Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Mont Rochelle is Sir Richard Branson's stunning hotel and vineyard just under an hour's drive from Cape Town in the town of Franschhoek in South Africa. Situated in an area internationally renowned for its winelands and stunning scenery, Mont Rochelle boasts a unique hilltop setting with views over the Klein Dassenberg mountain range and private vineyard encompassing 39 hectares. The hotel comprises of 26 rooms and suites including a stunning Manor House; a private four-bedroom villa available for exclusive use year-round. There are five room types and all rooms can be made up with twin beds on request. Children are very welcome to stay at Mont Rochelle year-round and some rooms can accommodate children on single beds. There are two restaurants at Mont Rochelle: Miko and the Country Kitchen. Miko is the main restaurant and is the setting for some fantastic gourmet meals including those for special occasions. Adjacent to the winery is the Country Kitchen, an ideal spot for a light lunch or a take-away picnic. All our room rates include breakfast which is served in Miko. Both restaurants are open for non-resident guests but we do recommend you call in advance to book a table. At Mont Rochelle wine tasting isn’t just a special event – it’s an everyday occurrence. Both hotel guests and day visitors can enjoy wine tastings in a variety of locations and our Mont Rochelle wines are available to purchase. When you're not enjoying the wine, why not take a dip in the main outdoor heated swimming pool or relax at the Mont Rochelle Spa with a spa treatment or Hammam. We use the eco-friendly Africology ‘Authentic’ range of spa products which are made from 100% essential oils using natural plant extracts.
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.
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Mont Rochelle is celebrated by guests for its picturesque setting and luxurious ambiance, often leading to extended stays. The hotel's immaculate cleanliness and contemporary, comfortable rooms with stunning views receive consistent praise, though a rare mention of a malfunctioning air conditioner has been noted.
While Miko Restaurant's cuisine has faced some criticism, the overall service garners accolades for its warmth and attentiveness. The amenities, including the heated pools and wine tasting experiences, contribute to the hotel's high regard, despite minor gym cleanliness issues.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Luxurious
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Superb
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Comprehensive
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Our second visit to this splendid establishment, as good as the first one, if not better. For those planning to stay in the near future, be assured that all Covid protocols are strictly enforced. We stayed in a most comfortable room, well appointed with a patio opening out onto a lawn with breathtaking views over Franschhoek to the mountain range beyond. The patio was fringed with in full bloom jasmine; most pleasant smells. The estate manager, James Basson is a consummate professional with an eye for every comfort and need for his clients. Peter Karanja and his staff are making sure that these very high standards are fulfilled, are most welcoming and helpful. The breakfast is very good, we missed the buffet which is temporarily unavailable due to Covid restrictions. Complimentary wine, nibbles and mini bar are a nice touch. Wine tasting in the Country Kitchen most enjoyable with knowledgeable staff. The shuttle bus a great plus which makes visits to the town, especially at night, so much easier. Most delightful stay which I would love to repeat one day.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Cleanliness
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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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 17 Dec 2020
Dear CapeTownCharles, Thank you for taking the time to share such a delightful review with us. It was such a pleasure to welcome you back to Mont Rochelle; we’re always striving to go that extra mile and so we couldn’t be happier to hear that you thought your visit was as good as the first, if not better! We have worked really hard to put measures in place to keep our guests safe and are so pleased to hear that you noticed and felt relaxed during your time with us. It’s been so important to us that we continue to deliver memorable stays, just in a slightly different way. I have to say I was incredibly touched to receive a personal mention, and can’t thank you enough for your kind words; I really wouldn’t be able to do my job without my fantastic team and I know that Peter was positively beaming at your recognition too. There’s nothing we love more than welcoming back old friends to Mont Rochelle and so we hope it won’t be too long before we see you again. Until next time… Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Thsi hotel is truely amazing. from the time you arrive you are made to feel very welcome, the complimnetary wine in the room, the masks and sanitiser were nic touches. The food is dellicious and the spa was really great.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2022
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 01 Apr 2022
Dear 71clairew, What a wonderful way to describe Mont Rochelle, we can’t thank you enough. We’re delighted you made time to relax at the spa and make the most of the delicious menu of food we have. Hearing how much guests enjoy their time with us means the world and really makes all our hard work worthwhile. You absolutely must come back and visit us again, we’ll be waiting with open arms. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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My wife and I had the distinct pleasure of staying at Mont Rochelle near the end of September, 2021. The property is immaculate and all of the staff were professional and most accommodating. We were both extremely happy with the care shown to clean and sanitize the areas in accordance with Covid-19 protocols. We would most enthusiastically recommend Mont Rochelle and its staff to anyone wanting to stay in the area.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2021
