Avondrood Guest House
Styled after the French Huguenot culture that found its way to the shores of South Africa in 1671, with embellishment from Victorian Cape-Dutch aesthetics, the Oyster Collections Avondrood is a melting pot of Europe and Africa’s merged aesthetics into an exotic South African hotel experience, perfect to enrich the already breathtaking vistas of the Western Cape.
Avondrood contains much of what you’d want for a holiday home away from home. Its lavish interior design is breathtaking. Its service is quality. And its amenities are plentiful. But, it is the historic design, architecture, and location of this establishment that makes it stand out on the market. Avondroods serving team are committed to providing the best service possible. The friendly staff will assist you in whatever way needed, from room service to travel advisory. Avondrood’s manager, Justin, has more than fifteen years of African hospitality experience. Through Avondrood, you have the opportunity to experience the tucked away, idealistic village of Franschhoek, known for its fine cuisine and vineyards.
39 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
Franschhoek is known for its excellent cuisine, known the world over as the culinary capital of South Africa. If you consider yourself a foodie, this is the place to be. Pierneef Restaurant at La Motte is one establishment that has garnered a reputation for using what it deems “lost and forgotten” knowledge from old Cape chefs to provide a healthy and sustainable menu. And if you like a drink with your food, you’re also in luck. The place is surrounded by vineyards. Wine is never in shortage, and your choice of selection is immense.
For sightseers and adventurers, the town also has much to deliver. Almost every view that is available is one you’ll most likely stop and admire for a few minutes. There are countless mountaintop trails and vistas for you to seek out, alone or with friends. Franschhoek is also one of the oldest settlements in South Africa, dating its history to Dutch colonialism. As such, there is much history to be absorbed and explored. Plenty of old historic buildings from the French Huguenot immigration of the 1600s still stand. To this day, the town holds plenty of history and culture and has many festivals to attend including the Bastille festival, a celebration of the town’s French history.
To access Franschhoek from Cape Town, it is a 1 hour and 4 minute drive via the quickest route, the N1 and R45. There is no train from Cape Town to Franschhoek, so be aware that without a car you may require a taxi or bus service.
- The location has lots of history and culture, making it ripe for exploration
- Food is provided at the house
- Avondrood was a winner of the Lilizela Tourism Awards
- Additional safety procedures present when needed also
- Tours of the area are within easy access
- Laundry services provided
- Large and well-maintained swimming pool
- Easy access to Franschhoek, and not too distant from Cape Town
2000 square meter gardens surround a swimming pool oasis. The stretch of land surrounding the house is considered quite historic and is a popular tourist attraction for its wine and food-tasting. The stunning sweeping mountain views from the veranda are perfect for an invigorating breakfast. It is this element of a locality to points of interest that could make the house appealing to those looking to holiday in the rural areas surrounding Cape Town.
Its proximity to Franschhoek is very useful if you want a quick interchange between your hotel room and the town. Franschhoek is brimming with potential for things to do, so you could fill your day up with lots of activities. There are plenty of restaurants, gift shops, historical buildings and museums to explore. The main house provides a fireplace, and places to sit back and watch television. It also provides a cocktail bar. The house has eight large suites to choose from. Each suite is lavishly decorated with its interior design. Avondrood provides a full breakfast and locally roasted coffee.
The design of the house is certainly one of the standout features. It is noted for its elegance and historical influence. Though it has French design in mind, there are multiple instances of African embellishment found throughout the house, such as African pottery and statues. By the swimming pool, you can find a large red statue of an elephant, so keep an eye out for that.
July is a good time to visit as you may be able to catch the renowned Bastille festival, a celebration of Franschhoek’s French cultural influence. You’ll get a chance to taste some of the best wines and foods the region has to offer during this time.
A floor-top two-bedroom suite offering exquisite views of the mountain range. Includes a private patio, with umbrellas and a sun lounger. To top it all off it has a wood fireplace. This suite also includes spacious bedrooms, with a main bedroom king-sized bed and a second bedroom with twin-sized beds that can be merged. There is hot and cold air conditioning, an LCD-TV and a Charlotte Rhys beauty care package. The suite also has access to facilities such as a heated jacuzzi, a large saltwater swimming pool, and a fully stocked bar. This is the ultimate suite to take in the raw natural beauty that surrounds the land.
Overlooking lush gardens, the Luxury Suite offers private terraces, as well as spacious interior bedrooms. This includes a king-sized luxury bed, separate bathrooms with a spacious and elegantly well-designed area, and a solid air conditioning system.
