Too broke for a Euro trip? Only a few days leave left for the year? If this is your reality and you’re dreaming of a little taste of Europe without spending those hard-earned savings you’ve slaved away for, we’ve got just the thing. This is your guide to experiencing Italy, France and Switzerland all within our own borders!
Yes, Franschhoek is indeed our local “French Corner”, but don’t think the French flair stops there. We’ve got loads of accommodation, restaurants, shops and activities outside this town that will trick you into thinking you’re on a holiday in France.
Travelground‘s many French-inspired abodes will make all your fantasies of a weekend break in Provence come true! Click on the photos below to book your French getaway today:
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Find all your favourite French dishes at a restaurant or bistro near you ─ from duck, snails, and boeuf bourguignon to ratatouille! We found a few of the best restaurants where you can enjoy French cuisine in South Africa:
Cape Town and surrounds
La Petite Tarte | La Mouette | Societi Bistro | Bizerca | The French Connection
Gauteng
La Madeleine | Les Delices de France | A la Bouffe | Chez Girard | Bistro Vine | Bistro Michel
KwaZulu-Natal
Ile Maurice | 9th Avenue Bistro | French Fusion Café
What better way to experience authentic French culture than attending a proper French cooking class? Learn how to bring France into your own kitchen and ask a few friends or your partner to join you:
Taste-Buds Cook Club (Joburg) | Lila’s French Cooking (Midrand) | Fusion Cooking (Durban) | La Petite Patisserie (Cape Town)
Who says you need to visit France or pay horrifying shipping fees to get your hands on authentic French décor, furniture, pastries, cheese or wine? This quick guide will make your life so much easier:
Domaine du Cap (furniture and décor)| Simply French (décor) | Patisserie de Paris (patisserie) | La Cotte (cheese and wine) | Daniela’s (macarons)
From Tuscan villas to gelato bars, from pizza palaces to professional cooking classes ─ we’ve got what it takes to create a masterful Mediterranean experience right here in SA!
We know quite a few Italian, and especially Tuscan, villas just waiting to be graced by your presence! Just imagine yourself sipping a glass of wine or aperitif on the balcony. Click on the photos below to book your Italian holiday right now:
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I know very few people who don’t enjoy good ol’ pizza and pasta, but to find and appreciate authentic Italian food and desserts is a different story. Luckily SA’s got an abundance of restaurants and deli’s dedicated to offering excellent Italian specialities ─ from deep dish pizza to gelato!
Cape Town and surrounds
A Tavola | Italian Kitchen | BICCCS | Massimo’s | Burrata | Mama Cucina | Don Gelato | Terra Mare
Gauteng
Amacord Italian Food | La Trinita | Cornuti | Il Giardino | Pizza e Vino | Aroma Gelato
KZN
Casa Toscana | La Lampara | Lupa | Old Town | Trattoria la Terrazza | Ci Gusta
Italians are well-known for their cooking skills and mouth-watering dishes. If you prefer hearty and rich dishes like pasta, pizza and risotto to French fine dining, why not attend an Italian cooking class that will teach you how to craft it all from scratch?
Enrica Rocca (Cape Town)| The Little Pink Chef (Durbanville) | La Convivialita (Pretoria) | Gecko Culinary Adventures (Durban)
Sure, it would be nice to say that you bought your Italian wine, coffee, kitchen tools or leather products in Italy when you visited it yourself, but not all of our piggy banks allow these types of trips. You could just buy these goods in our very own South African stores and claim you bought it overseas ─ no one needs to know!
Adriatic (food and wine) | Italian Lifestyle (kitchen tools)| Vino (wine) | Giovanni’s Deli (deli) | Bialetti (coffee and tools) | Italian Leather (raw leather material)
The magical mountain landscapes, ski resorts, snow-fuelled fun, chocolate, cheese and fondues of Switzerland don’t seem so far-off when you’ve discovered what we have! Now you can experience Swiss bliss on your native soil thanks to these dreamy hideouts, eateries and activities.
We’ve found quite a few Swiss stays that will rekindle your belief in fairytales again. Mountains? Check. Snow? Check. Cosy cottage? Yes, they’ve got it all! Click on the photos below to book your Swiss escape as soon as possible:
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Swiss food is centered around togetherness and most meals are meant to be shared. As Saffas we’re always keen for a “kuier”, so why not try combining an interactive Swiss meal with a fun catch-up session with friends or family at one of these eateries:
Cape Town and surrounds
Gauteng
Erwin’s | African Swiss | Tasha’s, Hyde Park (try the rösti)
KZN
Mpumalanga
Attend a chocolate-making class at the Lindt academy, visit Delheim for a jolly Cheese & Jazz Fondue night, learn how to cook Swiss style or visit a cheese farm in the Midlands that will have you feeling like Heidi in the Alps. Oh, and don’t forget that we do have some great locations all around SA where you can even experience snow.
Lindt chocolate-making classes | Delheim Cheese & Jazz fondues | Swissland | Snow | Cooking classes with Swiss Taste or Top Nosh
If you’re keen on hosting a Swiss food night and need some provisions, we know just where to find some! You’ll never have a shortage of cheese, cold meats or chocolate if you make a note of the following places:
Lindt Chocolate Shops (chocolate) | Schwaben (butchery and deli) | Black Forest Butchery (butcher shop and deli) | Raith Gourmet (cold meats) | Feinschmecker (meat) | Swissland (cheese)
Should you know of any other authentic spots to experience French, Italian or Swiss culture in South Africa, let us know in the comment section below!
Photo attribution:
Feature image ─ Middel Right: Massimo’s
French food collage ─ Top Left: Taste-Buds. Top Right: La Petite Tarte. Bottom Left: 9th Avenue Bistro. Bottom Right: Societi Bistro.
Italian food collage ─ Top Right: Don Gelato. Other: Lupa.
Swiss food collage ─ Top Left: Oliver’s