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 29 Oct 2021
Dear GrumpyGuy25, What a wonderful review, thank you very much. We’ve certainly worked hard to ensure guests feel safe and well looked after during every minute of their stay at Mont Rochelle – even more so since COVID-19 – and it really means a lot to hear that we’re getting it right. We’re delighted your stay was so enjoyable and certainly enjoyed hosting you, so please don’t leave it too long before your next visit! Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Picnic experience was poor. Picnic basket food was exceptionally poor and expensive for what is provided. Facility and grounds ok but cramped. Not worth it. Best part is the helicopter trip out but should have chosen a different venue for the picnic.
Cant comment about the hotel or restaurant.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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 VirginLimitedEdition, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 13 Jan 2020
Dear Legend575, I’m so sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy your picnic experience at Mont Rochelle and I’d be very grateful to hear whether this was at our Mont Rochelle hotel or the Mont Rochelle area? We’re incredibly proud of our picnic offerings that take place in the beautiful surrounds we are so blessed to enjoy. In fact, we are just about to launch our brand-new vintage “Dam Van” to further extend the picnic offerings for our guests. If it was at Mont Rochelle hotel, please do accept my sincerest apologies and let me assure you this is not indicative of the usual high standards our picnic guests enjoy daily. I would be very grateful if you could contact me so I can take the opportunity to discuss this with you in further detail. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Ordinarily we would not be able to afford this property which is most appropriate to international guests. We took advantage of their local residents special and 5 couples stayed the night in the spectacular Manor House. Thanks to Richard Branson for sharing! Specific and special mention of our thanks to Peter who bowled us over with his service and care, and made sure our every desire was catered for. He is a true gem of a human being and we are better for having met him. Thank you to James too for his hospitality and Jasmine for the sensational massage.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 01 Apr 2021
Dear RichardRayne17, It was such a pleasure to welcome you and your friends to our Manor House recently and so we were absolutely delighted to receive your 5* review! It’s us who want to extend our heartfelt thanks to YOU for sharing such kind words. Peter was so touched to be personally recognised; we may be biased but we couldn’t agree more with you that he is very special indeed. Jasmine was positively beaming to hear how much you enjoyed your massage, and as for me I can honestly say it was a true delight to meet all of you. We hope that you will come and visit us again soon as there’s nothing we love more than welcoming back old friends. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Cannot rate this hotel highly enough. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the service was outstanding. This hotel is in a stunning location about 20 minute walk from pretty Franschhoek, a delightful town full of boutiques and restaurants. If you don’t feel like walking, someone from reception will drive you to wherever you want to go in town and they will pick you up later. The area is stunning with walks, wine tasting via the hop on hop off trams and buses (or you can visit numerous vineyards under your own steam), but make sure you leave some time for relaxing at this lovely hotel. Lunch at the country kitchen was lovely and much less formal than Miko restaurant, also had enjoyable wine tasting experience in the gardens at the back of the country kitchen.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 02 Mar 2023
Dear Mandy B, We can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share such lovely words following your stay with us. It’s our team’s priority to ensure you feel well looked after from the moment you arrive – and we’re so pleased to hear that you felt our service was outstanding. We agree – our location is just unbeatable, and we’re glad you had the time to explore beautiful Franschhoek and the wonderful boutiques and fabulous restaurants. We’re always happy to drive our guests to and from town to make sure they can explore the wonderful local area at their leisure. The hop on hop off trams are a great way to experience different walks and wine tastings, but time to relax at the hotel and enjoy the wonderful surroundings is an absolute must too. Please do come and visit us again soon, we will welcome you with open arms. Kind regards, Elizma Stone General Manager elizma.stone@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Mont Rochelle was a haven on our South Africa trip. We were welcomed by Annette with a glass of sparkling and shown around the property. As we had been previously very busy on our trip the days before we arrived, we took the opportunity to enjoy the hotel and amenities. It is well equipped with a tennis court, gym and pool. We enjoyed a complimentary wine tasting at the adjoining restaurant The Country Kitchen which was peaceful and picturesque.
