So you’ve spent a perfect 48 hours in Cape Town, and now you’re wondering what the winelands have in store. Enter: Franschhoek. You don’t need to spend long in this picture-perfect pocket of South Africa to get a taste of what it’s all about (spoiler alert: it involves a lot of wining and dining). Let’s get into it.
MORNING
Wake up at Leeu Esates
There’s one lieu you need to know in Franschhoek, and that’s Leeu. There’s the House on the high street and the Estates on the outskirts (but still mere minutes away from the tiny town). The latter is where you want to be, if you ask us. It’s 24 rooms and suites spaciously scattered around a picture-perfect estate – most with their own private pool. Hop out of bed and hitch a buggy ride from an ever-so-smiley hotel employee to The Dining Room, where a table on the ever-so-sunny terrace awaits for breakfast.
Book a tailored spa treatment
Winelands and wellness don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It can’t hurt to flush out the toxins before you, well, gulp them back down, right? Whether you’ve just landed in the country and need the ‘jetlag recovery’ ceremony or just arrived in the region and want to immerse yourself with the ‘vinotherapy celebration’ journey, any day that starts this way is a good one. From mountain views to lily ponds, every room sets the tone for deep relaxation from the get-go. Post-treatment, relax by the infinity pool with your book.
AFTERNOON
Lunch with a view at La Petite Colombe
You’ll want to enter into your afternoon activities with a full stomach – trust us. And luckily, La Petite Colombe – a fine-dining spot that’s the little sister to Constantia’s award-winning and world-renowned restaurant, La Colombe – lives at Leeu. It’s the kind of place that has a helipad (and one that gets good use). True story: Tom Cruise once flew in and out via helicopter for dinner here, so you’re in good company. Snap a table by the window for vineyard views and settle in for a theatrical and immersive dining experience.
Embark on a wine estates tour
Start your tour on home turf at The Wine Studio, where Leeu Estates guests get a complimentary tasting per stay. From there, those seeking some family-friendly fun should hop on and off the Franschhoek Wine Tram – just pick a line with the estates you want to visit most on it, then the rest is thought-out for you (helpful after a glass or two). If the tram’s not a novelty for you, or for a more private experience, simply get a car between stops. Beyond Leeu, our favourite wineries include Babylonstoren, Boschendal, and Delaire Graff.
EVENING
Golden hour in the gardens
As the sun sets (and the wine wears off), there’s one place you want to be: Leeu Estate’s picture-perfect gardens. Whether it’s a riverside walk or birdwatching, the flora and fauna here (and it’s here in abundance) look their best drenched in a golden glow. And if you’re planning to pop the all-important question, opt for an early evening picnic on the manicured lawns. We can vouch for how perfect this is because we saw it happen. Leeu Estates can organise all these activities for you – you just have to ask.
Chef’s tasting menu at Protégé
You’re never at a loss for top-tier tasting menus in this part of the world. So, buckle up (or maybe unbuckle your belt, actually) – we’re indulging in another one. This time, we’re foraying into Franschhoek, where our top pick is Protégé, located at Le Quartier Français. For the best experience, we recommend ordering the ‘chef’s favourites’ menu and sitting at the bar (unless you’re a big group, of course). Look out for the ‘childhood memories’ dessert at the very end – this is fine dining at its most fun. Just how we like it.
