Gansbaai Restaurants

Coffee on the Rocks perches on the edge of the ocean overlooking Walker Bay, home to the visiting Southern Right Whales from July until December. Open for teas and lunch, this vibrant restaurant produces delicious meals and decadent cakes. Service is friendly and efficient, the food is excellent and the view of the whales is the best for miles around. Open for breakfast, lunch & tea 10:00 - 17:00 Wednesday to Sunday (booking on Sat & Sun is advisable).

Mariana's delightful award winning 'Best Country Restaurant' has homely tables set on the patio overlooking her herb and vegetable garden and the awesome mountainous backdrop. Enjoy the view while savouring Mariana's mouthwatering dishes. Mariana contributes a monthly column to the Woolworths TASTE magazine, and produces delicious home preserves for the deli. Bookings are essential 028 341 0272 Open Fri, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm Licensed Take lots of cash so that you can stock up - there are no credit card facilities.

Mere meters from the sea shore of Grotto beach in Hermanus is Dutchies, a delightful Dutch eatery. Guests are easily charmed by the select, Dutch inspired menu and the cosy atmosphere that the restaurant presents. Dutchies abounds with atmosphere and guests love the personal attention of the restaurant owner mingling with visitors. In summer outdoor seats under umbrellas, soaking up the view is a must. The Hollandse Biefstuk on offer for mains is a clear indication that this is proud to be Dutch establishment. Other menu items include Calamari, a Seafood platter and Chicken kebabs. The dessert menu is just a delight with African Dream which is Amarula ice-cream dipped in chocolate and crowned with a chocolate slab and Blueberry Cheesecake. The restaurant charges a small fee for corkage.

Madre's Kitchen and Country Grocer is set on a farm just outside Stanford village. Surrounded by vineyards and overlooking the dam, it's a great spot to linger with friends and loved ones. The menu is inspirational country cooking, with fresh breakfast and lunch options. Madre also produces a delicious range of wheat-free cakes. Children are well catered for and can burn off excess energy on the jungle gym and trampoline.

Fusion, situated on the cliffs of scenic seaside town of Hermanus, presents visitors with the unique opportunity of whale watching while making menu choices. The restaurant is located at an ideal spot for viewing whales, and while this is true, it does not distract from the great food on offer. The outdoor seating is just meters from the ocean under shaded umbrellas, and in summer this is perfect spot to soak up the sites and sounds of the harbour. The family owned eatery is open throughout the day. Early birds can enjoy breakfast while holiday makers who have lost their sense of time can be seated for brunch, a lingering lunch or dinner. Menu features are: Fillet Medallions with a Black Pepper Brandy Cream Sauce or the Speciality Burger, which is a beef patty, topped with proscuito ham, brie and fig chutney served on a ciabatta. For the seafood lovers there is fresh Black Mussels steamed in white wine and fresh herbs tossed with lemon and herb crème fraiche served with a home baked garlic loaf. Fusion is a fully licensed restaurant with an assortment of local wines as well as local and imported beers. The restaurant is wheelchair friendly and has an enclosed smoking section.

Experience Italian hospitality at Fabio’s. Located in the heart of Hermanus, with St Peter’s church as part of the picturesque backdrop and the sea at its doorstep, this genuine Italian eatery is popular venue for locals and visitors alike. The ocean view from the Peroni deck on the sidewalk allows diners to people - watch in true European style, creating a relaxed and trendy mood. The menu offers a selection of pizzas, pastas, meat dishes and fish, all prepared in the Italian vernacular. Guests would do well to keep an eye on the specials blackboard for the chef’s latest experimental dishes (that often land up on the menu as a permanent fixture). Signature dishes include the Seafood Lasagne and the Parma Rock Pizza (Parma ham and Rocket) that is served on a thin crispy base. For dessert the Tiramisu is a decadent indulgence. The wine list comprises a host of local offerings from the Overberg region as well as some Italian wines to round off the dining experience. The restaurant also has a deli which sells a range of imported pastas, coffee, filled pastas and olive oils for those who want to take a taste of Italy home with them.

Serving modern Mediterranean cuisine with a South African twist, Mediterrea offers a unique and exciting dining experience in the heart of Hermanus. Specialising in seafood, world-class dishes are offered at affordable prices along with wines to accompany the offerings superbly. With stunning views of Walkerbay and the mountains, and if you’re lucky, Southern Right whales when they visit, patrons can expect a truly unique and unforgettable dining experience

One of the most exciting and unusual restaurant in the world, Bientang’s Cave is a more than just a dining experience.Located in one of the most stunning Marine Reserves on the coast of the Western Cape and a mere 10 metres from the water’s edge, this unique restaurant is in a prime spot for watching whales play in the ocean as you dine on the finest seafood.Between May and December every year, Southern Right whales visit the shores of the Western Cape and Bientang’s Cave is perfectly placed to be able to see these magnificent creatures as you sit on the deck and sample from the fantastic menu and the extensive, award-winning wine list.

Fisherman’s Cottage Restaurant in the holiday town of Hermanus is a quaint, rustic establishment that serves up a selection of seafood and other South African favourites in a charming setting. Fisherman’s Cottage is gains its character from its historic significance. The restaurant building is an original fisherman’s cottage that dates back to the 1890 and forms part of the old harbour museum in the fisherman’s village. Today guests happily sit at its rustic bench tables be it indoors or at the covered patio and enjoy the prepared catch of the day. The extensive seafood menu delivers peri-peri Yellow Tail, Calamari, seafood curry or Mussel and Shrimp spring rolls. Other menu items include venison dishes such as Gemsbok Loin and Eland Steak. Be sure to check out the blackboard for the specials. In winter the best seats are close to the log fire.

Zebra Crossing is a bistro with a buzz. Here visitors to the scenic sea side town of Hermanus experience the establishment’s welcoming atmosphere when they mingle with the locals. The eatery offers a cosmopolitan menu and at weekends there have been rumours about dancing on the tables… The restaurant, that only seats thirty, offers seating indoors as well as outdoors and has a fully licensed bar area. Expect simple bistro style food that includes some Chinese and Thai dishes. The restaurant also has Seafood and caters meals for vegetarians. Zebra Crossing is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Despite its limited capacity, this establishment is popular as it exudes character and has good vibe all round. Here the saying “There are no strangers in the world, only friends you haven’t yet met” certainly applies.

Take a helping of warm and cosy for ambience with a dollop of comfort food and one is sure to be having a traditional South African meal at Annie se Kombuis. Located on the west coast of the Western Cape, this Hermanus eatery is firm favourite with visitors all year round. Annie’s is all about traditional South African food. With an outstanding range of venison fillets to the likes of Kudu, Eland, Oryx (Gemsbok), Springbok and Ostrich the menu has exotic appeal. The traditional fare is all the favourites prepared the old fashioned way: Bobotie, Smoorsnoek and Waterblommetjies and many other pies and offal dishes. The Oxtail remains a popular choice. For those that believe in pudding (and rightly so) there’s sweet custard, Malva pudding and Cape Brandy Pudding – hard to resist! The wine list supports local wine producers of the Overberg region. With a great selection on offer, wine lovers will not be disappointed. Annie’s also hosts popular music evenings as entertainment for visitors to the sea-side town and locals alike.