Le Lude Estate and Orangerie Restaurant

A must for anyone wanting a memorable dining experience in Franschhoek! We were so thrilled when Cameron got us a table last minute, he is an absolute gem! Everything exceeded all expectations and the service was top-notch!! We got the pork belly & fillet steak and would highly recommend (we also tried the seafood starter and wow !!). The venue is so romantic and dreamy and we can’t WAIT to come back! Edmund was such a gracious host and our waiter couldn’t have done more for us! Thank you!! It simply doesn’t get better than this! ❤️

We had the afternoon tea experience on a Saturday morning. The venue itself is lovely and bright. There is also outdoor seating, so if weather permits, I recommend sitting in the little courtyard. The treats themselves were alright. We were pleasantly surprised by the passion fruit macaron because we normally don't enjoy them, but this one was delicious. The roast beef sandwich was also quite nice. Otherwise nothing else was memorable. I've had many afternoon/high tea experiences in Cape Town and the surrounds and, while this one was nice, it's not as great as everyone was raving about.

We had the brut tasting at Le Lude, all of them were great and my favourite was the Madame millésime 2015. Definitely recommend this for great cap classique tastings

It's often hard to strike a balance between good food, attentive service, lovely surroundings and price. I felt L'Orangerie did this well. The Cap Classique Rose was lovely and well priced, the service was attentive without being overly fussy and they encourage eating with your hands. Food wise I thought it was good value. The bouibaisse was excellent and whilst little tweaks could have been made to the mains they were both tasty and I left full without looking at the desert menu. This place does not pretend to be fine dining, nor does it charge like one so well worth a visit.

5 stars for the great atmosphere & great customer service. The manager was great came to chat with us … explained a few things on their menu. 2nd time here (Visiting from Kenya) & we know to dine here again when in Franschhoek. Highly recommend

Based on my experience, I do not recommend visiting this restaurant. I had originally booked a table for 2:30 PM, but the restaurant moved my reservation to 2:00 PM. I accepted the change, believing I would still make it. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was running a little late. I phoned the restaurant about 7 minutes after 2 PM, which I understood to still be within their grace period. I had also paid a deposit to secure my booking, which made the situation even more disappointing. The manager later pointed out that reminders had been sent and that I had the option to cancel within 24 hours. While I understand policies are in place, the reality is that none of us can fully predict how a day might unfold. What mattered most to me was how the situation was handled when I tried to communicate. When I called, I personally found the manager’s tone and attitude extremely unhelpful. In my experience, he spoke over me rather than listening, which left me feeling dismissed and unwelcome. What disappointed me most was that my original booking was 2:30 PM, and I thought there might be some flexibility or consideration, especially since members of my group were already there at 3:00 PM, I would have appreciated it if we had been offered an alternative, like being seated for dinner or waiting for a table. Overall, this was one of the most unpleasant restaurant experiences I have had, and for that reason, I personally cannot recommend it..

Dear Le Lude Management, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to formally express my disappointment following my recent visit to Le Lude. As a loyal customer who regularly purchases the Le Lude Brut, I decided today to explore your other tasting options and enjoy the full experience your estate offers. My family accompanied me, and we ordered a tasting, an affogato, and a cappuccino. During our visit, my baby required a nappy change. Our waiter was exceptionally kind and helpful — she personally guided me through the restaurant to the outside restroom facilities. After changing my baby, I returned the same way to my table, only to be stopped by a manager who told me I was “not allowed to just walk in and walk [my] baby through the restaurant.” I was taken aback by this comment and even asked him to repeat himself, as it made little sense given that I had just followed the same route moments earlier with the assistance of your staff. I found his tone and attitude unnecessarily rude and dismissive, particularly towards a mother managing an infant. This interaction completely overshadowed what had been, up until that point, a pleasant experience. While I have always enjoyed your Le Lude Brut and appreciated the quality of your wines, such unprofessional behaviour from management has left a very negative impression. It is truly disappointing to be treated in this manner, especially at a venue of Le Lude’s standing. I sincerely hope you will address this matter appropriately. Although one customer’s experience may seem insignificant, I believe every guest deserves to be treated with respect and courtesy. I would like to commend the waiter who assisted me — her professionalism stood in stark contrast to the manager’s conduct.

Our second stop on the wine tram. It’s such a beautiful place and I got to go up close to the grape vines. We visited their tasting room which was beautiful. We got a bottle of their Brut Rosé to share. It was a delight to drink. They also have a restaurant if you want to have lunch here. It’s such a lovely place to visit!