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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
(2429 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 (2429)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.8
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Karine Margeot Dined: 5 days ago
    4
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0
    1
  • Fleur H. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 05 Jan 26
    Our taste buds were invigorated by all the delicious gels purées and clever seasonings. It all tastes so much better than you can imagine by merely reading the menu!

    1
  • Karin N. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 05 Jan 26
    A perfect evening and totally recommend a the strawberry black pepper dessert it was totally a worthwhile experience

    1
  • Karin M. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 0.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 05 Jan 26
    I went on recommendation from a friend and I will certainly be back next time I am home. First of all the service is world class. The steak tartar was better than any I have ever had living in France. The lamb on recommendation from the waitress meted in my mouth. It was exceptional. I had the Gorgonzola ice cream for dessert and it was truly different and delicious.

    1
  • Stefan G. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 05 Jan 26
    A very pleasant atmosphere, exceptional service, and delicious food.

    1
  • Regina A. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 05 Jan 26
    Great Food and Service!!

    1
  • Klaus S. Dined: 3 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0
  • John M. Dined: 4 days ago
    3.8
    Food 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 04 Jan 26
    Arkeste has for many years been our go to fine dining restaurant in Franschhoek, unfortunately last night did not meet previous high standards, the restaurant was half empty on a peak weekend night. The starters were great but none of the mains hit the mark, the cooking was very heavy handed especially on 2 of the dishes. Very disappointing

  • Zachary M. Dined: 6 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sun 04 Jan 26
    A cosy, luxurious restaurant surrounded by nature. The food was divine.

  • Jeffry B. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 4.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 03 Jan 26
    The food was amazing and the setting is lovely. The creative menu is not extensive but exceptionally presented with a slight Asian twist to dishes. Our server was new but very pleasant. In a large empty dining room, we were sat right next to another party of two? There were alot of black flies, it's Africa.

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