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I moved to Franschhoek in the summer to continue my journey of adulthood. The days were longer, the sun was bare and I felt the world was my oyster. The season had left me without even saying goodbye and I was abruptly greeted with the rainy season. Searching for the same warmth the summer days brought, I found Mother Dough. Walking up to the bakery and opening the door, felt like I was walking into my own home, it was warm and welcoming with the soft lighting, the smell of fresh bread and a hot cup of coffee. The bakery has a wide range of sweet treats and fresh loaves of sourdough bread staring straight at me. I decided to get a classic croissant which was light and flaky. To pair with my cup of coffee, I got a cinnamon bun which was topped with a tarty glaze. The cinnamon bun was sticky and moist with the perfect amount of glaze to balance out all the sweetness.The bakery offers on-the-go gourmet sandwiches and you are given an option to toast the bread, which I will never say no to. I got the three cheese sandwich with tomatoes and it was a melt in your mouth moment, perfect for the rainy day. I always assume that the bakery's best seller is their sourdough donuts because they will definitely be sold out after 13:00. I've adapted to the early morning breakfast run because who wouldn't want a donut with their coffee. Some people meditate before they start their day, I speed to the bakery in sweatpants and the closest jersey I can find to get a donut. Mother Dough makes winter days warmer, with every bite I could taste the love from the staff. This cozy spot is for early mornings, lunch breaks and late afternoon snacks.

The feeling of an easy Sunday is something we all dream about. Where time slows down and we are able to take in the small gestures from nature. Since I've started my journey of being a working girl, I miss out on the slow Sundays. I made it my mission to experience moments where time stands still. I grab my car keys and make my way out of Franschhoek for a drive in the light rain with an easy listening playlist and head straight for Oumeul bakery. The bakery is a great place for a quick stock up on homemade preserves and fresh loaves. There are fresh pastries and cakes on display to tease you and petit tarts to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. My reasons for going to the bakery was to get lost in my hot cup of coffee and the sound of rain. I ordered a honey nut latte and sat for a moment to try and convince myself that I will survive the rainy season. I then ventured on to the spaces outside. The bakery has a courtyard which feels like a maze, where every turn in the garden feels like a new discovery. There are different shops tucked away in the gardens waiting to be explored. After pretending to be in a Bridgerton episode, I became snackish and decided to grab a fresh loaf of sourdough for the road back home. Oumeul is a happy middle for people who want time to stand still, for people on the go or for people who want to catch up or connect with others.

Fighting off the glitz and glam of Franschhoeks' finest cafes and coffee shops I headed for a restaurant where the food everyone knows and loves is served with an extra pinch of love. Col'Cacchio is a chain restaurant that offers an extensive menu starting from salads, pastas, pizza and a forever favourite of mine....desserts. This specific restaurant in Franschhoek has a relaxed feel with seating inside or outside and from time to time they host live music performances from local artists. I always go for a classic pizza, however, my time at Col'Cacchios has been very experimental with different cuisines. My journey started with their Strega pizza which has black mushrooms, garlic, herbs and their hero herb ,rosemary. This pizza has the happiest amount of mushrooms and the rosemary added an earthy flavour making the pizza easy to eat with a glass of wine during the summer. For the rainy season I chose their Mexicana pizza which has the creamiest béchamel sauce, spicy mince and more than enough mozzarella cheese. Pulling away the first slice of the pizza, the cheese was stringy which made me feel like I was recording a pizza ad. The pizza is topped off with fresh jalapenos to satisfy anyone's craving for something spicy. Col'Cacchio in Franschhoek is a great destination for anyone looking for delicious substance after a long day of wine tastings, an easy and quiet date night or even a catch up with friends.

With good food, comes good wine and living in the Winelands means I have some top rated wines at my disposal at all times. After doing a lot of different wine tastings I was running out of new experiences until one day I took a drive up a hill and stumbled upon Dieu Donne vineyards. Driving in, I was already greeted with the most fantastic view of the mountains sunbathing in the afternoon sun. Walking up to the tasting room, you get a glimpse of a completely different mountain range. We grabbed a menu and sat right on the edge of the hill that overlooks the whole of Franschhoek. On the wine tasting menu, they have many options to choose from and we decided to do their classic range which includes 4 wines. The establishment also has a few snack board options with classic cheeses and fresh fruits. The service team is incredibly welcoming and accommodate their guests with a smile on their face. During the wine tasting I realized my palate needed more practice and in that moment I decided that I would be a regular because who wouldn't want to sip on great wine with a great view. Dieu Donne vineyards is a beautiful activity for people who want to brush up on their wine tasting skills, a romantic afternoon spot and easily a place to watch the sun say goodbye for the evening.

I first heard about The Hoek when I moved down to the small town through a friend. As I drove to work, I could never find it until one day I was exploring the streets of Franschhoek and right on the corner behind a boutique on the main road I saw a little Expresso bar. I walked into the Expresso bar and looked at their menu written on a chalk board. All the classic coffees were on the menu, along with some smoothie flavours to choose from. The Expresso bar has cookie jars filled with oat cookies and chocolate chip cookies that are the size of a hand, which is obviously exciting for anyone with a sweet tooth. This cozy spot has seating inside and outside which creates an ambiance of chatter and allows for people to watch people (a new favourite hobby of mine). The espresso bar sells coffee mugs, expresso mugs and tea cups which all look perfectly imperfect and make a great souvenir for people visiting Franschhoek. For anyone who is looking for a great cup of coffee to start their morning, I would recommend this hidden hub. This little coffee bar is my go-to when I want to play catch up with a friend, a cute date idea and a great reason for me to get up and go to work.

In the little french corner known as Franschhoek, is a small pizzeria and wine bar that radiates warmth through aroma. As a chef, the smell of garlic cooking in butter is heaven on earth. Planning to eat at another restaurant, I was led of my path and I followed my nose to the smell of a new experience. I stepped into the Cartel. This small wine bar was my perfect stop for an early lunch. With the soft lighting and the most comfortable pillows surrounding us, the old Italian music in the background and the art displayed on the walls made me feel as if I was transported. Looking through the menu, we were spoiled with options but settled on the Cartel pizza to share. The food came out the kitchen steaming, with a glorious amount of cheese, slow braised short rib and pepperoni placed perfectly on top of a beautifully crusted pizza. The open planned kitchen allows for the soft sounds of pots and pans to travel through the restaurant and gives me a sense of nostalgia. The wall next to the kitchen is decorated with wines that the restaurant offers which brings us to the obvious conclusion that they provide a list of wines suited to anyone's taste. The Cartel is a classy cafe to get lost in conversation, and a quick bite to eat easily turns into a long afternoon catch-up with an old friend. This intimate dining is perfect for a romantic night out in this small town or a perfect spot for guests who want to eat alone and look mysterious with their table filled with a pizza and the perfect glass of wine.