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Perched on the hill, just above the famous Boulders Beach and its famous penguins colony, Residence William French offers 5 ensuite bedrooms, 4 of them with magnificent views of the ocean and false bay. The host, William, lives on the premises and looks after his guests as if they were friends or family visiting him.
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The Residence William French Guest House garners high marks for its spotless rooms and charming furnishings, as recognized by numerous guests who also admire the housekeeping. This hotel is often described as a perfect blend of elegance and charm, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. Service at the guest house receives frequent acclaim for its friendliness and dedication, including the homemade meals that enhance the stay.
Amenities, such as the well-furnished rooms and exceptional dining with beautiful views, contribute to what many guests consider a memorable experience. While the spacious and modern rooms with stunning views are a highlight, opinions on the Rococo style and dinner costs vary.
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Tasteful
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Warm
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Residence William French greatly exceeded our expectations! We made our booking there due to its close proximity to the Cape of Good Hope and Boulder’s Beach, excited about hiking and penguins. It turns out our experience at Residence William French rivaled our experiences in the park and with the penguins; it was fantastic! The residence is located in a quiet neighborhood, perched on a hillside with a stunning view of False Bay. The property is impeccably decorated, comfortable, and welcoming. Our dinner and breakfast there were beautifully and thoughtfully prepared, and delicious, on par with the best meals we’ve had in Cape Town. William is the perfect host. We were sad to leave, wishing we’d booked more nights there.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William Fabre, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 3 Oct 2024
We love your feedback - thank you! We are so glad you had such a great stay with us!
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Dive into unparalleled luxury at the William French Guest House, where the experience extends beyond the elegant rooms and exquisite dining.
William is indeed a master chef, we enjoyed a memorable dining occasion with his family, friends and fellow travellers, this was the real highlight.
Primrose and Angie are two of the sweetest, friendliest and professional staff that you could wish to meet, and Primrose (Prim) cooked and prepared the perfect candlelit romantic meal for my wife and I, we were made to feel very special indeed.
Breakfast is a delight, served in the beautiful surroundings of this stunning accommodation.
The soft furnishings and decor are truly spectacular, the whole place is absolutely divine and William has literally thought of everything you could wish for.
It is walking distance to Boulders beach to see the penguins, we also walked into town down the lovely hills, and a Uber back was equivalent to £3.00.
The addition of a real swimming pool elevates this haven to a whole new level of indulgence.
Surrounded by lush greenery and thoughtful design, it offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re seeking a leisurely swim or a moment of tranquil repose by the water’s edge, the pool at William French delivers an experience of unmatched sophistication.
Imagine spending lazy afternoons basking in the sun or enjoying an evening dip under the stars. The pool area is a retreat within a retreat, providing a perfect blend of luxury and leisure. It’s a space where guests can create memories of laughter and relaxation, adding another layer of enchantment to the already captivating ambiance of the guest house.
So, whether you’re an avid swimmer or simply wish to immerse yourself in the soothing atmosphere of a lovely pool, the aquatic allure at William French is a splendid complement to an already extraordinary stay. It’s the epitome of refinement, where every aspect, from accommodation to recreation, is carefully curated to ensure a truly unforgettable experience.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Just walk through the door and enjoy.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William French, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 8 Jan 2024
Hello and thank you for taking the time to write us such a lovely and in-depth review! I will pass on your kind words to the rest of the team and we are all so glad that you enjoyed your stay and celebrating the festive season with us. It was an absolute pleasure to have you staying with us and we hope o see you again! Warmest regards from the team at Residence William French.
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From the moment you arrive William and his staff make you feel at home. All of the rooms in the property are very spacious and beautifully decorated we were very lucky and upgraded on our last night to the honeymoon suite which is out of this world. As we arrived after a long day we took William's gracious invitation and stayed in for dinner which I can only describe as a private dining experience never to be forgotten. We had breads and dips for starters all homemade followed by line caught fish then desert. William also has a very good selection of wines to choose from at very reasonable prices. The following morning we had fresh brewed coffee and tea before a large selection of breakfast items. We spent the day exploring the Cape and on our return opted again to stay in and eat with another fantastic meal share with other guests. I cannot recommend Residence William French highly enough. From location as the nearest for the Cape to being next to Boulders Bay for the penguins. Exquisite rooms and fine dining. Thank you so much William and ladies.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Book at least one meal during your stay.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William French, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 2 May 2024
Thank you so much for your exquisite review! We are overjoyed to hear you had such a wonderful experience with us and that our guesthouse offered you all kinds of comforts from a good sleep to delicious foods and drink! Thank you for staying with us and we hope to see you again should you be back in the area. Warmest regards from William and the team at Residence William French.
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I feel really bad that I am only now writing a review having stayed there in January 23. The rooms and the views are fantastic but what really make it special is the warm welcome from William and his “nothing is too much trouble” attitude. The location is brilliant for touring the southern cape and sharing the superb breakfasts with other guests is not only enjoyable but also helps you pick up tips for your stay and onward travels. As so many others have said, we wish we could have stayed longer.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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Response from William French, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 8 Jan 2024
Thank you so much for leaving a review, we are glad you remember us after so much time! We hope to welcome you again and best wishes from the team at Residence William French.
