7 Best Restaurants in Franschhoek, The Western Cape and Winelands

Sister restaurant to Cape Town's fêted La Colombe, the food, ambience, wine selection and service at La Petite Colombe are simply impeccable. The decor is sleek and understated because the true work of art is the food—an 11-course banquet showcasing French cooking techniques and the finest ingredients. Also on-site is the tasting room for Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, whose red wines in particular are revered. Reservations are essential.

Headed by former La Colombe chef Charné Sampson, Epice is inspired by spice blends from around the world. The menu—a 10-course tasting feast—features spices from Mexico, Ethiopia, and the subcontinent among others, married with dishes from across Africa, such as lamb with dahl and chermoula or West Coast mussels with passion fruit and cumin. For the slightly less famished there is a "reduced menu"—eight small courses. Reservations are recommended.

Miko is a contemporary fine-dining restaurant with seating indoors and out, both offering spectacular views of the Franschhoek Valley. As well as meaty fare like duck terrine and ash-cured venison, there are good vegetarian options including cauliflower steak with masala velouté. The daytime menu is a simpler affair, featuring salads, burgers, and fish-and-chips. 

The chic decor here is a bold contrast to the old-world charm of Huguenot architecture: a bright dining room in blue and white that evokes a house by the ocean. The menu is fairly compact and yet impressively varied, featuring venison or duck, beef, seafood, and a delectable vegetarian option. Food is beautifully presented and attentive staff offer optional wine pairings for each dish. 

Best known as a celebrity judge on the local edition of MasterChef, Reuben Riffel's flagship restaurant in his hometown of Franschhoek is a wonderful blend of fine dining techniques and unpretentious surroundings. Dishes marry local ingredients with French techniques, and in many cases they have a sprinkling of Asian influence. The decor is minimalist but welcoming, with exposed brick walls and large windows, and the service is impeccable and well informed.

Set in the manor house of one of the country's oldest vineyards, The Werf does an excellent job serving refined farm-to-table meals. Try to book a table in the conservatory that overlooks the lush vegetable garden. The menu is uncomplicated, featuring rustic dishes that use ingredients sourced directly from the farm (fish from the dam, vegetables from the garden, Angus beef from the farm). Pair your meal with wines from Boschendal's Elgin range, made from grapes grown in Elgin (where it's cooler and a better climate for wines like Pinot Noir). 

When Topsi Venter, doyenne of the Cape culinary scene, decided to hang up her apron and retire, it seemed appropriate that one of her former students, Chris Hoffman, should take over her popular restaurant. Chris peeled his first potato while apprenticed to Topsi and then went on to work at other restaurants. He has carried on with Topsi's tradition of delicious no-fuss food in a town in love with fine dining and foodie fuss. The blackboard menu changes regularly, and the food is rustic and hearty. Look out for slow-roasted duck served with stir-fried couscous and a spicy apricot sauce, or mushroom, basil, chili, and lemon pasta. Malva pudding (a South African traditional baked sticky pudding) is an all-time favorite and served with a delicate crème anglaise. In this valley of wonderful wines it's great to be able to BYOB, but they also have a small wine menu.