About this hotel
General information
Leeu Estates is the flagship of the Leeu Collection, a wine estate in the Franschhoek valley in the heart of the Cape Winelands. It rests on the slopes of the Dassenberg Mountain among vineyards, fynbos and carefully kept gardens, looking out over the valley and the peaks around it. Rooms, suites and cottages are spread across the property: some in the Manor House, others in separate buildings, among them the original wine cellar and a gabled house of Cape Dutch heritage.
Wine, gardens and art shape the place. The estate has its own winery with a tasting room, The Wine Studio; its kitchen gardens are harvested each morning for the restaurants; and the Everard Read gallery sets monumental sculpture among the vines and fynbos, with a studio for visiting artists. For private gatherings there is Indaba, a 140 m² multipurpose venue that seats up to 60 cinema-style.
Location
The estate lies in the Franschhoek valley in the Western Cape, around a five-minute drive from the centre of Franschhoek village and about an hour by car from Cape Town. A complimentary timetabled shuttle links it with the collection's hotels in the village, and parking on the estate is free of charge.
Spa
Leeu Spa by Healing Earth sits among the estate's gardens and vineyards, designed around natural light and views of the valley. It has four treatment rooms — a premium suite, two couples' rooms and a single room — an indoor heated plunge pool overlooking a lily pond, a steam room and an infrared sauna with separate men's and women's changing areas. Treatments are gathered in a menu called The Collection of Journeys, and spa access is included in a stay.
Sports & leisure
Time on the estate revolves around landscape, wine and art:
- two 15-metre swimming pools and Leeu Gym, equipped by TechnoGym and open to resident guests daily from 07:00 to 19:00;
- walking and jogging paths along the river and through the vineyards, where oaks alternate with evergreens and white azaleas flower on the banks in spring;
- birdwatching across the estate;
- the gardens: a herb and vegetable garden around three granadilla-covered pavilions, the tranquil Bokkie Garden and the Four Quarter Vineyards with walkways for guests;
- three tutored tastings at The Wine Studio, among them the Leeu Passant wines made at the estate's winery; one tasting per guest per stay is included;
- the sculpture landscape and indoor gallery of Everard Read on the estate.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchens cook with produce from the estate's own gardens, picked every morning:
- The Dining Room — the residents' restaurant, with a seasonal menu that runs from light all-day dishes to full à la carte, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with vegetarian and vegan choices;
- Founder’s Cellar — a private cellar in the Manor House for dinners of up to six resident guests;
- La Petite Colombe — fine dining with multi-course lunches and dinners behind floor-to-ceiling glass that opens the room to the vineyards;
- Manor House Bar — the bar in the main house, overlooking the garden;
- The Wine Studio — the tasting room of the estate's winery.
Swimming
The estate has two 15-metre swimming pools, free for resident guests, and an indoor heated plunge pool in the spa. Fynbosch Cottage and Vineyard Cottage each have a private plunge pool.
Pets
Pets cannot be accommodated in any of the estate's rooms.
Rooms
Rooms, suites and cottages are scattered across the estate, and every bedroom looks over the vineyards and the valley. Interiors keep to a calm palette of bespoke furniture, wool-and-sisal carpets and layered linen, horsehair, leather, wood and stone.
Each room has underfloor heating, a marble bathroom with double vanities, a rain shower and heated towel rails, a minibar, a Nespresso machine, unlimited internet, free national calls, a seasonal fruit basket and fresh flowers.
Classic Room
Rooms in the Manor House, Max House and Protea House with a king-size bed or twin beds, a writing desk and a sitting area, looking over the gardens, the farm dam, orchards, vineyards, mountains or Franschhoek village. For two guests.
Deluxe Room
Larger rooms in the Manor House, Cellar Cottage and Protea House with views of the gardens, plum orchards, vineyards, the Franschhoek mountains or the village. For two guests.
Studio Room
Rooms with their own terrace and fireplace, in the Manor House above Leeu Spa — close to the spa, gym and pool — or in the free-standing Pomegranate Cottage, facing gardens, vineyards and mountains. For two guests.
Executive Suite
Suites in the Manor House and Max House with a separate lounge and study area and a fireplace, overlooking gardens, vineyards or mountains. For two guests.
Executive Suite with Terrace
Suites with a separate lounge and a terrace in Protea House and Cellar Cottage, with views of the gardens, mountains and vineyards. For two guests.
Terroir Cottage
A cosy two-bedroom cottage with a shared living area and a private enclosed terrace; one king-size and one queen-size bed. For four guests.
Manor House Suite
The single suite of its kind in the Manor House: a separate lounge with fireplace, a large outdoor area with hot tub, fire pit and a telescope for stargazing, a private path to the spa and views of mountains, vineyards and the garden sculptures. For two guests.
The Oaks
A private cottage among the vines with two rooms with showers, a lounge, a hot tub, a large terrace garden and its own parking bay, looking out over the Franschhoek valley. For four adults.
Fynbosch Cottage
A cottage against the slopes of the Dassenberg Mountain with a landscaped private garden, plunge pool, outdoor hot tub and a veranda under a timber pergola, plus a dedicated butler throughout the stay. For two guests.
Vineyard Cottage
A cottage with two rooms (a queen-size bed and twin beds), a shared lounge with fireplace, its own terrace and a plunge pool facing the vineyards, close to the spa and gym. For four guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.