Hotel of the Month - June 2015 - La Petite Dauphine

Lewis Smith

This month we head out to the Cape Winelands, to indulge in the French influence. A beautiful town called Franschhoek, literally translated as "The French Corner". This valley is one of the oldest in South Africa, with French Huguenot refugees settling in 1688, many of whom were given land by the Dutch government.  These French protestants named their farms after the areas they had originated from: La Motte, La Provence, Cabrière, La Dauphine to name but a few, many of which still retain the original Cape Dutch farmhouses.

​We have hand picked the wonderful La Petite Dauphine guest farm in Franschhoek to feature as our “Hotel Of The Month” for June 2015. Nestled in its’ own vines, olive trees, which create marvelous oil, as well as exceptional quality plums which are exported internationally, the farm sits in pristine and tranquil surroundings. Complemented with rooms individually designed, by the owner, and finished with original features.  It recently took top honors’ in a study by New World Wealth as the top boutique hotel in South Africa amongst the rich and famous.

Having stayed at this idyllic guest farm and running comparisons, over our years in the hospitality industry, the laid back, private country house environment paired with the luxury of a hotel makes for an exclusive, one of a kind experience. The owners Gert, an internationally renowned interior designer, and Louis are hands-on and passionate about making your break to the winelands as special and memorable as possible.

This farm not only exudes luxury, it makes summer divine, with a crisp, light, home grown rosé and comforting atmosphere. La Petite also provides perfect winter evenings. Whilst at your table in the fabulous restaurant "Cafe Bon Bon" with a hearty, warming meal paired with a sublime red wine, the live pianist is accompanied by the crackling and roaring of an open fire. A theme continued throughout the suites with wood-burning fireplaces creating the most desired atmosphere in your private cottage.

As you can imagine the warm environment creates a beautifully romantic setting, paired with the breathtaking mountainous surroundings, private suites with various pools to dip into, as well as the rustic Veruska’s Wine Bar featuring La Petite Dauphin and Haut Espoir wines, that when combined deliver unassuming quality, making for a potential wedding venue hard to overlook.

The facilities on offer in addition to those mentioned above ensure a smooth, welcome and most enjoyable stay. All nine suites contain a Nespresso coffee machine, giving you a morning wake up shot to clear the cobwebs left by the wine spiders and the stocked mini bar. A refreshing shower with complimentary L’Occitane products, followed by a wholesome breakfast and lunch provided each day. Complimentary Wifi is available throughout and ample parking is also available on site, so getting into town to experience some of the top restaurants in the Western Cape, even a top #100 restaurant in the world, is all too easy.

The factors that really make the difference and dictate why we chose La Petite Dauphine are: the privacy of each cottage, whilst situated on the same farm, all are located so as to offer seclusion. The location of the five star guest farm is exceptional, both for the landscapes that completely surround you, and for the proximity to the centre of town, you are far enough from the crowds to experience the peace and quiet of the winelands, yet close enough to just nip into town. And finally, the exuberance and passion of the owners, who are ever present, shines year round, giving travellers to the ‘French Corner’ a pleasurable and unforgettable time. 
 
Watch the video below for further inspiration. And remember, the famous and fabulous Bastille Festival is only a couple of weeks away and La Petite Dauphine would be the perfect place to stay. Rates start at R3300 per night sharing. We do not charge any additional fees for bookings and to top it off, you will receive a complimentary bottle of wine when booking through us. 
Contact us on: [email protected].