Brian Berkman visits Franschhoek House, a grand addition to south Africa’s premier wine country retreat.
The six-bedroomed exclusive-use villa, Franschhoek House, is now the crown jewel in The Royal Portfolio’s La Residence in the Franschhoek winelands of the Western Cape.
This magnificent addition brings the luxury boutique hotel estate’s accommodation capacity to a maximum of 50 guests: 22 in the main hotel, up to 12 in Franschhoek House, and 16 in the Vineyard Suites.
A Heritage Estate in South Africa’s Culinary Capital
Spread over 30 acres on a working vineyard and fruit farm, La Residence, now in its 20th year, continues to set the gold standard for accommodation in an area known as South Africa’s culinary capital.
The history runs deep here. The Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France, first headed to the Netherlands before being brought to the Cape—a Dutch colony at the time—thanks to their expertise in grape cultivation. The Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek commemorates their arrival in the late 1680s.
Liz Biden’s Masterful Design Philosophy
The pink and terracotta hues of La Residence and its grand barn-like structure hint at the area’s French heritage. Owner and decorator Liz Biden has populated her extravagant interiors with Louis-style furnishings and magnificently gilded pieces. However, it would be a mistake to describe her style as purely French, as there are equally prized items from India, the Middle East, Morocco, and the Far East. The result is interiors and architecture that are magnificently elegant yet entirely comfortable.
Whilst many items might be considered museum-quality, they are here for lazing, languishing, lingering, or loafing.
A Global Eye with Local Heart
Whilst Biden travels abroad regularly to source antiques and fabrics, she also celebrates African art and design, especially from artists in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Franschhoek House features many large-scale and vibrantly colourful paintings by Tafadzwa Tega.
Each room Biden designs is unique. She begins with a single piece—a painting, carpet, or, in the case of the colour theme in the great hall of La Residence, with a cerise pink grand piano gifted to her by her sister. The millwork that houses her eclectic collection of china is in the same cerise, and she has matched the Smeg oven and extractor canopy in the demonstration kitchen to this signature colour.
Palatial Bathrooms and Chandelier Obsessions
Biden’s design signatures include a passion for chandeliers and creating palatial bathrooms. For example, the Huguenot Suite (room six in the main hotel) features a bathroom almost equal in size to the vast bedroom. The usual bathroom rules simply don’t apply here: a vast chandelier hangs above the free-standing slipper tub, Persian rugs cover heated travertine tiles, and ceiling-to-floor silk curtains frame double doors leading to the outside balcony. Two Chinese antique armoires flank either side of a Louis chair and desk, which serves as a dressing table.
This whimsy allows guests to ignore the precious nature of the items and be transported to whatever locale one wishes. Even the complimentary slippers, with their leopard print and gold-embroidered ‘RP’ for Royal Portfolio, invite guests to embrace the fun.
A Personalised and Personable Experience
There is no dress code at La Residence, and all staff know and address guests by their first names. This creates a highly personalised stay that is also genuinely personable.
For guests staying in the villa, a private chef and host/concierge are included, with meals entirely bespoke. Although Franschhoek House has only six bedrooms, it is so vast both inside and out that solitude is easily found. The entire estate is also available to Franschhoek House guests, offering opportunities for strolls through the vineyards and past the farm dam to feed Tango and Twist (La Res’s miniature horses) or to visit the herd of springbok in their enclosure.
Family-Friendly Experiences and Local Connections
For children and the young at heart of all ages, La Res offers cooking classes and vegetable and fruit picking experiences, plus complimentary shuttles into the village of Franschhoek, less than 10 minutes away.
The Royal Portfolio Legacy
The Royal Portfolio began life in 1999 when Liz and Phil Biden opened Royal Malewane in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park, converting what was their family home in the African bush into a luxury retreat. With successful careers in fashion and finance respectively, Liz and Phil have grown The Royal Portfolio into a globally acclaimed and highly awarded hospitality business. The couple remain hands-on, whilst their son Matthew now serves as group CEO.
Beyond the glamorous and comfortable interiors and arresting locations, what makes all Royal Portfolio properties special are the people who work there. Along with luxury in abundance, guests experience warmth, a deep sense of belonging, and comfort. As Liz Biden puts it: “It’s like coming home.”
Images (C) Greg Cox.
Tell Me More About Franschhoek House
Franschhoek House, La Residence, Elandskloof Private Road, Elandskloof Farm, Franschhoek, Western Cape South Africa.
Rates: From R111,000 (£4,675.67) ($6,292.96) (for up to 8 people and from R152,000 (£6,402.72) ($8,617.39) for between 9 and 12 guests (low season rates)
The Royal Portfolio includes Royal Malewane, Birkenhead House, La Residence, and The Silo Hotel.
