A culinary adventure is the sticky glacé cherry on top of a decadent holiday cake. Eating is one of the biggest pleasures of travelling and South Africa is fast becoming one of the world’s most sought after foodie destinations. From artisan producers and fresh farm markets in untouched hideaways to award winning restaurants in trendy city spaces, South Africa offers foodie travellers great quality, innovation, and diversity. We bet that no one could pass up on these memorable gourmet experiences offered at some of the most excellent accommodations across South Africa.
Le Quartier Français
In 2013, Le Quartier Français was awarded 9th position in the “Top 15 Hotels in Africa” by Condé Nast Traveler Readers Awards. The 5-star luxury hotel lies in the heart of the Franschhoek, South Africa’s culinary capital, and is all about living like the locals in a serene setting where luxury and style blend with casual comfort. Le Quartier Francais is home to award winning restaurant, The Tasting Room. Headed by Executive Chef Margot Janse, The Tasting Room offers an 8-course South African menu paired with delicious wines. You’ll also find sister restaurant Bread&Wine to be a popular spot for lingering lunches. For those who like to be in the kitchen, Le Quartier Francais offers a culinary safari with various cooking classes, private wine tastings, a wine-blending class, and more. Find out more.
Abalone House Boutique Guesthouse
If you enjoy simple dishes well prepared, head to the 5-star Abalone House Boutique Guesthouse in Paternoster, where Chef Reuben Riffel opened his 4th Reuben’s restaurant in October 2013. The highly acclaimed and coveted restaurant serves up the finest local cuisine for the ultimate in sensual enjoyment. The eclectic artworks, Persian rugs, wicker furniture, and cool salty ocean breeze at this opulent beachside setting are perfect complements to fresh seafood served straight off the coals. Find out more.
Woodall Country House and Spa
The thatched waterside dining room at Woodall Country House and Spa in Addo is an enchanting setting to enjoy a 3- or 6-course gourmet experience. Bursting with flavour and texture, the menu is inspired by Karoo venison, freshly caught East Coast fish, home baked bread, artisan cheeses, citrus harvested from the surrounding orchards, and produce freshly picked from their own herb and vegetable gardens. The underground wine cellar yields a unique collection of superb South African wines, personally selected by the owner, that beautifully complement the menu. The 5-star Woodall Country House has been awarded a string of hospitality accolades over the last 10 years, including numerous Diners Club Wine List Awards. Find out more.
Andries Stockenström Guesthouse
Situated in the small village of Graaff Reinet, Gordon’s Restaurant is the flagship of Andries Stockenström Guesthouse and holds an international reputation for fine, yet simple Karoo cuisine. Chef Gordon Wright adopts a slow food philosophy and can tell you exactly how each ingredient on your plate came from the veld to your fork. Gordon hunts and prepares his own venison and you’ll know that he’s spent the day fishing when you see fresh wild rainbow trout on the menu. If you’re a foodie who is serious about knowing the origins of your food, you’ll love the 3-night adventure with Gordon’s “Veld to the Fork” cooking school. Find out more.
Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
Richard and Mouse Poynton invite you to experience an intimate gourmet getaway at Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse. The 5-star foodie haven teeters on the edge of a trout-filled dam in the peaceful solitude of the Drakensberg Mountains, and it is in this unlikely place that you will find local and imported ingredients of the highest quality – from fresh salmon flown in from Norway to genuine Parma hams and cheeses from Italy. Richard has a passion for fine food and being able to pick fresh ingredients from the garden only minutes before serving is pure delight. Dinner is an extravagant and memorable 7-course affair as Richard talks you through each morsel on your plate before you savour the flavourful creation. Whatever you do, make sure you stay for breakfast, because the unusual 3-courses promise to be the highlight of your stay! Find out more.
What foodie stays do you recommend in South Africa?
Feature image Abalone House Boutique Guesthouse
