In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- Every one of La Residence’s beautiful suites is different, but they're all large, with gorgeous views and a lavish mix of art and antiques. We loved white and gold Frangipani, the most tucked-away of the ground-floor suites, for its monumental marble four-poster, 18th-century French dressers and mirrored ‘Versailles’ bathroom, complete with chandelier, roll-top bath and chaise-longue. The Armani Suite’s muted Whistleresque palette gives it a more contemporary feel; we love its oversize ballet painting, distressed sideboard and Moroccan bathroom chest. The feminine Disa Suite is all delicate pinks and pretty greens, with a balcony looking over the pool to the mountains beyond, an unusual grass-green four-poster and mirrored deco-style sink cabinets. There are spellbinding views from the pond to the peaks from pink-hued Hibiscus; the ground-floor Chambre Bleu has two private verandahs, for those days when you don’t know what sort of view you fancy; and the exotic Indian-themed Maharani above it has two balconies.
- Packing tips
- Jodhpurs or jeans, so you can ride through the vineyards; bikini for poolside lounging; headache tablets, because the wine is so tempting, you’re bound to overindulge.
- Also
- All the unoccupied rooms are left open for you to peek into, which makes you feel even more like a privileged guest in a stately home or palace.
Current offers
- Smith card offer
- Horseback wine-tasting tour for two
More photos
La Residence
Garden Route & Winelands, South Africa[view map]
- Style
- Cape château
- Setting
- Magnificent vineyard vistas
Presiding over Franschhoek’s valley of vines, La Residence is a mini, modern Versailles with a contemporary shell and a romantic colonial interior: everywhere the eye comes to rest there’s a Persian rug, exotic antique or fine art work. This Winelands estate will make you feel as though you've been whisked off to your own private palace to live in the lap of luxury…
Need to know
- Rooms
- 11 suites, including four superior suites.
- Rates
- R7,450–R7,750, including full American breakfast and tax. The property can be booked in its entirety (to sleep 22) from R73,200 a night.
- Check-out
- 11am, but flexible whenever possible. Earliest check-in, 2pm.
- Facilities
- Swimming pool, gardens, courtyard, library, free WiFi, laundry, parking. In rooms: flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, minibar, Molton Brown and Charlotte Rhys toiletries, underfloor heating, walk-in showers and separate baths.
- Poolside
- The outdoor infinity pool set in the expansive gardens is surrounded by attractive sunloungers covered in fluffy luxury towels.
- Eco-friendly
- The daily set menu features fresh seasonal local produce and – of course – excellent South African wines; La Residence recycles as much as possible (including waste water).
- Also
- In-room spa and beauty treatments can be arranged with reception. Smoking is only permitted in the designated areas. No pets allowed.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- The vast black-and-white tiled reception room doubles as a dining room (for hotel guests only), opening out onto the verandah where tables are set for breakfast or lunch. By night, regal red velvet wing-backed chairs are pulled up to white linen-draped tables, softly lit with candles. A sommelier will help you match wine from La Residence’s cellar to the daily changing set menu of seasonal, local produce, such as Franschhoek cheeses, lamb shank, roasted quail and line-caught trout.
- Dress code
- South Africa is relaxed, but this place will make you want to dress like holidaying royalty.
- Top table
- The alfresco tables all have panoramic mountain views; and at dinner, it’s more a case of choosing which richly upholstered chair you prefer.
- Last orders
- As you wish: around 2pm for lunch, and 8pm for dinner.
- Room service
- There’s no room service, but staff will help you out as much as possible, and there’s a well-stocked minibar in every suite.
- Hotel bar
- In a tucked-away ‘beverage room’, you’ll find a selection of cigars and drinks of all kinds; you can help yourself but a member of staff is always on hand to serve you or help you pick something from the impressive cellar. Take your drinks wherever you please: in the library, on the terrace, in front of the huge fireplace, or to your private verandah or balcony.
Also worth knowing
- Children
- This hotel is aimed at grown-ups in need of a little spoil-me time, so under 12s are not accepted (unless you're booking the property in its entirety). Older children are welcome, but you’ll need to book them their own room at the full rate.
- Weddings
- This hotel is suitable for weddings. More…
Smith Members offer
Horseback wine-tasting tour for two
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member
Book this hotel
To book this hotel please click here, or contact our travel team on 1 866 610 3867.
La Residence
Elandskloof Private Road (off Dirkie Uys Street)
Elandskloof Farm
Franschhoek
Cape Winelands
