Why We Love It
La Residence was one of my favorite stays in South Africa.
The setting is insane — vineyards, mountains, gardens, peacocks, a beautiful pool and that late-afternoon light. It feels intimate and personal, almost more like arriving at someone’s incredible country house than checking into a hotel. Liz Biden’s layered, colorful design is everywhere, and every room has its own personality.
But it was also peaceful – slow mornings, long lunches happen here.
5 Reasons to Visit La Residence
1. The setting
La Residence sits surrounded by vineyards with dramatic mountains in the background, plus gardens, springbok and peacocks wandering around the property. I could have happily spent an afternoon by the pool doing absolutely nothing.
2. Franschhoek is so much more than wine tasting
But Franschhoek itself has great restaurants, galleries, boutiques and plenty to do beyond vineyards. You can walk into town in roughly 10 minutes or have La Residence drive you in. And if someone in your group isn’t obsessed with wine, you still have hiking, biking, golf, olive oil tastings and plenty of excuses to eat.
3. The rooms + design are completely individual
As in all of Liz Biden’s properties, every room is different. If purple isn’t your color (not mine) make sure to mention so we can place you in the right room. Different colors. Different artwork. Different personality.
I stayed in a Luxury Suite that was enormous, with a huge bathroom and double doors opening onto a private outdoor area facing the vineyards.
Liz Biden personally sources much of the décor throughout The Royal Portfolio, so the rooms feel collected rather than decorated. If you are a minimalist – you might want to stay elsewhere.
4. The food + wine are worth staying in for
The food at La Residence was excellent, the wine is obviously a major part of the experience, and the private wine cellar is a great option for a special dinner. Sunset drinks are also a must. The property is so pretty in the late afternoon that I’d rather have a cocktail here than rush off to one more tasting appointment. For a honeymoon, anniversary or birthday, I’d also ask about arranging the MCC sabrage experience.
5. It works for more travelers than you’d expect
My first instinct would be to send honeymooners and couples here. And I still would. But after seeing more of the accommodation options, I think La Residence works really well for families, multigenerational groups and groups of friends, too.
The main property has different room and suite options, while Franschhoek House opens up an entirely different possibility for families and groups. Children of all ages can stay in the suites and Franschhoek House, while the main hotel area is better suited to older children.
Which brings me to one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Meeting Liz Biden + Seeing Franschhoek House Before It Opened
We were lucky enough to meet Liz Biden while we were staying at La Residence. And this was not just a quick hello.
She took us personally to see the brand-new Franschhoek House and gave us a full tour just days before the first guests were due to arrive. They were still finishing things. As in — very much still finishing things. And Liz did not seem remotely concerned. We were there just a few days before opening, so getting what was essentially a behind-the-scenes site visit was especially fun. You could see her newest design coming together in real time. The house has six bedrooms and is designed for families and groups who want the space of a private home but still want to be part of La Residence.
What I loved most was seeing it after spending time in the rest of the property — and later at Royal Malewane, the original Royal Portfolio property.
You can really see how Liz Biden’s style has evolved across the collection. Same love of color, art and layering. Completely different feeling in each place.
Who I’d Send
Honeymooners: Absolutely. Especially as the first stop after a wedding.
Couples: Yes.
Wine + food lovers: Obviously.
Art + design people: Definitely.
Girls’ trip: This would be a very fun one.
Families + multigenerational groups: Yes — particularly in Franschhoek House or the right suite setup.
Someone who wants a minimalist hotel: Probably not.
Good to Know
LOCATION: Franschhoek, Cape Winelands
HOW LONG: 2–3 nights
DON’T MISS: Pool time, wine tasting, wandering Franschhoek + dinner in the wine cellar.
ROOM TIP: Tell us about your design preferences. Every room is different.
FAMILY TIP: Look at Franschhoek House if you want everyone together.
PEACOCK WARNING: Very pretty during the day. Less charming when one decides 5 AM is morning. Earplugs are not a terrible idea.
PAIR IT WITH: The Silo in Cape Town + Royal Malewane for safari. Add Birkenhead House if you have extra time for the coast.
