La Residence is in a class of its own. Located in the beautiful Franschhoek valley, where the exquisite vineyards and mountains form a picture perfect backdrop, La Residence provides a haven of luxurious accommodation, fine dining and an all-round sensory indulgence.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu
Location
Elandskloof Private Road Elandskloof Farm, Franschhoek 7690 South Africa
La Residence
447 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
We stayed for six nights at this stunning property and had a lovely relaxing time. The staff were very helpful whenever we asked for something or enquired about an excursion. The in house shuttle was really good and meant all but one of our trips out were covered by this great service. The rooms and bathrooms were stunning as were the main areas of the hotel and we enjoyed both sitting outside to watch the sunset and also inside by the fire at night. Food and drinks were great, wonderful breakfast, delicious cakes and coffees in the afternoon and pre dinner drinks and canapé’s before some excellent in house dinners when we ate in house. They happily prepared some ‘simpler’ food, not on the menu, one evening when we fancied a night off from the ‘extravagant’ food the hotel and Franschhoek has to offer. When not eating in the hotel we visited La Petite Colombe, Protége, Chef’s warehouse and Epice for some amazing food in the evening and enjoyed Haute Cabriere , Le Petit Ferme and Babel by Babylonstoren at lunchtime. We also really enjoyed the wine tasting we did at the hotel and reading and swimming in and around the pool. Thank you to everyone who made our stay ‘a perfect stay’.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 21 Sept 2023
Dear Ailsa, Thank you for taking the time to write this beautiful review. It is wonderful to read the details of your experience with us at La Residence, and we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the special touches. We are looking forward to welcoming you back for another memorable experience soon. Laura (Marketing Team)
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I took one STAR away as I was bitterly disappointed in the food! One's experience is about the food too when you stay over. We had all meals at the hotel because we felt we wanted to make the most of our last 3 nights at the hotel. The food I could not believe was just kind of mediocre and that is my honest opinion! I had a chance to share the details with the general manager on the morning of our check out. We were told LR had just received a 5 star + rating which gave me even more reason to feel it was lacking in standard. For example, the salads were nothing but standard. No imagination or creativity in spite of amazing ingredients and flavours available locally. My birthday dinner was awful to put it mildly, I could not finish the soggy fish slapped on top of sticky dry risotto.
We travelled from Canada to make Franschhoek our 'home away from home' for almost 6 weeks and chose LR to end out visit on a high note. We were welcomed with open arms and for the ladies, I even received a little bouquet. The room we had #8 was wonderful. The most snugly bed with duvet and beautiful linens. The bathrooms lacked nothing. Around the room were all sorts of little 'help yourself' treats to eat and drink. Wifi was good and even the disturbing ' load shedding' was dealt with in a way that no one would even know it was happening. All staff at LR were amazing towards us. We were able to hang around after check out as our flight was only at 21:00. We enjoyed our last lunch which was kindly taken care of 'to make up for' the genuin shortfalls.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Make sure to get the best seat in the house for 'sundowners' as some folks who don't stay...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 13 Feb 2023
Dear Moira, Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your feedback. We have shared it with our team at La Residence. Laura (Marketing Team)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Before we came to South Africa, we did hours, upon hours of research to find the perfect places to stay along the way. When debating the Franschhoek area, we were faced with some pretty amazing looking places. Websites do a great job of showing off a property in the best light imaginable, so we were confused. So, after speaking to our local friend, reading a million reviews, mapping properties and discussing it at length, we booked at La Residence. I was worried that it was too opulent, gaudy or over the top for my tastes, but I also thought the size of the property was ideal being so small and the location was fantastic for exploring the area.
Upon driving up, the property looks lovely, but not over the top, but when you step inside the lobby, you are blown away by the beauty and character of the place. However, as you look across the lawn to the pool, you see their mountain backdrop and ask if it is real. The view was something worth taking in for a few minutes to imprint the beauty in your mind. Once they took us to our suite, we were again blown away by the space. This is luxury at it’s finest. They have thought of everything, and the unique styling of the room with the little special touches just make you giggle. Then, they open the balcony doors and you are again faced with the view of the mountains that just can’t be real.
We ate dinner here twice, and the food was fantastic and the service even better. One night it was a bit chilly and windy, so they had a fire going and we sat right in front of it. I felt like I was dining in the set of Beauty and the Beast, locked in a beautiful castle!! (Okay, and the coronavirus drama was really picking up back home so we kept joking about getting stuck here, so that added to the drama and excitement)
Make sure you make time for lounging at the pool. This was a great part of our trip. Also, have a massage...or two. Make sure you are there for sunset with a drink. Enjoy the gorgeous breakfast spread each morning. Take a bath....or three........