For those with a more mellowed temperament, this suite is the answer. Soothe your worries in the beautiful South African breeze. The view is delightful, and you will slowly feel yourself drifting off and your worries eroding. These rooms give off the impression of an old lodger’s cabin merged with a 20th-century classical hotel room brimming with exuberance.
The luxury room is one of the largest accommodations the house offers, allowing you to live out your prestige holiday fantasies in style. Offering a private entrance, a spacious king-sized bed, luxury shower services, an extra seating area and exquisite amenities, this is the housing of royalty.
The room is prepared for all forms of temperature with both air conditioning and underfloor heating built into the room. Of course, all of this would mean very little if the attendance was not up to scratch, in which case service will provide for all your needs. This is the paramount experience of Avondrood.
This room goes all-in on its size while sacrificing none of the quintessential charms. Brimming with character, the room boasts high wooden ceilings and a lavish design.
Situated facing the street, the room also provides access to the gardens and pool. The interior design of the room is unique, with a vintage embellishment of a classic resort luxe.
Food is provided at the house, and for a drink, a fully stocked bar provides cocktails, beer and wine. It also has a TV by the bar, so you can sit back and watch the game.
Breakfast is also served, with a choice including bread, poached eggs, fruit, croissants, bacon, coffee and cold meats. If you want, you can take your food out onto the patio to eat while you take in the stunning views.
Seeing as you are in Franschhoek, it can be expected that the wine is to be of high quality as well. Though plenty will be on offer, more selections can be found in the wine lands in the surrounding area, and there are plenty of wine tasting sessions on offer too.
There is ample opportunity to receive a guided tour of the local area. The surrounding town, countryside and vineyards are a must-see, so it’s highly recommended you make the most of this and hop onto a tour bus! Avondroods proprietors The Oyster Collection provide guided tours of the area. The company holds a small armada of luxury touring vehicles ready to provide a scenic exploration of the surrounding area through the Cape winelands.
Multiple curated tour packages are provided to guests, including tours of Cape Point, Cape Town, or even whale watching in Hermanus. Inquiries and orders can be made on the Oyster Collections website. This could provide the ultimate opportunity to see the sights of the Western Cape for yourself.
Ever wanted an intimate nocturnal experience with traditional South African cuisine? You may want to try out a Braai night, often hosted at Avondrood itself.
Think of it as a BBQ, but exploding with more flavours than you know what to do with. Swapping BBQ grilling for fire, the braai is a common tradition in South Africa. It is often cooked once a week, as a way to unwind and relax. Soaking up the flames is a surefire way to feel a primordial connection to the great outdoors. With human origins rooted in Africa, the braai is as ancient a culinary tradition as one can imagine. In fact, palaeontologists date the first human fires to have been started in South Africa, in a site northwest of Johannesburg known as the ‘Cradle of Humankind.’
Though the world has changed immensely, human beings just can’t help gathering around fires and bonding with one another. Escape the complexities of the ever-moving modern world, and return to that primitive yet timeless tradition.
For a day out with the whole family, why not try the Franschhoek Village Market. Local food and produce, antiques, odds and ends. This market is an excellent way to resonate with the audience. For those with an eye for thrifting and finding obscure and strange items, this is a must-visit.
If golf is your thing, then you may be interested in checking out the nearby golf courses, Pearl Valley and Boschenmeer. Pearl Valley is an expansive course with a streamlined vision. An extensively designed golfing environment, make your way through various challenging environments.
Boschenmeer is a beautifully maintained green that provides as much in the way of beautiful vistas as it does golf entertainment. If golfing is for you, you know where to be.
Located right by the house is the breathtaking Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. If sweeping, curving mountain passes are your forte, you will be taken back by what this park has to offer.
In the sloping hills, epic breeze, and vast expanse of the African heart, you will find yourself closer to nature than you have ever been before. The park offers 10 distinct hiking routes. Each is an opportunity to catch the sights of the local wildlife. For instance, there is plenty of endemic birdlife to be seen around Franschhoek. Local birds such as the Cape Rockjumper and Sugarbird are often seen buzzing around, so bring binoculars if you want a closer look. Larger beasts like leopards are also known to prowl the mountain ranges, so be on alert. Plenty of iconic African wildlife has been known to be spotted around Franschhoek, such as lions, giraffes and zebras.
Open all year round, all day, this reserve offers spectacular views and 30km of safe hiking trails that can last from an hour to a whole day.
Children of all ages are welcome at Avondrood Guest House. Children 0-6 are welcomed by way of arrangement.