Please Note:  A new property is being built just up the road from the La Residence featured on this page. It is opening in late 2007.  Once we have visited the new facility in 2008 we will update this page with more details. It promises to be even more outstanding than the La Residence reviewed here.

Personal Impression
This is a remarkable property.  Tucked away behind the delightful town of Franschhoek in a private vineyard and olive estate of Domaine des Anges is the exclusive  retreat of La Residence, styled like a French country Chateaux  . There are only five rooms here for a maximum capacity of 10 people. This can be a per room basis including breakfast and evening canapés and cocktails or an all inclusive basis that includes; accommodation, all meals, local beverages including South African wines, private butler, private chef, chauffeur, transfers and some local excursions and laundry The hotel is run two men who are the perfect hosts and one is a gourmet cook.  If you could take this entire hotel with five couples the experience would be one of a lifetime. The same people who own the game lodge, Royal Malewane, own this boutique property 

Location
About 45 minutes out of Cape Town in the delightful town of Franschhoek in the Wine Valley area.  The fertile valley of Franschhoek nestles between towering mountains in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Founded in 1688 by French Huguenots, the picturesque village of Franschhoek has become world-famous for its warm hospitality, superb cuisine and outstanding arts and crafts

Spa Too small for spa therapy..

Accommodations
Every room is completely different.  Some are more spacious and luxurious than others with room number one the large suite being quite incredible. All the rooms are built around a courtyard with a swimming pool and then windows have delightful views of either the front garden or the vineyards and the lake. Each has it charm, with antique furniture mixed with contemporary comforts. The courtyard and main room of the hotel are exquisitely furnished.   This is room number 2.

Dining and wines.
I had a lunch I will never forget here.  They said a simple light lunch. What arrived was a salad with the freshest leaf lettuce, ribbons of vegetables that looked like lace on the place with local river trout that tasted like salmon with a fresh lemon cream sauce. The bread was home made and so good I had to have several pieces. Couple that with an outstanding bottle of Chardonay and a desert of the lightest banana crepes. They then came out with cheeses and dried fruits.  The words “out of this world” comes to mind. All this on the terrace with a white table cloth with fresh roses overlooking the pond where the ducks and swans were floating surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. Total peace and harmony.  I can only imagine what dinner would be like. I overstayed here and started to run late as I really did not want to leave this remarkable property.

Lunch at La Residence	Your hosts with Ngaire