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ARKESTE

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Bistro Fine Dining French South African
Location Pointer Chamonix Wine Estate, Uitkyk St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.8
(2287 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 (2287)

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

    Reviewed on: Tue 24 Feb 26
    Just delicious food, friendly efficient service and great value.

  • Aly Q. Dined: 2 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 24 Feb 26
    Exquisite food. Beautiful balance of multi layerd flavours and texture's. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff.

  • Clifford H. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Tue 24 Feb 26
    Lovely quiet location with very welcoming and friendly service.Outstanding food with excellent’specials’The baked Alaska Tout is superb. Highly recommend.

  • Karlheinz L. Dined: 3 days ago
    3.3
    Food 3.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 3.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 23 Feb 26
    Das Essen meiner Frau war das Fleisch sehr faserig in zäh. Kurze Zeit später war am Nachbartisch die gleiche Situation. Es vielen immer wieder Nüsse von Eichhörnchen auf das Blechdach . Es war sehr störend. In dem Raum waren zu viele Tische auf gestellt und sehr eng. Der Geräuschpegel war deshalb sehr laut.

  • Shane P. Dined: 4 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 23 Feb 26
    We had the perfect day.

  • Merten S. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 23 Feb 26
    Extraordinary, the Food ist perfectly balanced an very creative, the Service is the best in the whole Valley.

  • ERIC D. Dined: 3 days ago
    4
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • Heather Y. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 23 Feb 26
    Fantastic food ....great service and lovely location ....a must do when in franschhoek....book early as restaurant gets fully booked

  • Val Dined: 4 days ago
    1.8
    Food 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Service 2.0
    Ambience 3.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 22 Feb 26
    Food was disappointing

  • Croon Dined: 4 days ago
    3.8
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 3.0
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