On a tree-lined winding road a five-minute drive from town, the five-star Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa is set on a huge property of lush gardens, peaceful shady courtyards, and manicured lawns with great views of the Franschhoek mountains. The 63 rooms range from standard efficiencies in the main building, to loft-style four-sleeper family rooms, to deluxe suites with balconies overlooking the gardens, to two-bedroom self-catering villas. All are spread out, so even when the hotel is full it doesn’t feel crowded. Room furnishings are classic and simple while being unremarkable – all-white textiles, few adornments or prints, and contemporary-minimal furniture.
The Cape Dutch-style property, with its white walls and thatched roofs, offers a full range of amenities that you’d expect from a high-end establishment: there’s a spa offering everything from massages and facials to manicures and body wraps, plus babysitting services, tennis courts, a large swimming pool, and five conference rooms (the hotel attracts business as well as leisure travelers).
In terms of restaurants, there’s fine dining at Dish, which offers a (rather pricey) a la cartemenu of South African-Mediterreanean dishes: ostrich fillet with beetroot and fynbos jus and lamb shank bobotie followed by desserts such as deconstructed strawberries and cream (strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream and berry jelly). More casual is Le Verger, an outdoor space where you sit in individual glass conservatories and tuck into sandwiches, wraps, flat breads and salads.
With friendly, professional staff, a wonderful location, beautiful green spaces and a range of amenities, it’s hard to fault the hotel, but if any criticism is to be made it’s that Le Franschhoek is a bit bland in the way that chain hotels often are. It is a good pick if you like big resort-style hotels, but the lack of personal touches, generic unmemorable décor, and restaurants without ambience won’t suit those after something special or more intimate in Franschhoek. For that you might want to try one of the smaller guesthouses, or accommodation on a wine farm.
Expert Review
On a tree-lined winding road a five-minute drive from town, the five-star Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa is set on...
On a tree-lined winding road a five-minute drive from town, the five-star Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa is set on a huge property of lush gardens, peaceful shady courtyards, and manicured lawns with great views of the Franschhoek mountains. The 63 rooms range from standard efficiencies in the main building, to loft-style four-sleeper family rooms, to deluxe suites with balconies overlooking the gardens, to two-bedroom self-catering villas. All are spread out, so even when the hotel is full it doesn’t feel crowded. Room furnishings are classic and simple while being unremarkable – all-white textiles, few adornments or prints, and contemporary-minimal furniture.
The Cape Dutch-style property, with its white walls and thatched roofs, offers a full range of amenities that you’d expect from a high-end establishment: there’s a spa offering everything from massages and facials to manicures and body wraps, plus babysitting services, tennis courts, a large swimming pool, and five conference rooms (the hotel attracts business as well as leisure travelers).
In terms of restaurants, there’s fine dining at Dish, which offers a (rather pricey) a la cartemenu of South African-Mediterreanean dishes: ostrich fillet with beetroot and fynbos jus and lamb shank bobotie followed by desserts such as deconstructed strawberries and cream (strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream and berry jelly). More casual is Le Verger, an outdoor space where you sit in individual glass conservatories and tuck into sandwiches, wraps, flat breads and salads.
With friendly, professional staff, a wonderful location, beautiful green spaces and a range of amenities, it’s hard to fault the hotel, but if any criticism is to be made it’s that Le Franschhoek is a bit bland in the way that chain hotels often are. It is a good pick if you like big resort-style hotels, but the lack of personal touches, generic unmemorable décor, and restaurants without ambience won’t suit those after something special or more intimate in Franschhoek. For that you might want to try one of the smaller guesthouses, or accommodation on a wine farm.