Choose a location

Or use your current location

Select

Epice

Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100 Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
Location Pointer Berg St & Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
4.7
(2409 reviews)
RRR+
Favourite

Attributes

  • Romantic
  • Gourmet Guide Plated
  • Reviewers' Choice 2022 - Top 20
  • Reviewers' Choice 2023 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2024 - Top 50
  • Reviewers' Choice 2025 - Top 100

Book a table

Favourite

Epice – derived from the French word Épice meaning spice (and is pronounced eh-peace) - is an intimate fine dining restaurant located at Heritage Square, Franschhoek (opposite Leeu House)

"The restaurant menu will revolve around spices, but that doesn’t necessarily mean spicy hot - think of vanilla and saffron, or cinnamon and nutmeg, too," says Scot Kirton, Chef Proprietor of La Colombe.

Heading up the kitchen, head chef Charné Sampson is no stranger to refined, cutting edge cuisine- until recently she was the sous chef at La Colombe and is another one of Scot’s protégés to spread her wings. A graduate of Silwood, Charné also honed her craft in the kitchen of The Restaurant at Waterkloof and The Test Kitchen.

Gourmet Guide™ Description

Take a magic culinary ride to the iconic space in the old Le Quartier building in Franschhoek for a captivating treat at Epice (French for ‘spice’). The interior’s understated spice hues juxtapose perfectly with the bright sunshine and greenery outside, or you can appreciate the
crackling fire in winter.

Chef Charné Mouton is unapologetic about her passion for spices and the depth they impart to all dishes, whether sweet or savoury. She delights in introducing the full spectrum at your table from the start. The uninitiated may think of curry, but there’s true intellect in how she has married every ingredient with her first-choice spices. This spice queen celebrates each ingredient personally, drawing from her Cape heritage, with both her vindaloo sauce and fabled bread course creating a come-back-for-more scenario.

Choose from a traditional wine pairing, cocktail, or in-house tonic pairing. Whilst marrying beverages with spicy foods can be challenging, the team has worked hard to ensure successful surprises. Expect a little showboating with dry ice and tableside service, which all adds to the fun. Food is tasty and well-executed, and guests rave about the sweet potatoes with cumin, beef dripping, and berbere. In ‘feeding with passion’, La Colombe converts will be overjoyed to devour octopus cooked in passion fruit, cutting it open with scissors. You’ll leave with a spice box, some seeds to plant, and indelible memories.

Opening Hours

  • Monday CLOSED
  • Tuesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Wednesday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Thursday 18h30 - 22h00
  • Friday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Saturday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00
  • Sunday 12h00 - 15h00, 18h30 - 22h00

Reviews (2409)

4.7 out of 5.0
Based on the past 12 months
Food 4.9
Value 4.6
Service 4.9
Ambience 4.7
  • Robin L. Dined: 5 days ago
    4.5
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 05 Sep 26
    What a wonderful and surprising culinary experience. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted even better. The staff could not have been more warm and friendly, and I would definitely rate it as one of my top five meals ever.

    1
  • JESSICA C. Dined: 1 week ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 31 Aug 26
    One of the best meals we’ve had - ever! Beats many Michelin starred dining experiences for the amazing food, friendly staff, and beautiful dining room. Will go again any chance I get!

    1
  • Mark C. Dined: 1 week ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 28 Aug 26
    Excellent, creative vegetarian tasting experience with superb use and blend of spices.

    1
  • Christo T. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Thu 27 Aug 26
    The service was absolutely fabulous, the entire team was attentive, welcoming and warm making our 20rh wedding anniversary a spectacular experience. The food was not only remarkably tasty by wonderfully prepared and presented, it was a truly memorable spice journey.

  • De la Rey V. Dined: 2 weeks ago
    4.3
    Food 5.0
    Value 3.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Fri 21 Aug 26
    Exceptional food paired with exceptional service - and a really good wine list too. The service deserves special mention - warm, friendly, not not overpowering, just right and authentically representing Franschhoek and it's people.

  • Brigette C. Dined: 3 weeks ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Mon 17 Aug 26
    From the moment we walked in, we felt so welcome. The service was excellent and prompt. The food was delicious and the whole experience was great. Really enjoyed everything, difficult to choose one. The spices and flavours are top notch. Do yourself a favour and go to Epice, experience it….the bread course, that amazing tuna. The lamb and Wagyu was absolutely delicious. Dessert was so yummy. I had the cheese board and hubby had the banana parfait. So good!! Seriously, I can’t pick one, it was all really delicious.

  • Wylie R. Dined: 3 weeks ago
    5
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 5.0

    Reviewed on: Sat 15 Aug 26
    An exceptional dinner experience. The vegetarian menu we creative and beautifully presented.

  • Clive S. Dined: 1 month ago
    4.8
    Food 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Service 5.0
    Ambience 4.0

    Reviewed on: Wed 12 Aug 26
    Absolutely fantastic experience. Superb food. Great service.

Show More
Book Now