We stayed in the Pinotage Suite which had the most incredible views, the room was clean, tastefully decorated and very comfortable with an amazing view from the bath!
During our time in Franschhoek we had planned to take a trip on the wine tram however huge thank you to Peter who arranged for us a personalised wine tasting trip including lunch at La Petite Ferme (definitely worth a visit) as well as a couple of local wine estates.
We enjoyed dinner at Miko on one of the evenings and breakfast both days also. Food was an incredible standard and service was consistently excellent. We met the Estate Manager James who made the effort to come over and consistently check that we had everything that we needed.
Overall an absolute must stay whilst in South Africa. We loved our stay so much that we re-visited on our way back to Cape Town to enjoy a picnic by the lake. Another opportunity to enjoy the beautiful valley views.
If we had more time we would have taken the time to explore the town a little more. On our drives through there looked like a variety of lovely shops to enjoy!
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Date of stay: July 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Pinotage Suite had the most incredible view. Also the room slippers are next level comfort!
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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 25 Aug 2022
Dear memehutchinson, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thorough review of your time with us, we absolutely loved hosting you. South Africa is a spectacular place – there’s just so much to see and do – so it’s also a wonderful place to relax and recuperate so it’s wonderful to hear that you carved out some time to relax and enjoy the tennis courts, gym and pool while with us. You made an excellent choice enjoying a complimentary wine-tasting at The Country Kitchen – it’s a real treat – but also, for enjoying many delicious plates of food at Miko. We’re spoilt for choice with such brilliant options on the grounds. Despite fitting in some much needed rest and relaxation it sounds like you really made the most of your time with us, venturing into Franschhoek and taking Peter’s stella recommendations, but I agree, there’s so much more to see – you really must come back. Thank you for your comments about your suite and views. I may be a little biased but the Pinotage Suites are really special and you never tire of waking up to the views. We can’t thank you enough for sharing such wonderful feedback and rating Mont Rochelle 5*’s and only hope this is the first of many visits to come. We’ll be ready and waiting to welcome you back with open arms. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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There are not enough words to describe how incredible and amazing our stay was at Mont Rochelle but I will try. This is not our first stay in Franschhoek (since we live in Cape Town) but I will have to rate this as our best one EVER!!! From the start we were warmly welcomed by staff with all the small touches that really made our stay one of the most special ones ever. From greeting us as we stepped our car, welcoming us with sparkling wine at reception, a bottle of bubbles in our room on ice, a personalized hand written note in our room, complimentary drinks in the bar fridge and delicious snacks. All the staff were so helpful and friendly. Our room (Cabernet suite) was beyond words with the furnishes and bath that had the most phenomenal view that overlooked the gorgeous valley of Franschhoek. You could hear the sounds of the birds outside and nothing else but tranquility. The pool area and grounds were immaculate and I loved the games (croquet, boulle etc) scattered all over. Breakfast at Miko was amazing. We also had a complimentary wine tasting at the estate. All in all I just have no faults for the staff and facilities. I am so grateful to you all for making our stay such a memorable and incredible one. We will definitely be back one day!! Thank you!!
