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Epice

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Fine Dining
Location Pointer Berg St & Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.8
(2679 reviews)
RRR+
Favourite

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 20
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100

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Favourite

Epice – derived from the French word Épice meaning spice (and is pronounced eh-peace) - is an intimate fine dining restaurant located at Heritage Square, Franschhoek (opposite Leeu House)

"The restaurant menu will revolve around spices, but that doesn’t necessarily mean spicy hot - think of vanilla and saffron, or cinnamon and nutmeg, too," says Scot Kirton, Chef Proprietor of La Colombe.

Heading up the kitchen, head chef Charné Sampson is no stranger to refined, cutting edge cuisine- until recently she was the sous chef at La Colombe and is another one of Scot’s protégés to spread her wings. A graduate of Silwood, Charné also honed her craft in the kitchen of The Restaurant at Waterkloof and The Test Kitchen.

Gourmet Guide™ Description

Take a magic culinary ride to the iconic space in the old Le Quartier building in Franschhoek for a captivating treat at Epice (French for ‘spice’). The interior’s understated spice hues juxtapose perfectly with the bright sunshine and greenery outside, or you can appreciate the
crackling fire in winter.

Chef Charné Mouton is unapologetic about her passion for spices and the depth they impart to all dishes, whether sweet or savoury. She delights in introducing the full spectrum at your table from the start. The uninitiated may think of curry, but there’s true intellect in how she has married every ingredient with her first-choice spices. This spice queen celebrates each ingredient personally, drawing from her Cape heritage, with both her vindaloo sauce and fabled bread course creating a come-back-for-more scenario.

Choose from a traditional wine pairing, cocktail, or in-house tonic pairing. Whilst marrying beverages with spicy foods can be challenging, the team has worked hard to ensure successful surprises. Expect a little showboating with dry ice and tableside service, which all adds to the fun. Food is tasty and well-executed, and guests rave about the sweet potatoes with cumin, beef dripping, and berbere. In ‘feeding with passion’, La Colombe converts will be overjoyed to devour octopus cooked in passion fruit, cutting it open with scissors. You’ll leave with a spice box, some seeds to plant, and indelible memories.

Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Thursday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Friday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Saturday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Sunday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00

Reviews (2679)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.6
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Keith B. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 19 Feb 26
    We had a wonderful lunch at Epice. In fact, it was more than a lunch, it was a wonderful experience. We were warmly welcomed, the service was incredible, the food was absolutely delicious and brilliantly presented and we can't wait to have the opportunity to return

  • Alex D. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 19 Feb 26
    First visit and would definitely come back - this is what tasting menus are for - a curated journey through 36 spices expertly used. So many highlights but the bread course was a hands on delight - great service - highly recommend

  • Juliana C. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 18 Feb 26
    A true highlight from our trip to South Africa. As a family of unapologetic food lovers, we were completely blown away by the culinary scene - but this was something else entirely. Every dish was really magic. Thank you for the most extraordinary meal and for such warm, generous service. Hearing Chef Charné share her family history - stories of growing up alongside her aunties, cooking from family recipes - made the evening even more meaningful.

  • Arnaud G. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 17 Feb 26
    Great experience. Fantastic dishes and friendly staff. Highly recommended.

  • Danielle T. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Lesedi L. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 0.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Tobias W. Dined: 5 days ago
    3.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 3.0
  • John D. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 16 Feb 26
    What an absolute treat this place is. Attentive but not obtrusive staff who guide you through a feast of colour and flavours, rare and complex but not fussy. Book, take your time, enjoy. This is not the place for a quick bite and that is the point.

  • Lindy J. Dined: 6 days ago
    3.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 3.0
    Ambience 3.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 15 Feb 26
    Food was generally incredible but this restaurant didn’t quite meet expectations. Service was very slow Sommelier was probably the least helpful or engaged we have ever encountered Allergies - they were very reassuring when we booked but very little feeling of anyone taking total ownership- so much so that all desserts were given to others due to lack of confidence. Very different experience to La Petit Colombe and it left us feeling a little disappointed Ambience - we sat at 7.30 first course 8.25 then we were the last ones there- staff were going home, empty restaurant and we felt a little out of place which was purely down to speed of service Overall didn’t quite meet expectations

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