Where to pop the question in the Winelands

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Where to pop the question in the Winelands

Sunday, September 2nd, 2018 by Jess Spiro

We’ll be honest: if you’re headed out to the scenic Winelands to pop the big question then you’re already one step ahead. But to ensure a favourable answer and a completely unforgettable night, you need the perfect restaurant serving up the best food. Here’s our pick of places to spoil your loved one before the proposal, featuring everything from picnics to big-ticket meals and, of course, lots and lots of bubbly.

Babel at Babylonstoren (Paarl)

Want to guarantee a yes to your proposal? Send your significant other to the spa here for a day then meet them for lunch in the glorious Babel restaurant. The food will have both of you writing love poems. The menu is inspired by the bounteous farm produce so changes fairly often, but if it’s available, order the roast baby chicken with a sticky honey, ginger and sesame sauce – there’s an old wives’ tale about roast chicken ensuring marriage, and in this instance it’ll certainly prove true.

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A post shared by Babylonstoren (@babylonstoren) on Nov 1, 2017 at 6:50am PDT

Jardine Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

We love this pick from Facebook user Eddie Mutukura, who has had personal (successful!) experience proposing at this special spot. The menu changes weekly here but expect bold, contemporary fare from master chef George Jardine, who meticulously sources ingredients to provide only the best on your plate. Get down on your knee in the intimate and cosy covered courtyard then celebrate with one of the affordable wines or splurge on some bubbly.

The cosy Jardine Restaurant. Photo supplied.

La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)

Sometimes you need a big-ticket meal to celebrate the start of a new chapter together. If that’s the case, La Petite Colombe is the ideal spot to pop the question. Allow chef John Norris’s whimsical tasting menu to delight you and your future spouse, with pauses only to gaze lovingly into one another’s eyes.

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A post shared by La Petite Colombe (@lapetitecolombe) on Sep 17, 2017 at 5:13am PDT

Orangerie Restaurant at Le Lude (Franschhoek)

Engagement = bubbly, right? Le Lude makes bubbly – some of the best in the country, in fact. Drop to one knee while sipping on their MCC then move along to the beautiful Orangerie Restaurant for a meal cooked by the talented Nicolene Barrow. Her refined modern menu is ideal for celebrating – alongside more bubbly, of course.

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A post shared by Le Lude (@leludemcc) on Sep 7, 2018 at 4:07am PDT

The Restaurant at Waterkloof (Somerset West) ?

The breathtaking view at The Restaurant at Waterkloof. Photo supplied.

What is it about a magnificent view that makes us feel so much more enamoured? Number 3 restaurant in the country, Waterkloof seems to burst with a kind of love potion, the first ingredient of which is their stellar wines. Tear your attention away from the Astraeus MCC to be fed by chef Greg Czarnecki, whose intricate tasting menus change with the season. You won’t be sorry – this spot really is a special place to get engaged.

? Available for online bookings on the Eat Out app.

The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)

Eating at The Table is like eating at your mom’s house – if your mom was one of the best chefs in the country, that is – and what better place to propose than at a spot that feels like home? The Table’s Jess Shepherd changes her menu weekly, so you never know what to expect, but you can rely on her incredible homely food to round off an engagement perfectly.

A charming dessert at The Table at De Meye. Photo supplied.

Werf Farm Picnics and The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal (Franschhoek)

Boschendal is admirable for everything from its commitment to sustainability and producing some truly delicious wines to hyper-seasonal seasonal dishes. Go traditional (and delicious) by dining in the restaurant or knock it out of the park, literally, by organising one of the Werf picnic baskets. It’s packed with fresh farm goodies like homemade bread, pâtés and dips – all else you need is an additional bottle of the estate’s MCC and the ring.