Basically, don’t overbook your time in the area that you don’t have a good amount of time to appreciate the property and environs you paid a good amount of money to enjoy. Just being at this property is a joy, so be there.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Edward Morton, General Manager at La Residence
Responded 21 Jan 2021
Dear JMSanJose, Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review about your experience at La Residence! We are incredibly lucky to be located in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley with the magnificent mountain ranges around us and we are so glad that you appreciated these views. Our entire team, from our Chefs to our team on the floor and in the rooms, aspire every day to create the most memorable experiences for our guests and your very apt description is a reassurance that we are on the right track. The hotel was designed by Liz Biden for ultimate relaxation and we are so happy that you experienced this. We look forward to welcoming you back to La Residence or any other Royal Portfolio property very soon. Warmest Regards, Werner, Edward and La Residence Team
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Our stay at La Résidence in Franschhoek was a mix of positives and disappointments, leaving us with an overall underwhelming impression of this highly-rated resort.
To start, the laundry service was a major letdown. A brand-new T-shirt, worn only once, was returned to me completely ruined, covered in bleach stains, and rendered unwearable. I had provided the hotel with photos of the T-shirt before sending it to the laundry to show it was in perfect condition, but this made no difference. For a hotel of this caliber, such carelessness is unacceptable, and no satisfactory resolution was offered.
Another major disappointment was the food. Given the reputation and price point of La Résidence, we expected a high culinary standard. Unfortunately, the food fell far short of those expectations. While the ingredients were fresh, the dishes lacked flavor and creativity. The meals were bland, flat, and entirely unremarkable – far below the standard you would anticipate from a hotel of this level. In fact, we chose to eat out at other restaurants in Franschhoek every evening, where we enjoyed far superior dining experiences. This speaks volumes about the underwhelming quality of the food at the hotel.
Additionally, we traveled with our children, but it was not made clear before booking that children are not welcome in the main building of the hotel. Instead, families are housed in a separate section, described by the hotel as “more suitable for children.” In practice, this policy felt like an attempt to minimize any potential inconvenience children might cause to other guests. While the facilities in the separate area, such as a dedicated pool, were good, the overall setup felt segregated and not particularly welcoming. We strongly believe this policy should be communicated more transparently on the hotel’s website to avoid misunderstandings.
While the resort’s surroundings are undeniably beautiful and some facilities are excellent, these issues overshadowed our stay. Families should be aware of the hotel’s policies regarding children and consider whether the setup aligns with their expectations. Additionally, the food and laundry service both failed to meet the standard one would expect from a luxury property.
For the price point and reputation, La Résidence did not deliver the exceptional experience we had hoped for.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Royal Portfolio, General Manager at La Residence
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Sebastian, Thank you for sharing your feedback following your stay at La Residence. While we are pleased to hear that certain aspects of your visit were enjoyable, we are naturally disappointed to learn that other elements did not meet your expectations. Our commitment is always to deliver outstanding service and a perfect stay for all our guests. With regard to the matter of your t-shirt, we conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that no bleach was used in the laundry process. The stain in question was identified by our laundry attendant prior to washing but was regrettably not reported at the time. You brought this to our attention several days after your stay and requested compensation. While we understand your frustration, we would like to clarify that suggesting we were dismissive of your concerns is inaccurate. We must also raise the issue of items damaged during your stay, which you sadly fail to mention in your review. It is our policy to charge guests for such incidents. However, as a gesture of goodwill, we waived these costs. Despite this, we note with regret that you chose to proceed with a negative review anyway. La Residence’s Vineyard Suites and facilities have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate families with children, offering spaces where guests can feel at ease. We are sorry to hear that this did not align with your expectations. Your comments regarding food have been noted and will be shared with our team to ensure continued improvements are made where necessary. Kind regards, Hoon Kim, Deputy General Manager
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5 stars all around! La Residence is a little sliver of paradise. The grounds and hotel are stunningly beautiful. The service is incredible. When you drive up, a bunch of the staff come out and wave as you enter the property. The hospitality is unmatched. And the rooms are equally over the top. We stayed in Villa 2 which had a huge bed that required a three-step footstool to get into and a bathroom large enough to put the bathtub right in the middle with room with large vanities on both sides. There were so many little special touches. Additionally, there are beautiful peacocks roaming the property along with the areas for mini-horses and springbok. Finally it's so close to the quaint town of Franschhoek with its many great restaurants and shops. Overall just a really special place.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 05 Aug 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such an exceptional experience at La Residence. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable stay in the not too distant future.
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We stayed three nights at this magical property and truly didn’t want to leave. It really is an incredible place , a sense of calm wherever you are in the property and you are just surrounded by beauty. The most beautiful are the hotel team, led by an amazing GM Werner, everyone we met really couldn’t do enough for us and you just feel very special (Ryno and Garth, a definite shout out and an absolute credit to the hotel).
We stayed in the Frangipani suite (room 3), a stunning room and simply the most amazing bathroom we have ever seen and we have widely travelled!!!
There really isn’t anything not to love and my husband and I finally agree on something that we have now found our place.
