All of these are right in Franschhoek, within a few minutes of each other and close to town. We're recommending you base yourselves here because it's close to both our welcome party on Thursday the 25th and the wedding venue itself, and we'll be running shuttles throughout the celebrations to bring everyone to and from the festivities. Check in from Thursday the 25th so you're settled and close for the whole weekend - no need to worry about driving or directions.

A gentle but important note: late March is peak season in the winelands, and rooms are already going quickly. Several of these book up months in advance of this time of year, so please reserve as soon as you can to avoid missing out.

For Cape Town accommodation recommendations, please refer to the "travel" page.

THE DATES

Check in - Thursday 25 March (welcome party that evening)
Free day - Friday 26 March
Wedding day - Saturday 27 March
Check out - Sunday 28 March

RECOMMENDED

Protea Hotel by Marriott
Mirabelle Guest House
Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa
Franschhoek Hotel

TO MAKE AN OCCASION OF IT

Mont Rochelle
La Petite Ferme

Monday, March 22nd

where the families meet
07:00 in the evening

Dress: Casual

Tuesday, March 23rd

1pm in the afternoon

Dress code: Casual & Fun - Villa Party. Bring a swimmie!

Thursday, March 25th

Cape Winelands
3:00 in the afternoon
Details to follow..

Dress code: Cocktail

From home to Cape Town

For US travellers: there are three nonstop flights from the US to Cape Town —
Newark (EWR) → Cape Town (CPT), United Airlines
Washington, D.C. (IAD) → Cape Town (CPT), United Airlines
Atlanta (ATL) → Cape Town (CPT), Delta Air Lines

For our UK friends: there are multiple nonstop flights every day from London Heathrow (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT) on British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and several seasonal carriers. Flight time is approximately 11–12 hours.

If you don’t live near one of these cities, there are excellent one-stop options from most major US airports, with many itineraries connecting through Amsterdam or Frankfurt. If you’re flexible with your dates, it’s common to find great deals.

Our recommendation: plan to fly out on Friday the 19th or Saturday the 20th of March, so you can take advantage of the weekend and give yourself time to settle in before the wedding festivities begin. We’d suggest departing Cape Town any time from Sunday the 28th onward, depending on your travel plans and how much of South Africa you’d like to explore.

GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT

When you land, please book your ride through the Uber app rather than accepting one of the drivers who approach you inside or outside the terminal. The informal taxis often charge tourists well over the going rate. Uber is safe, reliable and inexpensive throughout Cape Town, and it’s by far the easiest way to reach the city.

Most of you will be based in Cape Town for the first part of the week before we head out to the Cape winelands for the wedding weekend. There is a huge range of places to stay in the city, so rather than recommend one, we'll point you in the right direction

WHERE TO STAY

A lot of our guest will want to be near the beach and the mountain, and for that we'd recommend Camps Bay or Clifton. If you'd rather be in the heart of the city, the V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant or Green Point are both central and lovely. All are safe, close to the restaurants and sights, and easy to get around from by Uber, with exellent hotels at every price point.

VILLAS & SELF-CATERING

If you're travelling as a group or a family, a villa is often better value and more fun than separate hotel rooms. We'd suggest looking in those same areas - Camps Bay, Clifton, the V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant or Green Point. Use the link below to search for one that suits your group.

A few of our favourite places, restaurants and experiences. Most of you will arrive on the 19th or 20th, which gives you the better part of a week to explore before we head out to the winelands. Late March is one of our favourite times of year here — warm days, beautiful evenings, and the vineyards in the middle of harvest. We hope you fall in love with this city as much as we have.

GETTING AROUND

Uber — safe, reliable and inexpensive throughout Cape Town, and often the easiest way to get around if you're staying in the city. For the longer days, hire a car or a private driver. Drivers are surprisingly affordable and well worth it for the coastal route or a day in the winelands. Throughout this guide, drive times are given from the City Bowl.

BOOKING

Book restaurants before you fly. Cape Town's best tables go months in advance, especially for the tasting menus.

WHAT TO PACK

Dress in layers. Warm days turn into cool evenings, especially near the water.

Cape Town has one of the world's great coffee cultures. Perfect before Table Mountain or a day exploring the city.

OUR LOCAL

A beloved neighbourhood café, and the one in the photograph.

ROSETTA ROASTERY

One of South Africa's best coffee roasters.

CLARKE'S

Excellent breakfast, and a Cape Town institution.

JASON BAKERY

Legendary pastries. Go early

ORANJEZICHT CITY FARM MARKET

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at the V&A Waterfront. Local produce, artisan coffee, oysters, pastries and live music. If you're in town on a weekend morning, go.

