7 Koppies Review — Where Soph Went

7 Koppies review - in a sentence:

Luxurious, stylish farmhouse retreat surrounded by the beautiful Franschhoek countryside.

Design: 5/5

7 Koppies was a dated family home when the owners bought it and transformed it into the luxurious guesthouse that it is, today, through a meticulous and sensitive renovation process.

Given one of the owners runs a design firm, the interiors were always going to be gorgeous, but the design of this property is just so ME - anywhere with chic linen sofas, an earthy muted colour palette and a tasteful mix of modern and antique pieces will always get my vote!

Beautiful objects and considered artwork, inspired by the owners’ heritage and travels, are dotted throughout and give 7 Koppies a real sense of place. There is also maximum use of natural materials, and craftmanship is to a ridiculously high standard. The end result is effortless, understated luxury.

The open-plan kitchen / dining area is the main hub, doubling as the ‘reception’ area for this teeny guesthouse, and feels so homely - guests are encouraged to sit side-by-side over their breakfast, which is lovely.

This is definitely boutique hotel territory - there are only a handful of rooms, and each room is individually designed. With a lot of properties, the ‘individually designed’ statement is thrown around but doesn’t mean much, whereas here each room is genuinely different and has its own unique scheme.

While the rooms and common spaces are lovely, the real star of the show? This in-CREDIBLE outdoor area with infinity pool and the view of literal dreams…

Because 7 Koppies sits on top of a hill (or koppie in South African vernacular - hence the name), it benefits from the most amazing views across the Franschhoek valley. It’s a truly idyllic setting for enjoying your breakfast al fresco, and it’s a nice luxury to have a pool for cooling off after lounging on the (ridiculously comfortable) sunbeds - many guesthouses in the area don’t have this as an amenity.

Food & drink: 4/5

I only ate breakfast here, as we had so many incredible restaurants to try in Franschhoek itself, but the breakfast was really really good.

You’re invited to help yourself to a luxurious yoghurt / granola / fruit situation - my usual brekkie at home, so it was nice to have a VERY upgraded version! In keeping with the luxurious experience at 7 Koppies, everything is homemade and super high quality.

Then there is an a la carte hot breakfast offering to choose from - I tried the veggie full breakfast, which rivalled any great brunch spot I’ve been to in London.

There are homemade snacks dotted throughout the kitchen and in guests’ rooms for you to enjoy (the flapjacks were SO addictive), which is a lovely touch and a great example of all the tiny, luxurious details that make 7 Koppies stand out.

Location: 4/5

Set in 50 hectares of beautiful fynbos, this feels like a rural escape but is actually only a 10/15 min Uber to Franschhoek centre.

For me, that struck the best balance - while staying in town is the most convenient option, for sure, you don’t really get to experience the region’s beauty. I learnt this lesson on my last trip to Franschhoek, so was keen to stay somewhere that offered the best of the region this time.

(P.S. if you do stay in town, I recommend Chapter House. Had a great stay there in 2019!)

To-do: 4/5

The pool is the star of the show, here. I highly encourage you to pull up a sunbed and soak in the panoramic vistas (I immediately fell asleep upon lying on them, they’re that comfy!)

Come evening there is an outdoor lounge area for relaxing by the firepit as the sun sets, which is such a great perk as the sunsets here are epic.

There’s also a library filled with the owners’ books for you to peruse with your evening cup of tea - ours was fresh mint, picked straight from the kitchen garden!

Reasons to book:

Total luxury, but with a homely feel
Small, intimate vibe - like staying with really rich friends!
The pool & view are just idyllic

Any negatives?

It wasn’t a negative for me but, as noted above, you’re not in the heart of Franschhoek village here, which may be a downside for some

The final word:

Surely the chicest bolthole in Franschhoek, and there are so many aspects that made this an incredible stay for me - from the intimate size of the property, the incredibly attentive service, beautiful design and exceptional views, everything was fantastic and I would wholeheartedly recommend. I’ll be back!

Review: 7 Koppies