Choose a location

Or use your current location

Select

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
(2415 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

Book a table

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 (2415)

4.8 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.8
Value 4.8
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Christa G. Dined: 2 days ago
    4.3
    Food 4.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Rosalind D. Dined: 2 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 01 Jan 26
    We had an amazing meal, equally as good as it was 22 months ago when we last dined there on holiday from the U.K. My ‘medium’ steak had not been cooked so well in over 20 years. It was sheer perfection, and my daughter shared the same view about her steak that was ‘medium rare’. The dishes were beautifully presented and we all agreed we could eat a gallon of the watermelon sorbet served as a cleanser. Each course was innovative and so well thought out. In the UK I believe they would have earned a Michelin star. We dined on NYE and there was a set menu that we had no knowledge of when we had booked and unfortunately did not suit us as we have intolerances. The chef immediately offered us the full a la carte menu and the attention of the servers was incredible. When we came to pay I left cash, forgetting that I had paid a 600 rand deposit, and we left. As we reached our car our server came rushing out to tell me we had paid too much and returned our deposit, such honesty is virtually unheard of , particularly in a developing country. The chamonix wine from the vineyard where Arkeste is situated was exceptional and such good value that we are now trying to organise a wine tasting. Ten out of ten. What a wonderful evening.

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

    Reviewed on: Thu 01 Jan 26
    Very fine dinner

  • Emma L. Dined: 3 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 31 Dec 25
    Our first visit and definitely not our last!

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

    Reviewed on: Wed 31 Dec 25
    Wonderful hidden gem , really worth it. Beautiful food in a serene woodland setting. Service was super friendly too.

  • Allison V. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 31 Dec 25
    Great service and ambiance and exceptional company so overall a special experience. Thank you.

  • Rodolphe K. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.5
    Food 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0
  • Mathias P. Dined: 5 days ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 29 Dec 25
    We had a lovely dinner, great food. Casual fine dining, very good value for money

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

    Reviewed on: Mon 29 Dec 25
    Delicious with excellent service in a lovely setting. Highly recommended!

  • Sven F. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0
Show More
Book Now