When you picture a weekend getaway to Franschhoek, you might imagine a vineyard view or mountainside cottage, but there’s more to winelands accommodation than wine farms! The main street of this quaint village is buzzing with some of the area’s best restaurants, bars and coffee shops and just one street over in any direction, you’ll find some of the Franschhoek Valley’s most luxurious accommodation.
It’s here, just a single block down from Franschhoek’s high street, that you’ll find La Fontaine Boutique Hotel. Part of The Oyster Collection, this 17-suite, 4-star property is just a short walk from some of the area’s top restaurants, boutiques and art galleries, and an easy drive to the area’s most popular wine farms. From the street, you’d never be able to guess at the colour, vibrance and luxury that lies behind the gates of 21 Dirkie Uys Street.
The Oyster Collection also has boutique hotels and guesthouses in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape of South Africa. Their Kenton-on-Sea coastal properties, specifically The Oyster Box Beach House, look incredible! Burlington Bush Cottages offer a classic bush retreat with that bushveld stillness we all crave and the opportunity to sleep beneath a canopy of stars.
Every suite at La Fontaine is uniquely decorated, featuring a completely singular colour scheme and decor theme. When I visited at the end of 2020, I stayed in a luxurious Mountain View Suite, which had its own private patio overlooking one of the property’s pools as well as the surrounding mountains. The lush rooms are huge, and mine had a bathroom to match, along with every other luxury amenity you could ask for – a mini bar (featuring local wine of course), coffee station (featuring local coffee), fluffy robes and squishy slippers.
The property’s front patio is the perfect place to enjoy a sunset G&T in summer (trust me, their gin and tonics are excellent!), but their super cool bar would make the perfect place to curl up with a bottle of red wine in winter. before enjoying dinner at their gourmet restaurant. We enjoyed a long, wine-fuelled dinner prepared by the chef Ashleigh. I loved having the opportunity to dine on the property, especially on the first night, when I’d just driven through traffic from Cape Town.
Normally when I’m in the area, I like to explore the village before heading into the vineyards. La Fontaine has bicycles available for guests to take into town, which is such a nice way to explore. They also offer private tours through The Oyster Collection, which has a range of bespoke tour packages to choose from. These tours are tailor made so that guests can explore based on their own interests, at their own leisure. They have a variety of packages to choose from, with a dedicated, qualified tour guide for each tour.
This property is such a gem and if you’re looking for a central, luxury property to spend a special weekend, I give it 5 stars and a “highly recommended”.
For details on rates or to book your stay, visit www.lafontainefranschhoek.co.za
