Franschhoek, South Africa
Sterrekopje Farm
Healing Winelands farmstead
Healing Winelands farmstead
Life here follows the gentle rhythm of a working farmstead. Guests harvest garden produce and gather around a communal kitchen table.
“The working 'healing' farm, as it describes itself, sits at the foot of the Franschhoek mountains, and embodies the essence of slow living.”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
Ancestral hammam cleansings and botanical oil massages inside the restored Bath House.
Remarkable
A ritual foot-washing welcomes guests, followed by full-board seasonal dining and treatments.
What they say
UK Gold List
Condé Nast Traveler
2026
Also in The 50 Discovery and AFAR.
This ethos is woven into each part of the farm, from the sanctuary-like rooms to the endless scents emanating from the various gardens, and the personalised rituals and rhythms that occur daily.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
In the Franschhoek foothills below Sterrekopje peak, fifty hectares of private farmland with nothing outside.
The rooms
Four-poster beds carved in Kenya stand beneath exposed timber beams. Select bathrooms have deep soaking tubs beaten from copper.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
An outdoor saltwater pool sits under olive trees, and a planted natural pond provides freshwater swimming.
The hammam
Traditional cleansing ceremonies unfold in the tiled hammam, complete with carved marble bathtubs and brass lanterns.
The yoga yurt
A circular yurt with painted rafters and woven rugs hosts daily breathwork, meditation, and yoga sessions.
Restaurant
Traditional Kitchen
Meals emerge from a wood-fired oven beneath a hammered copper hood, centered on vegetables harvested from the farm.
Fleur and Nicole have opened an 11-room sanctuary that strives for sustainability in everything, from its gray water treatment system to a minimum waste restaurant.
At the table
Communal dinners are laid out under a rustic timber pergola set among citrus trees against the mountains.
How it began
The 1690s Cape Dutch farmstead belonged to one family for five generations before founders Fleur Huijskens and Nicole Boekhoorn restored it.
Franschhoek
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.