Our stay at The Corner House Residence in Franschhoek
Accommodation Review of Le Annexe Privé
Franschhoek is just an hour and a half’s drive from Cape Town and well worth a visit. The dramatic mountain backdrops, the historic Cape Dutch architecture, and the incredible wine estates make the region the perfect family getaway.
On our most recent trip at the beginning of May, autumn had started to settle in and we left on a crisp but sunny morning for the ‘French Corner’ of the cape.
We were staying at Le Annexe Privé, a stunning two-bedroom self-catering apartment that forms part of The Corner House Residence. If you are looking for a private space that still offers high-end service, Le Annexe Privé is a perfect choice. It has all the conveniences of home plus all the luxuries of a hotel.
A warm welcome to Franschhoek
Travelling with three kids always makes it a bit more challenging to find accommodation that will fit a family of five. Le Annexe Privé is a two-bedroom configuration, so we initially reached out to ask if we could bring along a blow-up mattress for one of the kids. We were pleasantly surprised when they offered to set up a proper fold-out bed inside the apartment ahead of our arrival.
From the moment we booked, it was evident that we’d be well taken care of during our stay. They checked in on our room setup preferences and we opted for a queen-size bed in the master room and twin beds for our youngest two in the second room. They also enquired about our dietary requirements as breakfast is included.
As it was a public holiday on Friday, we had planned to arrive in Franschhoek nice and early. Even though check-in was from 14h00, we were encouraged to drop off our bags upon arrival so that we could explore Franschhoek. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that the accommodation was already ready for us when we arrived just before 12h00.
Space to unwind at Le Annexe Privé
The apartment is beautifully decorated with modern furniture and African touches (our kids had great fun with the djembe drums). The fold-out bed was set up in the lounge right and our son absolutely loved this spot right by the fireplace.
It is fully equipped for a completely seamless family stay, including an in-room safe for your valuables and a convenient same-day laundry service (priced at R150 for wash and fold, or R250 if you need items washed and ironed). This can be a real lifesaver when travelling with little ones.
The queen size bed has a heated blanket and there are hot water bottles available for the children.
While load-shedding is an ongoing reality across South Africa, you are blissfully unaware at Le Annexe Privé. They have an alternative power supply system which meant our family experienced no power issues or interruptions throughout the weekend.
If you fancy a quiet evening in after the kids are asleep, the apartment is exceptionally well-stocked with a premium selection of local treats and drinks:
Three Men in a Tub with a Rubber Duck (R220)
Two Dogs a Peacock & a Horse (R220)
Haute Cabrière Brut (375 ml) (R220)
Hey Joe Franschhoek Craft Beer / Windhoek Lage (R45)
Savanna Dry / Savanna Light (R45)
Soft Drinks / La Vie Water / Juice Box (R30)
Pringles (R40)
Cadbury Chocolate Bar (R30)
The property is situated on the corner of Union and Van Riebeeck Street, leaving a lot of space around the building for a lush garden, an outdoor seating area as well as a swimming pool. Unfortunately the May weather was a bit too cool to take a dip but we did use the Weber available for an evening braai.
The breakfast setup itself is elaborate. There is a French Continental buffet where you can help yourself to a generous spread including artisan breads, freshly baked croissants, homemade jams, granola, yoghurt, rich Dalewood cheeses, and fresh fruit.
Breakfast at The Corner House Residence
In the morning you can have breakfast on the veranda or in the breakfast lounge, which is a space shared with the other guests. The fire was roaring each morning.
Their à la carte selection features classic options that are well-prepared by the staff trained up by the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy:
Bacon and Eggs: Two free-range eggs done your way, two rashers of cured back bacon, tomato relish, and garden herbs on toast or a flaky croissant.
The Franschhoek: Creamy scrambled free-range eggs topped with local cold-smoked trout, a slice of lemon, and fresh garden herbs.
Tomato and Cheese Omelet: A light, fluffy two-egg omelet folded with juicy cherry tomatoes and melted cheese.
Your first hot beverage is included, and their Terbodore menu covers everything from a strong Flat White (R24) to a sweet Iced Coffee with honey (R32), or a comforting pot of Twinings tea (R28).
Exploring Franschhoek
Despite the rainy weather, we still made the most of our stay. The Corner House is a short walk from the iconic Huguenot Memorial Monument, and from there you can stroll right into town. We took the gap when there was a break from the rain, and discovered many architectural gems along the way. For example, the vernacular Cape cottage that had been built around 1860 on what was then part of the town’s commonage. It was utilised during the Anglo-Boer war by the commanding officer of the British military as a town guard recruitment office.
It was once known as ‘Rooikamp’ house, a name derived from the words 'rooineck ' (red neck) and ‘koeikamp’ (cow camp). These Afrikaans slang terms referred to the English troops and commoners respectively.
We also headed over to the beautifully restored Mill House Patisserie at La Cotte Farm for coffee and delicious sweet treats. This is well-worth a visit.
On our last day, we joined some friends for a Wine Tram experience which wasn’t the best in the rainy weather, but warmly dressed with rain jackets and armed with umbrellas, it turned into a fun outing nonetheless.
Hospitality with heart
The staff at the Corner House Residence made our stay a great experience. They were all so attentive and interacted so nicely with our children which made us feel very welcome.
We were not surprised to find out that the entire team has been trained through the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy. This social uplift initiative empowers local youth by providing world-class training and hands-on experience within the culinary and hospitality sectors. The Corner House Residence owner Michaela Julian is also the co-founder of the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy. With every booking, they donate 2% to the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy, This means that by staying here, you support a business that empowers the local community.
How to book at The Corner House Residence
For a family-friendly, centrally located, and community-minded stay right in the heart of wine country, The Corner House Residence ticks every single box.
If you also want to stay atThe Corner House Residence, you can book your stay through their website.
Follow their journey
You can find The Corner House Residence on Instagram at @cornerhousefhk and keep up with the incredible work being done by the academy at @franschhoekhospitality.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are solely our own and based on our experience. At times we may be compensated for reviews placed on this blog, we always maintain the right to share our true opinion on the full experience, to maintain our integrity and the authenticity of the review posted.
If you are planning a trip to the Franschhoek valley, we have also previously stayed at the ultra-luxurious Vineyard Suites (part of The Royal Portfolio)] and the iconic mountain-facing La Petite Ferme. Lunch atEleven restaurant is always a treat, and we had a good experience at Monneauxas well.
And if you ever find yourself heading further inland towards Montagu or the Breede Valley, don't miss our deep dives into 360on62 Mountain View Farm Cottages and Huizen Living’s Verloren Cabin.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are solely our own and based on our experience. At times we may be compensated for reviews placed on this blog, we always maintain the right to share our true opinion on the full experience, to maintain our integrity and the authenticity of the review posted.
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 (6), Olivia (4) and Harvey (2).
Sign up to the newsletter below to be kept up to date with events, new recipes and reviews, or contact Shawn to chat about recipe creation, restaurant takeovers and public speaking events.
