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ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
South African French Fine Dining Bistro
Location Pointer Chamonix Wine Estate, Uitkyk St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.8
(2310 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 (2310)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.7
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Irene A. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 07 Nov 25
    Excellent service and super atmosphere. Food grest as always.

  • Stefanie G. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 06 Nov 25
    I recently dined at Arkeste, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish. The food was incredible—every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. You can really tell that a lot of care and attention go into each plate. The atmosphere was perfect—warm, inviting, and just the right balance of lively and relaxing. Whether you’re there for a casual meal or a special occasion, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer. The staff were fantastic—friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without ever being overbearing. They made us feel completely at home and went above and beyond to ensure everything was just right. Overall, it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend Arkeste to anyone looking for great food, great people, and a perfect ambiance.

  • Jan M. Dined: 4 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 05 Nov 25
    Heel lekker en super vriendelijk

  • Peter M. Dined: 6 days ago
    3.8
    Food 3.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 03 Nov 25
    The starter had an anchovy, which was fine, but the overall taste was so salty, it was difficult to eat, I didn't enjoy this dish at all. The main dish of kingklip was unfortunately overcooked and as a result rubbery. In addition, the pasta was so thick and cooked being cooked on the el dente side this made it hard to digest. Very disappointed at these two dishes. My wife had the Japanese starter, which she enjoyed, and her main of pork belly was good. To me it seemed that Arkeste is now catering for the bus loads of foreign tourists that were there when we arrived and that the attention to detail has slipped.

  • Lenke v. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Philippe C. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 01 Nov 25
    Absolutely fabulous ! A great experience.

  • Petra L. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.8
    Food 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • barbara r. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
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