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William and the girls make you feel like a prince/princess. They take care of you, listen, serve you with lovely drinks, good food and lovely wines. The rooms are generous, the beds excellent, the pool is inviting and last but not least some wonderful four-legged friends (the dogs❤️). Breakfast excellent, food is good - Primrose treated us to the best meal we experienced during our whole vacation👍🏼. The location is good and you can quickly get to the Cape of Good Hope and easily down to the penguins at Boulders beach.
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Automatically translated
Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Undvik köerna till Godahoppsudden - åkt tidigt, var där senast 10. Boulders beach - ta den högra...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The property is nice, and very well and conveniently located. One needs to be prepared for the extremely Rococo interior decoration, which is not my style at all. This means lots of pink drapes, fake pink flowers, fancy dolls, colourful wallpapers, curvy woodworks and trompe-l-oeil... Frankly I find this style ugly. The bed is full but a little short and not very comfy, but at least the sheets and room are very clean. Kudos for the housekeepers who keep the place truly spotless. The breakfast is ok, nt exceptional.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William Fabre, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 1 Jan 2025
Hello, thank you not for your review. Personally when I book a place to stay, knowing that style is important to me, I check the photos, then book or not, but 1 thing is certain: I don’t go afterwards to trash them publicly. Please, next time you book somewhere, check the photos…
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We were guests at the William French Guest House for 5 days. It was excellent! The house is very comfortably furnished and William lives the family atmosphere with full dedication. The rooms are a dream! We had room number 4, which was very tastefully and modernly furnished. It was the many beautiful details in the house and in the room that impressed us. Very tasteful and simply harmonious. We also enjoyed William's dinner menu on three evenings. It was very high quality and exceptionally delicious. William and his team cook for the guests in the open kitchen and everyone eats together at a large table. If you like, you can also enjoy your menu at a separate round table. If you don't book William's menu, you're missing out :-) We also thought it was very nice that you could get coffee, cappuccino, tea or good wine from William all day long. In the evening, sit by the pool and enjoy a good glass of wine or the homemade tea blend from William's herb garden. We felt at home every minute and would like to thank William, our warm host, again for the great days in his house. We will definitely come back again!
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Unbedingt Williams Menü buchen. Es besteht aus mehreren Gängen und hat eine sehr hohe Qualität.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I am so sorry that I am just now writing my review. But it is very important for me to tell you about our unique experience at William French. We stayed three nights in this wonderful guesthouse, so well run by William and his team. William is an excellent host, you really feel welcome. Everything is tastefully decorated and very clean. We had the very spacious and modern furnished room on the top floor with a panoramic view of the ocean, which we could even enjoy from our bed! We stayed well everywhere on our two week trip, but this guesthouse topped it all. The breakfast was outstanding - homemade ciabatta, an insanely good fruit salad, and much more.... One evening we were able to enjoy William's cooking, just fantastic. I could go on and on for pages, but how extraordinary good this guesthouse is everyone should find out out for themselves 😊 If our way leads us in this region again this is our our first choice - for sure. Thank you!
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:hospitality, ocean view, food
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can't fault this gorgeous little guest house. I absolutely loved my stay here, and I work in the business of luxury travel to Africa. This is a hidden gem, and the perfect spot for freedivers, hikers, penguin fans, or foodies who enjoy peace and quiet and a phenomenal ocean view. I can't recommend it more highly and I have stayed in some of the best hotels in Africa. William, Kate, their team, and their little doggies have created a warm welcoming home that also delivers top notch service, comfort and cuisine. I stayed in room Elise and it was perfect.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay with William was truly the best we had during our 2 week roadtrip along the western cape. We stayed two nights and couldn’t have had a better experience. Everything is beautifully and uniquely decorated with a lot of love for the little details. Both William and his team were very welcoming and made us feel right at home. Breakfast and dinner were exceptional. We went on a fishing trip during our stay and William made it possible to bring some of our catch back and cooked it for us - one of the best meals we’ve had! The only negative thing we can say is, that we only had two nights to enjoy the guesthouse. We would definitely stay here again!! Thank you!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from William Fabre, Owner at Residence William French Guest House
Responded 5 Dec 2023
Dear Franziska, thank you for leaving such a wonderful review. It was a pleasure to have you stay with us and thank you for catching such a delicious fish for us all to enjoy! We hope to see you again and hope you have an amazing festive season. Warmest regards from William and the team.
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OMG!! You are organised!!
You certainly can do that. You just need to let me know which room you are interested in.
More info on my website, the rates are not yet done for 2020 but will be approximately 10% above next year increase.
I hope to have been helpful.
Warm regards,
William
Cape Town Central, South Africa25 contributions6 helpful votes
Access is fairly easy. Located on Dorries Drive which winds up towards the mountain, you take a short steep driveway up to the parking area and then a flight of stairs to the front door. Hope that helps.
Bonjour Luc,
Votre arrivee en debut de soiree meme passe 18:00 ne sera pas un probleme du tout. S'il vous plait ne vous inquietez pas.
Dans l'attente de vous acceuillir, a bientot.
William
Bonjour! Je suis désolé mais mon établissement n'est pas adapté pour enfants en bas âge.
Peut-être une autre fois quand vous voyagez juste avec Madame.
Passez un bon week-end.
William
There are more places to choose from in the Simon's Town area.
PRICE RANGE
$157 - $245 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeCape TownSimon's Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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