Leopard’s Leap: A Family-Friendly Winery For Relaxed Days Out in Franschhoek

Relaxed, welcoming, kid-friendly and delicious.

When it comes to laidback days out with the family, Leopard’s Leap has fine-tuned the magic recipe. The Franschhoek winery and restaurant appeals to all ages – a wide lawn, where you can spread out blankets or play ball, tables under the trees where in summer a meandering channel of mountain water and fountains invite refreshing play beside the jungle gym, and above that a generously sized pump track. Its lekker food, wine and hospitality saw the winery scooping a win for best Authentic South African Experience in the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards. Not to mention eye-stealing Franschhoek Valley views over the vines, and welcoming staff who create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The big open-plan restaurant and tasting lounge adapts perfectly to family get-togethers. Grab a long table end-on to the glass wall of windows overlooking the lawn, and settle into the comfortable couches and coffee table that go with it, while the kids run outside. (Pack the car with your kids’ bikes, blankets and a lawn game or two and you’re all set)

A rotisserie and a harvest table

Chef Christiaan Visser’s food offering is as flexible as the setting. The main event is the braai-inspired rotisserie supported by a lavish and varied harvest table of creative sides, salads and hot vegetable dishes, an affordable and easy way to keep everyone happy.

Fall-apart tender lamb neck and enticingly crispy pork belly were our choices (beef neck and chicken pie were also on the menu of the day). We piled our plates with a rainbow of appetising freshness (grilled pineapple with red peppers, and sweet potato with citrus sauce were two particular favourites), weighed them, then moved to the rotisserie counter for a generous portion of our chosen meat served with accompanying sauces. Fresh, succulent and full-on flavour is the order of the day.

Pizzas, platters and braaibroodjies

Crispy wood-fired pizzas solve most picky-eating dilemmas, and there’s also a short dedicated kids menu including free-range chicken nuggets, or just chips and tomato sauce. Then the starter plates are easy for everyone to dip into, with bread, hummus, jam, bitterballen and more. And if it’s breakfast or brunch time, the braaibroodjies are legendary. Craving a fire-kissed roosterkoek? The SA Quickie menu serves this classic South African bread (cooked on the braai) with a choice of three fillings: eggy, cheesy or snoek.

The informal set-up means it’s positively encouraged to get up and stroll around, including to check out the dessert counter: a tempting selection of individually portioned sweet treats – think chocolate pots of mousse, vanilla cheesecake, peppermint crisp, butterscotch malva pudding…

Wines for all seasons

Leopard’s Leap’s deliciously accessible range of wines is available at cellar door prices (including the special editions), by the glass, bottle or as a wine tasting. Or dive into the wine cocktails. There really is something for everyone.

Come for brunch or lunch and you’re likely to linger all day, it’s that hard to tear yourself (and the kids) away.