La Residence 

This award-winning wine estate in Franschhoek is a secret fairytale chateau.

Beyond the unassuming exterior, you’ll find yourself transported into a fairytale manor house at this 30-acre wine estate. Surrounded by fragrant wisteria, grapevines and mountains, the regal French chateau style is a fitting homage to the ‘French corner’ of South Africa. The bold colours, textures and extravagant décor could easily slip into the pages of an interior design magazine. Whether it’s the peacocks that roam freely like elegant mascots or the innovative style within, there’s plenty to feast your eyes on.

The service here is unbelievably personalised. The estate is well acquainted with Condé Nast’s prestigious Gold List and Travelers’ Choice Awards, and guests return again and again for the attention to detail that shows as staff anticipate your every need before you do. In the Great Hall, you can dine on seasonal cuisine where a buffet is laid out for breakfast and there’s a popular high tea, or you can drink in Franschhoek’s vineyard views out on the patio. Sample some of the estate’s popular Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Rosé, or ask for a tour of the South African art that fills almost every surface of the hotel with over 150 pieces on display. Franschhoek’s excellent restaurants are within easy reach, a 15-minute walk or a short complimentary transfer away. For wine tastings, you can choose to have a relaxed affair or something more spectacular, with options including the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram, a low-key visit to local wineries or a helicopter tour.

Each of the suites has a different theme while all are equally palatial – you could wake up to the deep orange of The Tibetan Suite or sink into a bath in the pink marble en suite of The Hibiscus Suite. All furniture has been hand-picked by the owner and there’s original artwork found in every room. Expect chandeliers, palatial beds and huge en suites that centre around a freestanding bath. Suites have varying views of the vineyards or mountains, and for groups and families the Vineyard Suites are a lovely option with one, two or three bedrooms.