"Charné Sampson's spice-led Spice Journey took two Eat Out stars in 2023 — book Epice in Franschhoek for an anniversary."
About Epice
Epice is the spice-focused restaurant from the La Colombe group — chef-owner Scot Kirton's stable — set in the Le Quartier Français complex at 9 Huguenot Street, in the centre of Franschhoek. Charné Sampson, who came up through La Colombe, runs the kitchen. The menu draws on the team's travels through India, Spain and beyond and applies them to Cape ingredients, which gives it a point of view most winelands fine dining lacks. It took two stars at the 2023 Eat Out awards. The Spice Journey dinner is R1,195; lunch is R895.
The Kitchen
Spice is the organising idea, not a garnish. Sampson builds the menu around it — heat, perfume and acidity used with control rather than for shock — and threads Indian and global techniques through South African produce. The bread and oil that opens the meal is one of the dishes guests remember most, which is the tell of a kitchen that respects the basics. The signature flourish is the sorbet trolley that rolls to the table between courses, a palate-cleanser turned into a small piece of theatre that, for once, earns its place.
The format is the tasting menu, six courses at dinner, with a wine pairing that uses the valley on the doorstep. Coming out of the La Colombe group means the service standard and the sourcing are already set high, and Epice spends that credit on a more adventurous plate than its siblings. What you are paying R1,195 for is a kitchen with a distinct identity in a region full of competent but interchangeable rooms. Order the pairing and let the spice lead.
The Room
An intimate room within the Le Quartier Français courtyard, a few steps off the village's main street — low light, calm sound level, tables close enough to feel private without being cramped. The sorbet trolley working the floor gives the room a gentle rhythm. Dress is smart-casual; this is the winelands, so a jacket is welcome but never required. Service is polished in the La Colombe manner, warm rather than formal. It is a room built for a long, unhurried dinner with a bottle from up the road.
Best for an Anniversary
Book Epice for an anniversary or a proposal for three reasons: the menu is distinctive enough to make the night feel chosen rather than default; the room is intimate and quiet enough to talk across the table; and Franschhoek gives you a full day of wine estates to build around the dinner. The tasting-menu format paces the evening into an event. Request a quiet corner and take the wine pairing. See our proposal restaurants guide and first-date tables for more.
Not for
Not for anyone who dislikes spice or wants to order à la carte — Epice is a single spice-led tasting menu, and the whole point is heat and perfume used deliberately, not a plain winelands plate.
Frequently Asked
Is Epice worth it?
Yes, if you want the most distinctive menu in Franschhoek. Charné Sampson cooks a spice-led tasting menu that runs Cape ingredients through Indian, Spanish and global techniques, and it took two stars at the 2023 Eat Out awards from the La Colombe group. The Spice Journey dinner is R1,195. You are paying for a kitchen with a clear point of view, not generic winelands fine dining.
How hard is it to book Epice?
Plan ahead, especially in summer and over harvest season when Franschhoek fills. Epice is a small room at Le Quartier Français, so weekend tables go early. Book through the restaurant or Dineplan, or call +27 21 492 4044. The address is 9 Huguenot Street in the village centre, walkable from the main Franschhoek hotels. Lunch is the easier and slightly cheaper sitting.
What should I order at Epice?
Take the Spice Journey — it is the menu the restaurant is built around, six courses at dinner for R1,195 or five at lunch for R895. The bread and oil that opens the meal is a highlight in its own right, and the sorbet trolley that rolls to the table between courses is the signature flourish. Add the wine pairing; this is the winelands, and the cellar is the point.
Is Epice good for an anniversary?
Yes. An intimate room, a distinctive menu, and the Franschhoek setting make it a strong choice for an anniversary or a proposal. The tasting-menu format makes an event of the evening, and the wine valley gives you a full day around it. Book an evening table and the wine pairing. See our proposal restaurants guide for more winelands options.
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Reserve at Epice
Via Dineplan · book ahead in summer
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Practical Information
Address9 Huguenot Street, Le Quartier Français, Franschhoek
NeighbourhoodFranschhoek village centre
CuisineSpice-led fine dining
SignatureSpice Journey menu; sorbet trolley
MenuDinner R1,195; lunch R895
Dress CodeSmart-casual
RecognitionEat Out two stars (2023)