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip 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 General Manager, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 31 Jan 2022
Dear nairol, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful review. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that Mont Rochelle surpassed all your expectations and that we were able to create a truly magical experience for you. The whole estate is perfect for rest and relaxation, so it’s great to hear that when you weren’t taking a dip or getting competitive with the lawn games, you felt completely at home taking in the incredible views from your Cabernet Suite. I’ve passed on your lovely comments to the wider team – including our lovely Miko staff – who are over the moon to receive such brilliant feedback. I might be biased, but I agree, our Miko food is absolutely delicious. It was our complete pleasure to host you and be a part of your special weekend together. As your new favourite spot in Franschhoek, we hope you’ll be back very soon; there’s nothing we like more than welcoming back old friends. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a suite in this gorgeous boutique hotel on a wine estate overlooking Franschhoek with spectacular views in every direction. From the original Cape farmhouse, the hotel has evolved into a first class luxury property with every modern amenity while retaining a relaxed elegance and unstuffy style that makes you feel instantly at home. Everywhere has a feeling of space. Service is personal and nothing is too much trouble for the staff, who greet you like a long lost friend. Rooms are light and spacious and beds are huge. We slept dreamlessly each night. Would return in an instant.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:go for a room with a view - ie any of them
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 VirginLimitedEdition, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 18 Mar 2020
Dear Judy S, We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, thank you so much. It’s always such a treat for us to hear when we know we’ve got it right and so I wanted to say a very big thank you on behalf of the entire team here at Mont Rochelle. I’m so happy that everything was to your liking and hope you’ll definitely consider visiting us again in the not too distant future. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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Great location with wonderful views al round. A shuttle bus service on demand gets you into most of Franschhoek within 5min. Comfortable rooms and bed. Attentive service and a delightful pool area for lounging. Only significant negative is the Restaurnt for which a separate review.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
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 VirginLimitedEdition, General Manager at Mont Rochelle
Responded 05 Mar 2020
Dear Albert Z, Thank you so much for sharing your valued feedback. I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Mont Rochelle and found the views and other amenities all to be of a high standard. You’ll see that I have acknowledged your review for Miko separately and hope to be able to speak with you further about this. Once again thank you for taking the time to share your lovely comments. Kind regards, James Basson General Manager james.basson@montrochelle.virgin.com
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London, United Kingdom147 contributions1 helpful vote
Hello CGriffiths,
Thank you so much for getting in touch, we are delighted to hear that you and your family are thinking of paying us a visit. Although Franschhoek is known for its wine, there’s plenty of other things to see and do that we think you will enjoy!
Our location at the foot of the Klein Dassenberg Mountain Range boasts beautiful panoramic views (and some of the best sunrises and sunsets in South Africa!). The French influence in the area means that there are fantastic art galleries and museums to explore, and if you like to get active you can make the most of the fantastic golf courses, cycling and hiking routes. We even have horse riding and scooter tours.
We very much hope to welcome you to Mont Rochelle in May!
Kind regards,
James Basson
General Manager
London, United Kingdom147 contributions1 helpful vote
Hello adw,
It's wonderful to hear from you. We're very much looking forward to welcoming you in October and helping you celebrate such a fantastic occasion.
Would you mind please reaching out to our reservations team who will have all of your booking details and can chat you through exactly what we have in store for you.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Kind regards,
James Basson
General Manager
London, United Kingdom147 contributions1 helpful vote
Dear Tonya M,
Thanks so much for your question, we are really looking forward to welcoming you in April!
We were delighted to hear that you'll be playing a spot of tennis while you're with us and you can rest assured that we provide the racquets and balls for our guests.
Kind regards,
James Basson
General Manager
Bonjour,
Concernant le petit déjeuner nous avons du malheureusement quitter l hôtel tres tôt (nous avion un avion à prendre pour aller à Durban).
Nous n avons donc pas pu y goûter.
Par contre, l équipe sachant cela nous avait extrêmement gentillement préparé un paquet comprennent jus d orange, mini viennoiseries, fromages, fruits,... une attention vraiment adorable.
Concernant la piscine je n en ai aucune idée, je pourrais simplement répondre que lors de notre séjour en septembre la piscine était tt à fait utilisable.
Bonne journée
There are more places to choose from in the Franschhoek area.
PRICE RANGE
R 9,656 - R 15,575 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
mont rochelle franschhoek, hotel mont rochelle
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
La Couronne Hotel
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeFranschhoek
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
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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