About Franschhoek
Franschhoek is known as South Africa's Culinary Capital with over 60 restaurants in the charming town that has a distinctly French heritage.
Franschhoek (‘French Corner’ in Dutch) is a picturesque village where the laid back café culture has a distinctly French charm. The first French Huguenot settlers arrived in South Africa at Franschhoek in 1688 and their influence lives on, for this is a destination undeniably devoted to the creation and enjoyment of good food and wine.
Many of the original French Huguenot refugees were given land by the Dutch government in a valley called Olifantshoek (“Elephants’ corner”), so named because of the elephants that crossed into the valley to calve. The name of the area soon changed to le Coin Français (“the French Corner”), and later to Franschhoek, with many of the settlers naming their new farms after the areas in France from which they came. La Motte, Champagne, La Cotte, Haute Cabrière, La Provence, Bourgogne, La Terra de Luc and La Dauphine were among some of the first established farms — most of which retain their original Cape Dutch farmhouses today.
Full of character, Franschhoek is distinguished by its fine colonial architecture, numerous gourmet restaurants, art galleries and curio shops. Despite its diminutive size, Franschhoek boasts an incredible range of snug cafés and stylish restaurants with every style of food on offer. From traditional English pub food to classic French bistro fare and from superb wood-fired pizzas to contemporary Indian cuisine – there is something for every palate.