Thank you Werner and La Residence
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 14 Dec 2022
Thank you for this wonderful review Carolyn! We are delighted to hear that you had an unforgettable stay and that what truly set your experience at La Residence apart was our passionate and expert team. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable experience. Laura (Marketing Team)
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We returned to this outstanding hotel that is truly worthy of a 7 star rating for service levels that consistently exceed expectations. This is no ordinary hotel when it concerns guests' satisfaction. All rooms enjoy magnificent mountain views and affords absolute privacy. Breakfast is no different to a fine dining treat. Staff is attentive, yet never intrusive. The quality of all food items is exceptional, yet homely. We particularly appreciated the personalized service from the deputy general manager, Mr Hoon, who insists on carrying a guest's bag that either arrives or leaves. An absolutely unique exposure at this hotel is staff personally seeing and waving-off all guests. This type of above average service is what prompts guests to return and we will too.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:All rooms are far bigger than your average luxury hotels.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 21 Jun 2024
Thank you for this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that what truly set your experience at La Residence apart was our detailed touches, the décor, and our passionate and expert team. We look forward to your next visit! Laura (Marketing Team)
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La Res was the second leg of our first holiday since covid was declared a pandemic by the WHO, so clearly we were very much looking forward to it. We reached la res after spending 3 amazing nights at Birkenhead, their sister property at Hermanus. Unlike at Birkhenhead, where service was wonderful in all areas, at La Res, a line could be drawn where the good service ended and the poor service started. When we arrived, we were given a very warm welcome by the GM, Werner Krause. He was friendly and always available to help with any questions or concerns we had. Food was amazing and the kitchen staff were wonderful. This is where the line was drawn and the good service ended. Upon arrival, we were escorted to our suite by a gentleman who was unable to answer our very basic questions eg. Is the mini bar included? He said he was new so did not know, but would find out for us. Shouldn’t he have read up on the room before he was orienting guests to it? He did not get back to us, so we asked the reception about drinks. The reception said the mini bar was included, but should I want, say a G & T, in the main area, I would have to pay for it as someone would have to make it for me. When speaking to our travel agent, we finally found out that all drinks, regardless of where we had them were included in our stay. Heated floors in the rooms did not work, I lifted a lemon to make a drink and found that it was all green and moldy at the bottom. Chips at the mini bar were rancid. I dropped an earring and got down on the floor to look for it when I saw a thick layer of dust on the carpets and under the bed. The pool had lots of dead leaves in it – during our three days there, the pool was not cleaned even once. One night, my dad ordered room service. They piled all the items he ordered in the same pot and brought it to him! The phone line in one of the rooms was not working. Obviously our suite was not inspected before we checked in. Poor housekeeping and service around residential area really stopped us from fully enjoying ourselves. Considering how much they charge foreigners for this place, they should deliver nothing short of perfection. This places has lots of great reviews, so I’m really not sure of why they kept dropping the ball when we were there. Werner, like I said above, you were wonderful and I did get your email apologizing on behalf of housekeeping and the lack of/poor pre-arrival room inspection and inviting us for another stay. Thank you for the invitation, but I just don’t think I’m in a position to spend lots of money again just to see if housekeeping has got their act together. I’d rather spend that money at Birkenhead where they got it right the first time.
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Werner Krause, General Manager at La Residence
Responded 28 Dec 2021
Dear TiyendePamodzi, We are sorry that we could not give you a complete experience and a perfect stay. We have hoped that you would afford us a second chance to show you what a true stay at La Residence should be like. I do appreciate that you commented on the great quality of the food that our chefs prepared and our staff members being wonderful. Warmest Regards, Werner
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The ultimate in luxury. Outstanding service, beautiful grounds, beautiful and very spacious room/bathroom. Fresh flowers everywhere. There is a small gym, spa room and pool. Private balcony provided a spectacular view of the vineyard and mountains. The in room bar was fully stocked with snacks, coffee, tea, wine, beer and a variety of liquors - all complimentary. The food in the dining room was delicious. Would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 15 May 2023
Dear Rosamari, Thank you for your lovely message. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us at La Residence and hope to make more memories together soon. Laura (Marketing Team)
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We are fortunate enough to have stayed in many fantastic hotels in various countries around the world. This is without doubt the best hotel that we have ever stayed in. From the moment of our arrival until our departure, Werner and the fantastic team at the hotel could not have done more to make us feel more welcome or better cared for. The service levels are simply beyond anything we have ever experienced at any other hotel - nothing is too much trouble and we were constantly delighted and surprised by thoughtful touches and acts of kindness by the staff throughout our stay.
The hotel itself is set in beautiful grounds and the rooms are simply amazing. Beyond the paradise setting, it's the little details that really help set the property apart - pretty much everything you could need or want is included and those things that aren't (e.g. spa treatments and lunch / dinner) are very reasonably priced. It's so refreshing that the hotel hasn't taken the approach of many other luxury properties in assuming that because you can afford to stay, you don't care about the cost of anything and are happy to be fleeced. It is clear that the management of this hotel have set out to create the absolute best experience possible for their guests and on every level they have succeeded. We cannot wait to come back.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Laura Siebert, Marketing at La Residence
Responded 07 Dec 2022
Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us at La Residence and that our passionate and expert team made your experience that much more memorable! We hope to welcome you back in the not too distant future. Laura (Marketing Team)
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There are more places to choose from in the Franschhoek area.
PRICE RANGE
R 28,489 - R 31,288 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
la residence franschhoek
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeFranschhoek
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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