Cuisine, art, fashion, Franschhoek

The annual Franschhoek Literary Festival (in May) and Bastille Festival (in July) are just two of the events that involve a range of venues and enterprises around the village, but for fans of wine and its associated by-products and personalities – fine cuisine, art, fashion and more – it’s always a great idea to adjust schedules to allow for some time spent in this corner of the Western Cape’s magnificent winelands.

Getting the most out of a visit obviously requires planning, and the first order of business in that regard is deciding on a place to stay. That’s no easy decision, as Franschhoek is fairly bristling with quality hotels, B&Bs and guest cottages. Geography might become the deal-breaker, and if that’s the case, The Last Word Franschhoek is likely to be near the top of the list.

Franschhoek’s main drag is called Huguenot Road, which stretches from the T-junction with Lambrechts Road, opposite the impressive Huguenot Monument and through to where it changes its name to Main Road outside of town to the northwest – and The Last Word is literally in the middle of that stretch. Is it affordable? At first glance, that’s questionable, as it’s a recently expanded five-star establishment that charges upwards of R2 000 a night. But there are two mitigating factors that make those rates easier to swallow.

The Last Word Franschhoek opened a new upstairs wing earlier this year. Pictures: Bruce Dennill

Firstly, you get your money’s worth, in terms of both facilities and service: it’s a boutique hotel with only 10 rooms and add-ons include a help-yourself bar for when you get back from a tough day’s sightseeing. Secondly, you won’t need to drive unless you arrive with plans to take in the whole region already made. A relaxed walk to either end of town takes only 10 minutes if you don’t stop off anywhere. And because stopping off everywhere is probably the goal for most visitors, knowing that your home for the holidays is around the corner allows for spontaneity and a wonderfully relaxed pace.

Art In The Yard is a modern exhibition space in Franschhoek.

There are spots such as The Yard, a small cobbled square framed by an art gallery, stylish retail outlets and a couple of restaurants, which can play host to guests for a whole morning or afternoon. Or there’s the Franschhoek Wine Tram, which offers hop-on, hop-off tours of many of the wine farms in the area, including Holden Manz, Grande Provence, La Couronne and Rickety Bridge. And if you’ve just come to stuff yourself – a perfectly appropriate motivation in this part of the world – you can do so all the way along Huguenot Road, taking in choices such as Le Quartier Francais, Reuben’s, Ryan’s Kitchen and The French Connection. There are also the likes of Franschhoek Kitchen at Holden Manz, or Grande Provence Estate: The Restaurant, will require either a short drive or a longer walk to reach. If it’s any consolation, your wallet will be considerably lighter on the way back …