Franschhoek, a picturesque town just an hour's drive from Cape Town, offers a delightful escape into the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Franschhoek Aerial View
Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or a family adventure, Franschhoek has something for everyone. This article delves into two exceptional accommodations in this charming town: Avondrood Guest House (Belmont Guesthouse) and La Petite Ferme.
Avondrood Guest House (The Belmont): A Hidden Gem
Welcome to THE BELMONT Franschhoek, a charming and intimate guesthouse nestled in the heart of Franschhoek, Western Cape.
The Belmont prioritizes luxury, quality and comfort for its guests, while also creating a home away from home. It is located in the heart of Franschhoek and walking distance to the best restaurants and shops. Highly recommended! a Hidden gem in the middle of Franschoek.
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From the moment we stepped in, we were captivated by the stunning decor and exquisite furnishings, showcasing the upmost best attention to detail. The interior design truly created a cozy and luxurious ambiance, making it a delightful escape. The dedication to providing a top-notch guest experience was evident in every aspect of the guesthouse.
The rooms were beautifully appointed, and every amenity was thoughtfully provided, ensuring a comfortable stay. It's evident that the owners take great pride in maintaining their property to the highest standards.
One of the highlights of our stay was meeting the owner, CJ. From the warm welcome to the personalized attention throughout our visit, CJ made us feel like treasured guests in their home. His genuine hospitality and local insights added a personal touch that made our stay all the more memorable.
The Belmont features a fully equipped BBQ facility for sizzling up dishes with breathtaking views. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the inviting outdoor pool, basking in the sun-kissed ambiance.
Amenities and Comforts
Kick back and flip through countless channels on DSTV, ensuring endless entertainment at your fingertips. Our dining area complements the cozy ambiance, inviting you to savor delicious meals.
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Our room had DSTV, Wifi and Netflix.
I stayed in the Garden room family suit. The room was absolutely fabulous and there was nothing that wasn't catered for, the most comfortable bed and pillows, bottled water, coffee machine with a selection of pods, even a little face towel to remove my make-up with. Everything we needed was in the room. There was detail is all the small things!!
Thank you to Jean-Mariè & CJ for being the most amazing hosts and for going out of your way to make my weekend spectacular!
I have never been more impressed and will definitaly be back.
If you are looking for a place to stay in the Winelands, don't look any further than the Belmont, you will not be disappointed.
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Location and Accessibility
Franschhoek itself is a charming town with so much to offer, and the Belmont Guesthouse's central location made it easy for us to explore the area's attractions, restaurants, and wineries.
The Belmont had only been open two weeks when we stayed but there were certainly no teething issues. Beautiful rooms, comfy bed, super close to town but away from the main road so quiet and CJ is a lovely host.
They are planning a breakfast room but right now there’s loads of places in town to try.
Exceptional Hospitality
Booked on short notice and the host even allowed us an extremely early check in!
A great place! Clean, well equipped and peaceful.
Overall Experience
Overall, our experience at the Belmont Guesthouse was nothing short of exceptional. The combination of impeccable decor, fantastic hospitality, and an enchanting atmosphere left us eager to return for a longer stay in the future. If you're looking for a memorable and delightful retreat in Franschhoek, I highly recommend the Belmont Guesthouse.
What an exceptional stay!
Spent a quiet week night at the Belmont.
La Petite Ferme: A Family-Friendly Retreat with Breathtaking Views
La Petite Ferme is in one of the most picturesque towns in the Cape Winelands. The hotel situated on the slopes of the Oliphants Pass and Middagkrans Mountain Range in Franschhoek, a minute’s drive from Haute Cabrière (a farm established in the Franschhoek Valley in 1694 by French Huguenot, Pierre Jourdan and well-known for their Cap Classique wines). The views from the La Petite Ferme restaurant and accommodation are breathtaking.
With our three kids aged 6, 4 and 2, we needed to find child-friendly accommodation, and it turned out to be a great choice.
La Petite Ferme
Accommodation Options
The estate has a few accommodation options to choose from. There’s the Manor House and the smaller but equally lovely Vineyard and Winery Suites. Each offers a unique interior and magnificent views over the Franschhoek Valley.
Five private suites overlook the sparkling pool, each with a secluded verandah offering peaceful vineyard views.
The Foufi Suite
We stayed in the Foufi Suite, named after the owner’s father, who hails from Lebanon and has the nickname Foufi. The room includes a king-size, extra-length bed. The smart hospitality TV provides information about the hotel and weather. The room stays cool even on the hottest of summer days, thanks to the air conditioning and ceiling fan. And boy, can it get hot in Franschhoek!
The en-suite bathroom has all the luxuries you’d expect from a highly rated accommodation spot in the Winelands, from heated towel rails to underfloor heating. These amenities are welcome in winter, when nighttime temperatures can drop as low as 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). Naturally, there is WiFi available in the rooms and restaurant.
