Staying in the South African wine regions Franschhoek and Stellenbosch is an absolute feast. The wines and the food truly made us want to come back soon – and we will! These are the wineries and foodspots we think you should visit. Also read all the information you need on the Franshhoek wine tram!
Chef’s Warehouse Maison
⋆ @chefswarehousemaison: fine dining in a country setting! Chefs Warehouse offers tasting menu ‘tapas for two’, consisting mainly of smaller dishes to share. We’ve also tried the vegetarian menu which is given as much attention as the regular menu. However it is a high-end restaurant, we loved the casual vibe around here. We’ve had a chicken literally walking under our table!
Reubens
⋆ @reubensrestaurantandbar: focuses on fine dining dishes but in a casual way; you’ll find a lot of comfort food on the menu. We loved the summer gnocchi and caramalized carrot risotto! A welcoming restaurant and very reasonably priced, a must go if you ask us.
Haute Cabriere
⋆ @hautecabriere: for lunch with a view! A very good spot to make photos and experience the tranquil Franschhoek vibe. This vineyard serves a 2- or 3-course menu with enough vegetarian options. Absolutely loved the hassleback pumpkin! Ofcourse enjoy it with one of their very good wines.
Coffee
If you’re looking for good coffee in Franschhoek, we recommend @getlostcoffee_sa and @thehoek.
We didn’t know what to expect and were afraid this might be a little touristic, but the Franschhoek wine tram was SO. MUCH. FUN! The Franschhoek @winetram takes you to famous and less known wineries in and around Franschhoek. And the best thing is; you can just hop off for a wine tasting whenever you want. They cost around € 4 or € 5 for 3 up to 5 different wines (without pairing).
They offer several lines and we selected one that was diverse, from the famous @boschendal to smaller wineries. Lots of people opt for the (busy) line that goes all the way up to @babylonstoren (which is amazing!), but we recommend you to visit that winery separate (more in our next post!) and hop on the ‘burgundy’ line:
⋆ @plaisirwineestate; beautiful venue, loved the chardonnay, also a deli shop
⋆ @atlasswift_wines; specialises in chardonnays, eye for detail & styling
⋆ @vredeenlust; a family estate with a stunning view, nice pairings, very personal.
⋆ @boschendal; lovely garden, award winning wines, fresh products & cheeses
⋆ @camberleywines; smaller winery, specializes in red wine, cozy setting
This line also makes a stop at 4 other wineries – visit @winetram for more info and other lines. The Franschhoek wine tram is a must do!
Besides the fun Franschhoek wine tram, we visited two very good vineyards on our own. Mainly because we wanted to spend some more time at these wineries.
Babylonstoren
@babylonstoren: was actually called ‘Babelse toren’ in Dutch! This modern and fast-growing winery is very impressive and the scenery is beautiful. We booked a cellar tour and that didn’t disappoint! A look behind the scenes but also stories on the innovative things they’re working on, like maturing wines in clay pots. Ended with a very good wine tasting of all 10 wines and a pairing vegetarian platter. Strolling around is also very nice; they have amazing gardens, animals, various restaurants and even a spa and hotel. Really loved spending time here!
Paserene
@paserene: A smaller and very refined boutique winery. The terrace overlooks a beautiful garden with mountains in the background. The modern and artistic building is quite unique in the Franschhoek wine valley and we found the (award-winning) wines to be some of the best we’ve had. Fun fact; the swing on the label is actually in the garden. Loving these little details!
We’ve spend two days in this famous wine region and selected the best restaurants in Stellenbosch that we absolutely recommend!
De Eetkamer
@de_eetkamer_stellenbosch opened in 2022 and serves small, shared dining plates from global cuisine. They’ve made a beautiful restaurant in a renovated old stable (in the art gallery of ‘De Oude Leeskamer’). This is exactly our kind of restaurant! Dishes are insanely delicious, a small and seasonal menu, friendly priced and enough vegetarian options. The Japanese milk bun is very populair in restaurants in South Africa at the moment and this one was just out of this world! And don’t skip their freshly baked madeleines with crème anglaise. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Stellenbosch!
The Table at the Meye
Our best advice if you’re staying in Stellenbosch- lunch at @thetable_demeye! Among the vineyards, you can enjoy a very special 3-course lunch. The perfect thing to do with your loved one, friends or family. This place is SO idyllic, almost unbelievable. You can also opt for a vegetarian menu, but the original menu is already filled with lots of veggies! Ingredients come from local producers and changes frequently.
Post and pepper
@postandpepper is located in the oldest post building in South Africa(!). Chef owner @jess_v_d creates dishes that revolve around sharing good food together and calls it ‘fun dining’, we love it! There’s a separate vegetarian menu for lunch and dinner. We loved the crispy & sticky tofu and the mushroom dumplings the most.
Coffee recommendations (next to each other by coincidence)
⋆ @vadas_inc for the perfect combination: coffee and a fresh pastei de nata.
⋆ @mood_coffee_co; perfect for a coffee to go or to sit outside. Also a popular place for remote working.
⋆ In love with the dirty chai of @plato.coffee
⋆ for another happy coffee moment, go to @deluxecoffeeworks
We’ve compiled a list of the six best vineyards that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you feeling like a true wine connoisseur. So, grab a glass and let’s explore the best vineyards Stellenbosch has to offer! And; our secret tip for the most romantic stay.
1 @waterford_estate if you drive up to Waterford, it’s almost like a fairytale. The long avenue with trees and grapevines leads you to the gate. Once you’ve entered this estate, there’s a round, beautiful garden where you can enjoy a wine tasting (optionally with chocolate!).
2 @delairegraff is as beautiful as it is delicious. Views of the mountains and elegant wines (and #54 in the top 100 @worldsbestvineyards!).
3 @starkconde has an outside tasting area surrounded by water and is specialized in Cabernet Sauvignon
4 @kleinezalze is our ‘house brand’ and we always drink it at home (available at @sligro). Absolutely fantastic to be able to visit the vineyard and try their amazing bubble range (which can’t be bought in the Netherlands). Very nice bites to go with it as well.
5 @quoinrock is the most exclusive one we’ve been. A very refined, non touristic winery, a beautiful building and inspiring modern art.
6 @tokarawine enjoy a wine tasting in the garden but also visit the wonderful deli shop @eatokara. We bought an award winning olive oil to bring home!
7 @ernieelswines – a very modern and popular wine estate with amaaazing views. We’ve had a nice cheese platter with fresh chutneys, olives and bread.
In Stellenbosch (in the #banhoekvalley) we’ve also had the most beautiful stay – a cabin on the @camissafarm. This modern cottage is fully equipped and waking up with these views was truly something special. We even got fresh eggs brought to us in the morning. The lovely owners also produce small batches of wine and are taking care of lots of animals.
Happy with our tips on the best wineries and best restaurants in Stellenbosch and the Franschhoek wine tram? Check out or other articles on South Africa here!
