Le Quartier Français Hotel

Cnr Berg & Wilhelmina Streets Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa

South Africa’s Franschhoek valley has some of the best restaurants and hotels in the whole country – and Le Quartier Français, located in Franschhoek town, is one of the elite. This Relais & Châteaux auberge has a laidback, cottagey feel – chaise longues feature in rooms, and timber beams and wooden furniture dot bedrooms and public areas. And then there’s the food. There are two restaurants on site, plus one on the family’s nearby farm and winery, Môreson. The Tasting Room is the more formal, decidedly gastronomic affair – it serves a five- or nine-course menu blending French (a remnant of the region’s Huguenot history) and African traditions. Spend an afternoon by the pool or, if your relaxation depends on access to a private lounge area and use of an on-call butler, hire out the Four Quarters suite. Doubles from £225.