The Vineyard Suites by The Royal Portfolio (accommodation review)
Luxurious, child-friendly family accommodation in Franschhoek
Nestled amidst the rolling vineyards and breathtaking mountain views that define the Franschhoek valley, and a stone’s throw from La Residence, are the Vineyard Suites. Part of the collection of luxury hotels and lodges that make up The Royal Portfolio, there are five Vineyard Suites in total. Each is tastefully decorated in a way that manages to blend luxurious comfort with a homely feel. The best part for us - children of all ages are welcome.
The Vineyard Suites
The five Vineyard Suites are all different in size, configuration and interior. While there are one and two-bedroom suites available, we were offered the largest three-bedroom luxury suite. The approximately 165 square metres include two spacious bedrooms and a smaller children’s room. Staying in a suite rather than in a hotel room makes all the difference when travelling with children. There are board games available and a TV in every room, which was particularly exciting for our bunch: upon arrival, they ran through the suites counting the number of TV’s.
The private garden and swimming pool make this a real home away from home. The mini-bar is generously stocked with a variety of sodas, beers and wine. There are also a variety of stronger beverages available, such as gin, brandy and the quintessentially South African Amarula. Our favourite though, was a La Residence bottle of red wine. Not available for purchase anywhere outside the grounds of the hotel and restaurant, it is a delicious red that we really enjoyed. For anyone peckish, chips, sweets, gluten-free rusks, biscuits and nuts are also provided. A Nespresso coffee is available for instant quality coffee.
Each suite as well as the restaurant are filled with beautiful art works. A lot of the work is by Sibley. We loved it so much that we reached out to get a catalogue and see if we could purchase a piece, and were invited to have a look around at the art available at his home and studio in Constantia.
Breakfast and Activities with the Children
Breakfast is served from 07:00 until 11:00 AM in the main dining room, conveniently close to the Vineyard Suites. A continental breakfast spread is available in buffet form, providing everything from cereals to fruit to yoghurt to pastries and everything in between.
The challenge was to not fill up too much on this, as the breakfast menu has some great choices too. Over our two night’s stay, we managed to taste the Eggs Royale, Eggs Benedict, Three-Egg Omelette, Farmhouse breakfast, Avocado on Sourdough toast and Waffle (for the kids). All breakfasts were excellent and we definitely left with our bellies a bit rounder than before.
The Morning Health Shot concentrated juices were a hit as well. With three different options, Ginger Kick with carrot, turmeric, ginger, apples, orange and lemon juice, Daily Greens with basil, celery, spinach, lime juice and cucumber and Beet & Berry Boosts with beetroot, pear, apple cider vinegar and berries, we were sure to add our daily dose of vitamins and anti-oxidants before the day got started.
The best part perhaps, was after breakfast, when the children were provided little canvas and a variety of different paint colours and glitter to create their own masterpiece. This allowed my wife Lianne and I to finish our coffee in peace, with the beautiful view. The children were delighted with the artworks they created and got to take home.
Exploring Franschhoek
Unfortunately it rained most of the weekend that we were there, so we did not stay at the pool and lounge around as we had wanted to. With the heart of Franschhoek a short drive away, luckily there is always something to do.
We had lunch reservations at Monneaux Restaurant, and as the hotel offers complimentary in-house shuttle service into Franschhoek, we did not need to worry about having some wine. Being in the winelands the shuttle service is a useful luxury that we made use of a few times during our stay.
Upon collection from the restaurant, our driver had brought umbrellas as it had started raining again. It is the small things that often make the biggest difference.
Dinner at La Residence
In the evening, we had arranged a babysitter for the children. This is a service that the hotel staff can also support with, however as we knew a babysitter in the area who had looked after our children when we were at a wedding in Franschhoek recently, we were more comfortable with someone who already knew our children and their routine.
Having a babysitter freed us up to go have dinner at La Residence, the only restaurant that does not allow children under the age of ten. It is a short walk away from the Vineyar Suites and it is well-worth a visit. We actually went back in the morning before checking out to show the children around and take some more pictures. The infinity pool has a breathtaking mountain view, with ample sun loungers and beautiful umbrellas. We have already made plans to come back to have lunch outside in this beautiful setting.
Inside the restaurant, a library houses a collection with old and new fictional and non-fictional books. The non-fictional books are on an exchange system, but all of the books can be enjoyed in the sitting room.
In the boutique curio shop guests and visitors can purchase gifts, from handbags to jewellery and everything in between.