The lounge area has a mini bar (with a complimentary bottle of La Petite Ferme wine, cool drinks and water). Guests have access to a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle to make tea. The lounge’s sleeper couch transforms elegantly into a comfortable bed for extra sleeping space.
While we were having dinner at the restaurant, we told the kids that the magic fairies would come out and make a bed for them if they didn't make too much noise. They were puzzled about the sleeping arrangements, not realising there’s an additional bed besides the king-size bed and Harvey's camp cot. It was a great incentive to get their best behaviour at the dinner table. Seeing the look on their faces when we returned to the room where the couch had “magically” transformed into a bed, was priceless.
Children from 2 - 12 years old are invoiced 20% of the room rate per night per child for an extra bed.
Culinary Delights
La Petite Ferme has its own range of wines. Grapes are grown on just 15 hectares and they produce a few whites, reds, a rosé and two flagship blends. Wine tastings are offered on the lawn or in the boutique-style cellar.
The popular restaurant offers hearty breakfast, lunch and dinner options and is open to all, whether you're staying the night or not. Their cake options are always good, so you can also come for afternoon tea. It’s well-worth a visit, even for afternoon tea.
La Petite Ferme Wine Tasting | Franschhoek’s Best Boutique Winery Experience
Breakfast at La Petite Ferme
A breakfast made for royalty. We started with their “Petite Continental Breakfast Selection”, which includes croissants, homemade muffins, quiches, fruit salad and a selection of cheese and cured meat. We could then also order from their à la carte menu.
On the first morning, Lianne had their Breakfast Bowl, which consisted of a warm chickpea salad with spinach, avocado, roasted cherry tomatoes, brinjal chips, coriander yoghurt and poached eggs. This feast of a meal was served with perfectly crisp ciabatta.
I ordered the Franschhoek Smoked Salmon Sandwich on Sourdough, which was served with radish shavings, orange segments, sliced fennel bulb, crispy capers, red onion, wild rocket, horseradish cream and poached eggs (my favourite).
On the second day, the kids indulged so much in the buffet that they couldn’t believe it when we placed our orders. “I do want more, but I’m full,” Aiden quipped.
I had the Classic Chateau, which included eggs of your choice, bacon, boerewors, potato rosti, brown mushroom, blushed tomatoes, caramelised onion, and served with a warm seed loaf.
Lianne ordered the Benedict, classic poached eggs with hollandaise, served on South African roosterkoek and topped with wild rocket. La Petite Ferme serves their Bennie with bacon, smoked salmon or spinach.
Dinner at the La Petite Ferme Restaurant
On our first night at La Petite Ferme, we ate at the restaurant. You can have a two-course meal for R810 or a three-course for R910 and choose from the five starters, six mains and four desserts on offer. We opted to go all-in, and joined for the Chef’s Culinary Journey, a six-course menu for R1200. I added the wine pairing for the full experience, which totalled R1600.
For starters, we had Poached Crayfish, served in courgette cannelloni stuffed with crayfish salad. Chilled pea velouté, ancho chilli oil, tobiko roe, smoked paprika kewpie aioli and red pepper gel complimented the cannelloni. The dish was paired with a rosé from the farm. Mouthwatering.
The second course was Confit Duck, a panko-crusted duck lollipop served with apricot gel, baby beets, charred brussels and a bordelaise sauce.
Next, we tucked into the Cape Karoo Venison & Tongue, served with a pine nut salsa verde, beetroot dust, pumpkin mousse and mulberry jus. This time, the dish La Petite Ferme Shiraz rounded off the dish.
The Bone Flute with Beef Tartar consisted of beautiful wagyu and bone marrow, served with togarashi, shallots and donburi sauce. The Winemaker's Edition Verdict was the perfect match.
The Blue Cheese Croissant involved a crispy croissant filled with blue cheese mousse and served with gooseberry jam, fresh gooseberries, popped sorghum and salted caramel. This heavenly combination was served with La Petite Ferme Viognier.
At last, it was time for dessert: “Mai Thai”. The chefs presented a fresh pineapple gel combined with rum and dark chocolate mousse, basil granita, whipped coconut anglaise and coconut shards. To die for.
Overall, it was a great six-course menu with an interesting variety of dishes-a culinary journey to remember.
Complimentary Wine Tasting and Tea and Cake
As we had a jam-packed weekend, we didn’t have a chance to enjoy the complimentary wine tasting, which is offered four times a day at 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 3:15 pm and 4:30 pm. We did join for their (also complimentary) tea and cake offering. The carrot cake was out of this world! The kids had hot chocolates and we had a flat white.
Small Touches, Big Difference
The hotel sent out a Guest Feedback Questionnaire after our stay, which shows how dedicated they are to the guests’ comfort. We noticed this during our stay too; there are many small touches that make a big difference when travelling with kids. Some examples:
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