Café Du Vin

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Timeless Bistro in the Heart of Franschhoek

Café du Vin® — formerly Café Franschhoek — occupies one of the oldest buildings in the Franschhoek Village, on Huguenot Road in the heart of South Africa's Food & Wine Capital. The setting is sophisticated yet genuinely unpretentious: a homely space where the emphasis falls squarely on quality produce, great food, and the kind of friendly, efficient service that keeps guests coming back. An upstairs patio overlooks the Franschhoek mountains, making it a natural stop for a sundowner before dinner.

A Wine List That Sets the Standard

The wine program here is the result of a fifteen-year vision, and it shows. With over 800 selections and some 18,000 bottles maturing in professionally maintained cellars, the list draws on the renowned estates of the Western Cape alongside top international producers. More than 60 wines from the Franschhoek Wine Valley are available by the glass, carafe, or bottle — made possible in part by the Coravin preservation system, which allows premium pours without compromising aroma or flavor. Vintage selections span up to 20 consecutive years from leading South African producers, and all wines are served in Riedel glassware at correct serving temperature.

At the helm of this program is Wine Director and Sommelier Ricardo Roux, whose expertise underpins what Wine Spectator has recognised as one of the world's finest restaurant wine lists. For five consecutive years, Café du Vin® has received the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — described by the restaurant itself as the "two Michelin stars of the restaurant wine world." The awards program, running since 1981, is the leading authority of its kind globally.

Bistro Dining and a Unique Wine Experience

The South African bistro menu is designed to complement rather than compete with the cellar, with Head Chef Phumla Mhlawuli leading the kitchen and a capable floor team — including General Manager Celeste Klem and Sommelier Corné Johnson — ensuring every visit feels considered. Guests can dine indoors or outdoors, with the mountain-view patio offering one of the more memorable settings in the village.

Beyond the table, Café du Vin® hosts the Winemaker for a Day® workshop: a two-hour hands-on wine blending experience overseen by Ricardo Roux. The workshop has been named Best Wine Tourist Experience by the African Excellence Awards for three consecutive years (2023, 2024 and 2025), and has also been recognised as the leading provider of wine blending experiences in 2025. Cape Tourism ranks Café du Vin® among the five best restaurants in Franschhoek — a village that Time Magazine included in its 50 Greatest Places in the World for 2022.