After lounging around, we sat down outside for a pre-dinner drink, which was served with some olives, chips and nuts. When the sun had set, we were offered blankets to keep warm, but our local favourite La Residence red wine was already taking good care of us.
The dining room is double story, with the beams of the roof and the thatch left exposed. The black and white checkered tiles in combination with large chandeliers provide an atmosphere of luxury.
We enjoyed a three-course meal (keep an eye out for the write-up of these dishes) before walking our way back to the Vineyard Suites, where our three little ones were sound asleep.
Changing my sneakers for the slippers provided at turndowns at Vineyard Suits - The Royal Collection
Coming home after dinner was an event in itself in any case. The hotel staff always go the extra mile; making the beds is the norm at other hotels we have stayed at, but at La Residence ‘turndowns’ come with additional extras. Having a bottle of filtered water next to the bed, and a different sweet something (we had the best short crust biscuits and chocolate brownies) to enjoy with your tea were nice touches. The children were particularly excited about their little leopard-print slippers that have The Royal Portfolio emblem embroidered on.
After a two-nights stay, it was time to say goodbye to this wonderful hotel, and of course to the friendly staff who made our stay so memorable. We will definitely be back; either to enjoy or to stay at one of the other accommodation options on the property: Franschhoek House and La Residence.
The Royal Portfolio; A collection of luxury hotels and lodges in South Africa
The Royal Portfolio is an exclusive collection of luxury hotels and lodges. Started by Liz Biden, who was once a major shareholder in Jenni Button, the portfolio includes the The Silo Hotel, Birkenhead House in Hermanus and Royal Malewane at The Greater Kruger National Park.
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With its 82 pillowed-glass windows, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, The Silo Hotel is a well-known sight at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The hotel is situated above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCCAA). Once inside, it is hard to imagine that the building was once a grain silo - built in 1921 and in use from 1924.
With each 5.5 metre tall window being made up of 56 hand-cut panels of glass, the bulged out look is a visual interpretation of the immense pressure of the grain once packed in the silos (Hadley Keller, Architectural Digest). The windows were manufactured in South Africa, and lifted into place by crane.
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Birkenhead House is located within walking distance from the beach in Hermanus, well-known for its whale watching. At just an hour and a half driving from Cape Town, this is one of the more popular coastal towns in the Western Cape.
Birkenhead House has eleven rooms available in three separate houses. All are unique and decorated differently. There are mountain- and sea-facing rooms.
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The Royal Malewane is the name of The Royal Portfolio’s safari collection, situated in the Greater National Park. There are four luxury safari lodges: Malewane Lodge, Waterside, Farmstead, and Masiya’s Camp. The private villas provide ultimate privacy: Africa House, Waterside House, or Farmhouse.
Children under the age of ten are welcome at most of the accommodation options, and there are no restrictions for families travelling with children over the age of ten. This makes a luxury safari travel an option for families with children.
If you also want to stay at The Royal Portfolio, book your stay on their website.
Child-friendly Accommodation close to Cape Town
About Shawn Godfrey
Photo credit: Niki M Photography
Shawn Godfrey is an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After the Covid-19 lockdown saw his business in financial distress, cooking was the creative outlet that helped to keep him sane. To keep track of his recipes, and encourage friends and families to join him, he starts his instagram account The Roasted Dad.
Fast-forward to late 2021 - on a whim Shawn (encouraged by his wife Lianne) enters MasterChef South Africa. It is a crazy time of life: running a 200 people business and struggling to keep it profitable, two small children with a third on the way, and about to move into a new house. But when Shawn gets selected to be one of the 20 contestants participating in the fourth season of MasterChef South Africa, he decides to go all in. Leaving his 7-month-pregnant wife to look after their then three and one-year-old children, he battles it out and comes back home five weeks later with the trophy and a million rand prize money in his pocket.
It all started with an Instagram account, but The Roasted Dad is so much more now. Shawn has stayed his entrepreneurial self and whilst he hosts Private Dinner Parties and Cook-with-Me Demos, does Restaurant Take-Overs, he still runs the lighting company and several other businesses.
On his blog, Shawn shares Restaurant Reviews and Accommodation Reviews, and gives an insight into the wild and wonderful life he leads together with his wife Lianne, and their three children Aiden (7), Olivia (5) and Harvey (3).
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La Petite Ferme is in Franschhoek, just over an hour from Cape Town. The hotel is situated on the slopes of the Oliphants Pass and Middagkrans Mountain Range, a minute drive away from Haute Cabrière (the home of Pierre Jordan). The views from the restaurant and accommodation are breathtaking.