available)
• Leeu Spa by Healing Earth with indoor plunge pool
• on-site restaurants The Dining Room and La Petite Colombe
• wine-tasting at Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines Studio
• private wine cellar
• Everard Read art gallery
• fully equipped gym
• rates include breakfast each morning and a signature wine tasting per guest per stay

Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 per room or suite; 2 – 6 per cottage
Cost From R14 500 per room per night (depending on season and room type)
Where to find it Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek
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La Residence

Set among sweeping vineyards, plum orchards and olive groves in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, this 12-hectare estate is the epitome of countryside elegance. Opulent interiors designed by Liz Biden complement the breathtaking surrounds and spectacular mountain backdrop, while friendly staff and personalised service make this tranquil space all the more desirable for a luxurious Winelands retreat.

The lodgings

• 11 Luxury and Superior Suites within the main hotel (each sleeping 2)
• 5 large Vineyard Suites (one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom)
• private pool and outdoor dining area at all Vineyard Suites
• ensuite bathroom with a shower and freestanding bath
• seating area and desk
• private patio
• TV with select DStv channels and Netflix
• fully stocked minibar
• tea- and coffee-making facilities
• air-conditioning and underfloor heating
• swimming pool
• spa treatment room
• restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
• wine-tasting cellar
• 12-hectare estate with vineyards, plum orchards, herb and vegetable gardens, olive groves and farm animals
• complimentary shuttle service into town centre
• rates include breakfast each morning

Child friendly? Yes (children over 10 in main hotel; children of all ages in Vineyard Suites)
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 2 – 6 per suite
Cost From R9 200 per person sharing per night
Where to find it Elandskloof Private Road, Elandskloof Farm, Franschhoek
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Tugela

This beautiful country house emanates a historical allure combined with modern appeal. Lovingly restored by the children of its original owners, the central sojourn transports guests to a time where family holidays in the sun and relaxing without devices were par for the course. Capacious interiors, high ceilings and an eclectic blend of botanical, wildlife and bird prints (with a decidedly African feel) create a whimsical and comfortable space in which to chill. There’s also a magical garden, home to squirrels, birds and even the occasional owl.

The lodgings

• 3 bedrooms (1 king-size, 1 queen-size and 2 twin beds, which can be made into a king)
• ensuite bathrooms with a shower and/or bath
• open-plan living room and dining area
• fully equipped kitchen
• large sitting room with a smart TV and wood-burning stove
• pool house with a change room, comfortable outdoor seating area, food prep area, large drinks fridge and pizza oven
• large garden with a terrace, outdoor seating area and mountain views
• swimming pool and braai area
• rose garden and terracotta porch
• air-conditioning and heaters
• swimming pool

Good to know Want to invite the whole family? This cottage interconnects with its sister property, Tockie’s Cottage, so you can rent out both for a more exclusive stay.
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Wifi? Yes
Sleeps 6
Cost From R6 500 per night for the house (depending on season)
Where to find it Wilhelmina Street, Franschhoek
MAKE A RESERVATION

Which are your favourites? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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