Ask around Franschhoek, and most locals will happily tell you that winter is when the village really shows its best side. Gone is the relentless heat that crisps the depths of summer, and in place of the throngs of tourists – eager to take in one of the country’s most charming villages – is a more leisurely and local foot traffic. It’s a seasonal reset for a town that weathered tourism downturns during the Covid-19 pandemic and has since found its stride again, now comfortably back in full swing.
Positioned in the heart of Franschhoek, yet removed from the bustle that often accompanies such a central address, Chapter House Boutique Hotel stretches the width of an entire village block, with entrances on both historic Akademie Street and Dirkie Uys Street. One of eight properties in the Living Journey Collection, Chapter House distinguishes itself through a tangible connection to the village’s past. Its name pays homage to the hotel’s original building, constructed in 1888 as a mission house before later serving as Franschhoek’s school until as recently as 1974.
History and heritage linger throughout the older half of the property. Most striking is the double-volume lounge, once the mission hall, where an oversized fireplace anchors the space beneath lofty ceilings. The rooms in this building are individual in character: some framed by original fireplaces or soaring proportions, others opening onto secluded courtyards or plunge pools.
Across a stepped garden layered with water features and dense greenery sits the hotel’s contemporary wing, a double-storey addition that houses several superior rooms, along with Zest Spa and a small meeting space. The design is more uniform, though no less generous, with ground-floor rooms spilling out onto private relaxation areas or pools. With just 17 rooms across the two buildings, Chapter House retains the intimacy expected of a boutique hotel, paired with the attentive service of a luxury property.
Much of the hotel’s appeal lies in its setting. Step out onto Akademie Street – once Franschhoek’s main thoroughfare – and some of the village’s most historic sites are within easy walking distance. Adjacent to the hotel is a charming old church, and school buildings dating to 1907 are nearby. The Huguenot Memorial Museum waits at the end of the street surrounded by mature oak trees. Through the Dirkie Uys Street entrance, the architecturally distinctive NG Dutch Reformed Church, built in 1847, is only a short stroll away. Nearby, Franschhoek’s historic cemetery offers a compelling detour, its assortment of weathered graves and mausoleums tracing centuries of local history.
Breakfast at Chapter House is generous and leisurely, served either in the dining room or out on the restored veranda of the former mission house. While Franschhoek offers no shortage of notable restaurants, two nearby favourites stand out. Tucked beside the library and set back from the Main Road, Let’s Frite is an easy-going lunch spot with a tranquil garden, known for its burgers, ribs and Asian-inspired small plates. For dinner, Reuben’s – the eponymous restaurant of celebrity chef and Franschhoek resident Reuben Riffel – offers a moodier atmosphere, whether seated inside the semi-industrial dining room or in the newly renovated courtyard. The menu leans local, with dishes such as Cape Malay smoked snoek samosas, chicken curry, malva pudding and Amarula panna cotta the perfect way to end a Franschhoek day.
The Living Journey Collection, which includes properties in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Hermanus and Robertson is celebrating winter in the Western Cape with its GR8 Cape Escape promotion. Book a stay of a minimum of three nights at any of The Living Journey Collection’s properties and receive a 25% saving on your booking. For more information, visit www.thelivingjourneycollection.co.za.
Reuben’s restaurant offers a Winter Special Set Menu until the end of August. The menu includes a choice of three starters, three mains and two desserts, with a two-course option priced at R325, and three courses at R395. The menu includes vegetarian dishes. Discover more at www.reubens.co.za
Siegfried Schafer, a lifelong resident of Franschhoek and editor of the village newspaper, offers guided walking tours. Approximately three hours in duration, they’re priced at R500 per person and commence and end at the NG Dutch Reformed Church. For more information, contact [email protected].
