While looking for wedding venues last month in Cape Town, Steve and I were lucky enough to stay at the beautiful Le Franschhoek Hotel& Spa. We wanted to check it out as a potential wedding venue as well, so getting to stay on the property was a lovely bonus for us. Can I just say that I didn’t realize how quaint and awesome the town of Franschhoek actually is? I’ve been there before to visit a couple of wine farms but I never had the time to explore it fully until last month. This beautiful little town has been around for 300 years and is filled with rich history, gorgeous views and over 40 wine farms!
Just before we get into the hotel, I wanted to make a note as to why you should visit Franschhoek. Starting with the wine farms, but not just that, Franschhoek has the famous wine tram in it, which takes you around the wine farms so you don’t have to drink and drive! You can do a full day cheese and olive tasting at the Franschhoek vineyards, you can go horse-riding, visit the Huguenot museum or just spend some time inside the cute little town and visit its many cafes and restaurants. Escaping to Franschhoek is like a whole adventure of its own, and I definitely want to go back there again this year to spend even more time exploring the town.
Just 3 kilometers from the city center, you will find Le Franschhoek Hotel&Spa, and while just driving into the place, it took our breath away. We visited it on a crisp autumn afternoon, and the orange and red pops of color in that season, look simply gorgeous on the Franschhoek landscape. Bordered by leafy vineyards, Le Franschhoek Hotel offers a great selection of inspiring venues, delectable restaurants, and indulgent spa treatments and it makes for one luxurious and decadent stay.
We stayed in the Vineyard Suites, and while I do love the views of the vineyards in the summer (which is also why we wanted to get married in Cape Town), I didn’t realize just how special the autumnal vineyards could look. Our suite overlooked the fall vineyards, and it reminded me of just how I remembered this season when I was growing up- beautiful pops of yellow and orange, with the autumn sun setting beautifully over them.
The suites are very spacious inside and include a plush king-size bed, comfortable inside and outside seating areas, including the spacious balcony overlooking the verdant vineyards and impressive mountains. I love the décor in the suites, because I’ve gotten very used to a “plain” hotel room settings, so the colors in the artworks and on the bedding, add a lot of charm to the place.
Besides the suites the hotel also has Standard rooms, Deluxe rooms and Villas. My friends have just booked to stay there in September with their baby as there are also family rooms available.
The actual property where the hotel is located is so beautiful, and we spent most of the afternoon just walking around it and enjoying the scenery. The property is quite big and includes a total of 61 en suite rooms, 18 villas, conference venues, wedding venues, a chapel and a spa! It is an amazing wedding venue and the hotel offers special rates for wedding guests who would like to enjoy some extra time exploring the beautiful surroundings after the big event.
The on-site Camelot spa is perfect for luxurious pre-wedding preparations, or for the bride to spoil herself and her bridesmaids before the exciting big day. As mentioned I spend some time at a Camelot Spa at the Capital Moloko, and I wanted to treat myself to another massage, but the spa is currently under renovation (it should be done before the start of the new season though!).
Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa offers some yummy dining options, ranging from from dinning to casual. Sauvage is fine dining at its best and offers diners an opportunity to indulge in a scrumptious a’ la Carte menu. The seductive menu is comprised of delectable dishes from locally sourced produce, and diners are truly spoiled for choice. The menu, which is seasonal, proves to be a culinary experience in the heart of Franschhoek, a renowned gourmet food capital.
You have to book in advance for this treat, so instead we decided to explore La Verger, The Orchard Restaurant. A beautifully crafted glass house, the design of Le Verger is inspired by the spectacular geography of the restaurant’s location, and offers amazing views of Franschhoek from it. Mountains, streams, vineyards and orchards enfold the restaurant, and its conservatory-styled design allows for you to enjoy dinner and breakfast with a view! We enjoyed a cozy winter meal of butternut soup and flatbreads and complete with a red wine on a chilly autumn night, it was perfect!
Overall we really loved our stay at Le Franschhoek Hotel&Spa due to the lovely rooms, the yummy food options, and of course the amazing look and feel of the property. While this is a great choice for you wedding day, while walking around the property, I also thought about what a perfect place it is for a proposal, or just any special getaway. I highly recommend visiting Le Franschhoek Hotel, and Franschhoek as a town as well!
[…] wind through flowers and wildlife at Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve to views over Franschhoek Valley. I visited this charming little town properly last year when Steve and I went shopping around for our…. We drove into Franschhoek from the top of the mountains and the view that opened up on the town, […]