TABLE MOUNTAIN

The one thing you shouldn't leave Cape Town without doing. Take the cableway to the summit in about five minutes, or hike Platteklip Gorge in around two hours if you're feeling adventurous. Always check the weather before you set out — the cableway closes regularly in high wind.

15 minutes from the City Bowl · Best in the morning

V&A WATERFRONT

Cape Town's working harbour, filled with restaurants, boutiques, the Zeitz MOCAA contemporary art museum and the ferry to Robben Island. Perfect for your first day while you're still recovering from the flight.

10 minutes · Easy first day

CAMPS BAY & CLIFTON

White sand, granite boulders and the Twelve Apostles rising behind you. Clifton Fourth Beach is the iconic one; Camps Bay is where you'll want to be for cocktails at sunset. The Atlantic Ocean is refreshingly cold - and that's all part of the experience.

20 minutes · Best at sunset

BO-KAAP

The brightly painted houses and cobbled streets of the historic Cape Malay quarter, on the slopes below Signal Hill. It's one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Cape Town and still very much a living community, so do wander gently — people's front doors are the photograph. The Bo-Kaap Museum is worth half an hour if you'd like the history behind it.

5 minutes · Beautiful in the morning light

CHAPMAN'S PEAK & CAPE POINT

One of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. Take Chapman's Peak from Hout Bay, continue on to Cape Point and finish at the Cape of Good Hope.

45 minutes from the City Bowl to Hout Bay · Allow a full day

BOULDERS BEACH

Meet South Africa's famous African penguins on a suburban beach in Simon's Town, with boardwalks that get you close. Easy to combine with Cape Point.

45 minutes · Perfect for families

SAFARI AT AQUILA

If seeing the Big Five is on your list but you don't have time to fly to Kruger, Aquila Private Game Reserve runs excellent half-day and full-day safaris, including transport from the city. It isn't the same as a multi-day safari, but it's a wonderful option if you're short on time.

2 hours · Book well in advance

If you’d like to spend a day in the winelands, we’d suggest doing it earlier in the week while you’re still based in Cape Town — though Friday the 26th is also a free day before the wedding, so that’s a lovely option too. Just note that by the Friday you’ll already be out in Franschhoek, so these are all much closer than the times below suggest — Babylonstoren is practically next door.

BABYLONSTOREN

If you only visit one wine estate before the wedding, make it this one. Even if you don't eat here, wander the gardens, visit the bakery, the farm shop, the wine cellar and the spa. It’s one of the gems of the cape winelands.

50 minutes from the City Bowl · Our favourite estate

THE FRANSCHHOEK WINE TRAM

The easiest and most fun way to explore the valley without a designated driver. A relaxed day of tasting across several estates.

1 hour 5 minutes · Great for groups

STELLENBOSCH

Oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture and a university town's energy, surrounded by some of the country's oldest estates. Easy to combine with a tasting or two.

45 minutes

LION'S HEAD

Cape Town's classic hike — about ninety minutes to the top, with panoramic views across the city, the ocean and Table Mountain.

15 minutes from the City Bowl · Best at sunrise or sunset

KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS

Beautiful indigenous gardens and the famous Boomslang canopy walkway, and far gentler than hiking the mountain.

25 minutes · Gentle

If you're looking to slow down before the celebrations begin — or to recover afterwards — these are some of our favourite places to relax.

BABYLONSTOREN SPA

Beautiful gardens, wonderful treatments, and genuinely peaceful.

50 minutes from the City Bowl · Our favourite

ONE&ONLY SPA

One of the city's finest hotel spas, and the easiest if you're staying central.

10 minutes

DELAIRE GRAFF SPA

Luxury at its best, with spectacular mountain views.

50 minutes

LANZERAC SPA

Historic wine estate with an excellent full-day offering.

50 minutes

South Africa has some of the best food in the world, and exceptional value by international standards. Book ahead — especially for the tasting menus.

FYN

Japanese precision meets South African ingredients. Named the country's restaurant of the year.

CBD · 5 minutes · Best fine dining

PIER

Exceptional seafood overlooking the harbour.

V&A Waterfront · 10 minutes · Seafood favourite

OUZERI

Greek sharing plates, and one of our favourite relaxed dinners.

CBD · 5 minutes · Great with friends

KLOOF STREET HOUSE

A rambling Victorian house with a beautiful garden. Perfect for an easy evening.

Gardens · 10 minutes · Romantic

SALSIFY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

A 1786 hunting lodge on the slopes above the bay, with arguably the best sunset view in the city.

Camps Bay · 20 minutes · Best sunset dinner