"Once a sleepy country village, Franschhoek has transformed into South Africa’s unofficial food and wine capital. Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guest House has grown up alongside it. What started as a simple mid-19th-century building is now the historic centerpiece of a boutique hotel that’s set amid beautifully landscaped gardens. A lovely Cape Dutch manor houses luxurious suites with four-poster beds, free-standing bathtubs, and a mix of antiques and colorful modern decor, while high-end private cottages feature wood-burning fireplaces and terraces with plunge pools. There’s a larger heated pool and Jacuzzi for all guests’ use, as well as a cozy library and bar, and a charming courtyard that’s perfect for lingering over aperitifs. An elegant English breakfast is served each morning — a thoughtful detail, considering the long day of wine tasting that awaits in the vineyards of the surrounding Franschhoek Wine Valley." - Tablet Hotels