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ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Bistro Fine Dining French South African
Location Pointer Chamonix Wine Estate, Uitkyk St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.8
(2300 reviews)
RRR
Menu
Favourite

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Wine Estate
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 100
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100

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Menu
Favourite

At Arkeste, we present an a la carte menu in a casual fine dining style. We are located on Chamonix Wine Farm, Franschhoek, in a characterful heritage building on the edge of a forest. This sets the scene for a tranquil dining experience and delicious food by chef Ashwin Johannes who present dishes which showcase seasonal and local ingredients. Our wine list features Chamonix wines and a curated selection from the Cape region.

Gourmet Guide™ Description

Chamonix Wine Farm in Franschhoek is the perfect backdrop for Richard Carsten’s culinary ability. The forest setting is serene and the heritage building charming, but diners come for the food. Richard has returned to Chamonix after 30 years of notching up an impressive pedigree at top restaurants that included a successful tenure at Tokara, giving him time to cement his reputation and following. Known for his modern twists on classics, Carstens creates dishes that celebrate the seasons and heralds local.

Choose from an a la carte menu with inventive starters like the squid, either with togarashi, dashi black rice, wakame, cucumber and chili garam or a rendition with risotto, parsnip, wakame and a yuzu-ginger sauce.

Mains could be a citrus-glazed linefish with pommes, greens, rouille, heerenboon and a sauce bouillabaisse, showing chef’s love of traditional, notched up with a contemporary flair. Or the kapokbos-glazed springbok with creamy and dreamy Robuchon pomme, greens, sake-pears, and a sauce that he calls ‘Cape senses’. Dishes are sure to appeal to all your senses. His signature baked Alaska of rainbow trout and the Franco-Jap interpretation of seafood are a must. Vegetarians are well respeced and catered for. Be sure to order a delectable dessert – watch out for the gorgonzola ice cream with walnut, pears and honeycombe – and your appetite for deliciousness will be sated. The wine list reflects wines of the estate and the Cape. Here’s casual fine dining at its best.

Opening Hours

  • Monday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Tuesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Wednesday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Thursday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Friday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Saturday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15
  • Sunday 12h00 - 14h30, 18h00 - 20h15

Reviews (2300)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.8
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Bart S. Dined: 1 day ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 02 Mar 26
    Always very nice food.

  • Nicky B. Dined: 1 day ago
    4.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 02 Mar 26
    We had a lovely meal but I didn’t particularly enjoy the pork belly. It should have been crispier on top snd the bottom layer of meat was more like ham than pork. They did try to put it tight

  • Chantal K. Dined: 1 day ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • Gwyneth M. Dined: 2 days ago
    4
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 01 Mar 26
    Lovely room but food disappointing this time

  • Redmond W. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 01 Mar 26
    By far the best restaurant in Franschoek. The dining experience here is second to none. From the moment we arrived the staff went out of their way to make the evening memorable. The menu has so much choice, as well as the specials, makes it difficult to choose what to eat. The starters of mushroom ravioli and prawns were delicious. Our mains if Ostrich, King Clip were divine. Desserts were decadent and wines sublime. I recommend making a reservation to dine here.

  • Douglas C. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 28 Feb 26
    The best duck in the valley.

  • Frank B. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 28 Feb 26
    Very creative cuisine, attentive and nice service. Very good value for money compared to other places in town. We definitely will come back soon.

  • Thomas H. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.3
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Michael H. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 28 Feb 26
    Lovely restaurant, inventive and delicious food. Highly recommended

  • Christian M. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
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