Food and Drink are the obvious attractions when you have 5 days in Franschhoek, although there are so many other activities on offer. The landscape is wonderful, so walk, run, bike or drive, and take in some of the great roads and trails. Franschhoek has a literature festival in May, an art festival in October, and the ‘uncorked’ wine festival in September! The market runs every week on a Saturday from 9am – 3pm, and is a perfect place to get a coffee, enjoy live music and have some food from one of the wonderful stalls or trucks. During the summer months, Franschhoek Square has live music and wine tastings on Friday evenings; with a great choice of restaurants in the square, like Cartel’s brilliant wood fired pizzas, or Allora for Italian and tapas, this made for a brilliant and fun Friday night. In the square you will also find the Franschhoek Wine Tram kiosk, if you (understandably) don’t fancy driving to the wineries!

If you’re a sports lover, the oldest cricket ground in South Africa is in Franschhoek. You’ll also drive by the Motor Museum, owned by Johann Rupert; the collection dates back over 100 years.

As you head out of Franschhoek, try wine tasting at the cool and funky Old Road with popcorn and wine pairings. On the main road out of Franschhoek there is Leopards Leap and Rickety Bridge ; a contemporary estate and a traditional 19th century Cape Dutch estate, respectively. A little further is La Motte; this incredibly classy estate is one of our favourites. Their house museum allows you to immerse yourself in the history of the place from the original Cochoqua tribe inhabitants, to the arrival of the Dutch East India Company and the French Huguenots. La Motte is a beautiful place to spend time; friendly staff and delicious food – it is a must for lunch!

Further along the main road to Stellenbosch is Boschendal. This exceptional estate has it all…excellent wine, accommodation, a restaurant, horse riding, biking trails, workshops, a butchery and more. Keep an eye open for their upcoming events. We were lucky enough to experience New Year’s Eve at Boschendal with live music from ‘Hot Water.’ They have a regular Friday evening market where you can expect stalls, food offerings, family activities, live music and, of course, Boschendal’s great selection of wines.

Further away from the main village, in the triangle between Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl, is Babylonstoren. This classy farm has everything you can imagine: wine tasting, garden tours, farm shops, a spa, a hotel, workshops and obviously a couple of restaurants and a bakery! Babylonstoren presents beautifully. You can simply wander around and take in the assortment of gardens, or you can take part in one of the many activities on offer. However, it is a very popular destination, and after we saw the queues for their Greenhouse Café, we decided to try our luck at Babel, the in-house restaurant famous for their colour coordinated salads.

If you want to get away from the crowds, head to the next-door property from Babylonstoren and find Noble Hill. The Latin-themed restaurant (think Mexican small plates) is called Cosecha, which is Spanish for ‘harvest.’ Cosecha is open for brunch or picnics and the setting at Noble Hill is delightful with a relaxed atmosphere.

If you’re after elegance and prestige, then one more estate along this strip is Rupert & Rothschild. Here you can taste their estate collection including Rothschild’s wines from across the world (and their impressive fromage selection!). I would suggest booking if you wish to eat at their sophisticated restaurant, which has views of the vines and the spectacular Simonsberg mountain.

On the road from Franschhoek to Stellenbosch there are many fantastic estates: Glenelly is a wonderful lunch spot. Tokara is highly impressive with a great deli (and a playground for kids), Neil Ellis for exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Camberley Wines and Bartinney which is a hidden gem, or the exceptional Jordan on the other side of Stellenbosch.

For pure luxury then Delaire Graff is the place to visit. Eat, drink, stay, spa – it is an incredible place. You can learn more about Delaire Graff here and if you’re feeling adventurous head to other wine regions like Constantia, Robertson, Somerset West (Vergelegen) or down to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Just search our map!

I have missed plenty and no doubt you will too in only 5 days in Franschhoek! Relax and enjoy the food and wine capital of South Africa! Email us if you have any questions or need any other recomendations – will@vind.wine.