Summary: Mon Amour in Franschhoek is expanding onto the village’s Main Road with Mon Amour: The Summer Festival, a new all-day dining and retail experience opening daily from 09:00 for the summer holiday season. The offering includes Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts, 72-hour fermented sourdough pizzas, artisan breads and pastries, and daily Golden Hour oyster and Champagne or Cap Classique pairings from 15:00 to 17:00.
Franschhoek is getting a fresh summer hotspot as The Yard Mon Amour steps out from its tucked-away Parisian courtyard and expands into a prominent Main Road shopfront.
Mon Amour: The Summer Festival introduces an all-day dining and retail experience designed to capture the village’s lively summer atmosphere, from morning coffee and indulgent breakfasts to wood-fired pizzas, artisan treats and afternoon bubbles.
Opening daily from 09:00, the new front shop adds a more accessible daytime dimension to Mon Amour’s existing character, while its hidden courtyard retains its intimate charm and weekend jazz. The result is a destination that brings together café culture, food, retail and music, with a distinctly Franschhoek sense of occasion.
- The new menu draws on Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South African influences, with creative combinations for breakfast and lunch before the focus shifts to wood-fired pizza later in the day.
- Morning highlights include a King Prawn Benedict, featuring prawns flash-seared in garlic-chilli butter, and a Summer Avocado & Blistered Tomato Open Toast, made entirely plant-based and finished with dairy-free basil pesto. Those looking for something richer can opt for the Confit Duck & Saffron Croissant.
- As the day progresses, the wood-fired pizza offering takes centre stage. Mon Amour’s signature pizza bases undergo a 72-hour cold-fermentation process using a natural sourdough culture, creating a light, blistered Neapolitan-style crust.
- Standout choices include The Truffled Parma and the Valley Fig & Fromage, which combines sharp Gorgonzola, crispy bacon and plumped figs infused with cardamom. It is a menu that balances familiar favourites with more adventurous flavour combinations, giving pizza lovers something a little different to explore.
Visit the sensory retail counter
A key feature of the new front shop is its sensory retail counter, led by master baker Felicity. Her culinary journey began as a sculler at the former Smitten, where she developed her skills under the direct mentorship of co-owner Chris Smit. She now leads Mon Amour’s artisan bread and pastry programme.
One of the counter’s signature creations is the Fennel & Sesame Pretzel Simit, a hybrid loaf combining the chewy texture of a German pretzel with the heavily sesame-crusted exterior of a traditional Turkish simit, finished with aromatic crushed fennel.
The counter will also feature house-made Saffron Carrot & Cardamom Marmalade, Tomato & Chilli Jam and a Signature Rose-Infused Cheesecake. These artisan offerings add a retail element to the experience, giving visitors the chance to discover Felicity’s baking and preserves alongside their café stop.
When can visitors enjoy oysters and Champagne at Mon Amour?
Afternoons bring another reason to linger. Every day from 15:00 to 17:00, Mon Amour will offer dedicated Golden Hour Festival Flights, aimed at visitors enjoying Franschhoek after a day exploring the wine region, including those arriving from the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
Fresh West Coast oysters will be shucked to order over crushed ice and served with a dressing of ginger, soy, chilli and crispy shallots. The pairing brings together coastal flavours and local estate Cap Classique or Champagne for a relaxed afternoon treat.
With its new Main Road presence, Mon Amour aims to welcome new guests while preserving the romantic atmosphere of its hidden jazz courtyard. Weekend jazz and piano music remain part of the wider experience, adding a soundtrack to the dining and social scene.
For visitors exploring Franschhoek, the new front shop offers plenty of reasons to stop, from breakfast and artisan baking to sourdough pizza and afternoon bubbles. Mon Amour: The Summer Festival brings these experiences together under one roof, inviting locals and holidaymakers to follow the music, discover something new and enjoy a little summer indulgence.
Quick details
- Venue: The Yard Mon Amour
- New concept: Mon Amour: The Summer Festival
- Location: Main Road, Franschhoek, Western Cape
- Opening hours: Daily from 09:00
- Food highlights: King Prawn Benedict, plant-based avocado and tomato toast, Confit Duck & Saffron Croissant, 72-hour fermented sourdough pizzas
- Signature pizza options: The Truffled Parma and Valley Fig & Fromage
- Artisan counter: Fennel & Sesame Pretzel Simit, house-made preserves and Rose-Infused Cheesecake
- Golden Hour Festival Flights: Daily from 15:00 to 17:00
- Oysters: West Coast oysters with ginger, soy, chilli and crispy shallot dressing
- Drinks pairing: Local estate Cap Classique or Champagne
- Entertainment: Weekend jazz and piano in the hidden courtyard
FAQs
What is Mon Amour: The Summer Festival?
It is a new all-day dining and retail experience at The Yard Mon Amour, expanding the brand onto Franschhoek Main Road for the summer holiday season.
What time does the new Mon Amour front shop open?
The front shop opens daily from 09:00.
What are the Golden Hour Festival Flights?
They are a daily afternoon offering from 15:00 to 17:00 featuring freshly shucked West Coast oysters with a ginger, soy, chilli and crispy shallot dressing, paired with local estate Cap Classique or Champagne.
What makes Mon Amour’s pizzas distinctive?
The pizza bases use a natural sourdough culture and undergo 72 hours of cold fermentation before being baked in a wood-fired oven.
Can visitors buy artisan products at Mon Amour?
The new retail counter features artisan baking and house-made products, including the Fennel & Sesame Pretzel Simit, Saffron Carrot & Cardamom Marmalade, Tomato & Chilli Jam and Signature Rose-Infused Cheesecake.
Will live music continue at Mon Amour?
Weekend jazz and piano music remain part of the experience in the hidden courtyard.
