Paternoster

What an incredible place to eat amazing food. The Noisy Oyster was our unforgettable favourite, but all were actually very good.

The beach and fishing boats, crayfish, walking and relaxation are almost unparalleled and we enjoyed ourselves to the utmost.

Was totally awesome.

Paternoster is a little peace of Heaven on Earth - so serene!

Never before have I seen, cooked and eaten so much sea fresh crayfish in my life. During the season which I was visiting at there are boatloads of brightly coloured boats docking with sacks and sacks of alive crayfish. They are being sold everywhere in the village going as low as R20 each towards the evening. The beach offers excellent walking. There are seashells of different types if you are interested like me in picking them up.

We were disappointed with our first-ever trip to Paternoster. I have never visited before and expected to find a quiet, peaceful village. What I found was an over-developed tourist attraction, with guests at the surrounding establishments who didn't spare a thought for their neighbours. Friday and Saturday nights were accompanied by loud music and shouting until the early hours of the morning. Very disappointing.

Passed through this village a few years ago and decided we must come for few days. Peaceful and relaxing. Walks on the beach morning, noon or evening, we felt safe. Locals friendly and restaurants serve wonderful fresh seafood. Hope to return.

Lovely place. Incredible restaurants - Ah was just brilliant.

The ideal west coast destination where the ambiance of the typical west coast town has been maintained through architectural control. A place to relax and enjoy the quiet of a stroll along the beach or mingle with others in one of the many restaurants or at the hotel and enjoy that typical west coast hospitality.

An ABSOLUTE must for a quiet little holiday on the West Coast. Beautiful and picturesque - buy fresh crayfish as the fishermen's boats come in :-) Lovely beaches, restaurants and loads of accommodation to choose from!! Don't miss out on this one . . . - Sandy Coughlan on Paternoster

Paternoster was such a fabulous surprise. We felt as if we were in a foreign country. We loved the look, the vibe, the beach, the fishermen, the crayfish. Everything.

It is unlike any other place, unique in so many ways, clean beaches, friendly people, and a haven for lovers of lobster. The beautiful acquamarine colour of the sea, the fisherman and their boats and how they operate, the fish and chips shop on the main beach and the little children who ask whether they can sing for you, will leave an indelible mark on us. If it is peace and tranquality you are looking for away from the rat race Paternoster is your destination. You feel so close to God's creation with the beautiful gigantic smooth rocks, gushing water into every opening, the beautiful shells on the beach and the lovely white beaches!

Paternoster gives you memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life!

THE place to visit before leaving this planet.. as you will never find another place like this on earth. "THE BEST IN THE WEST". You can never find LOBSTER (Kreef) Crayfish as fresh as this... people who smile 24/7--365, and just ENJOY LIFE. Thankful for what they got and never complain...GOD BLESS PATERNOSTER.... Bill & Janine Mostert.

We loved Paternoster! This is defnitely a must visit if you love seafood! I had oysters and bubbly whilst literally sitting on the beach at Voorstandt restaurant, ate a hearty breakfast with a great cup of coffee at Oepvkoep, had incredible sushi at the very entertaining Noisy Oyster restaurant and divulged a seafood platter at the very unpretensious Paternoster Hotel whilst watching the crayfish dealers selling their gold across the road from us. You have many more options in this small town, including Pizzas and a not to be missed drive outside the town to the Mondvol Padstal (excellant cheese platters).

We absolutely adore Paternoster - the simplicity of the little Westcoast Town and their wonderful people. This is truly a first class destination for anyone that want to expierence Westcoast living at it's best!

Perfect place to relax with the family , young and old

Paternoster has really shaped up over the years with great padstals, restaurants, architecture. With it, things became rather pricy, but the experience makes up for it. Long walks on the beach, pristine photo opportunities (think white washed cottages, old fisher boats, crystal blue bay, dashes of pink and yellow in spring), walks in the veld, fresh fish and seafood straight off the locals' weathered hands, and a unique dining experience such as at the Gaartjies salt water restaurant, the Noisy Oyster and Voorstrand make Paternoster the ideal short distance getaway from Cape Town. It's well worth your while to visit the Cape Columbine light house and Tieties Bay, just note that the lighthouse is closed on weekends.

Town for indigenous quisine; friendly pubs and sea views. Marius and Sonja Verster

Interesting place where one can relax and rest.

Place to go to for relaxing and recharging your battery.

Sjoe.... prentjie mooi! Voel of jy nie die dorpie wil verlaat, of jy daar kan bly vir die res van jou lewe.. Ons pragtige ou plekkie se naam is Strandlopertjie... en dis presies wat dit was... 3 tree van die water af... Gaan gerus Paternoster toe as jy soek vir n breek soos geen ander...

Ons het die wonderlikste naweek gehad in Paternoster. Ons verblyf in Popeye's Cottage het bygedra tot die heerlike naweek. Die "cottage" is pragtig van buite en binne is dit meesterlik afgewerk. Die dekor is absoluut pragtig. Ons het die gasvryheid van die inwoners vreeslik geniet en lekker saam met die kreef verkopers gelag. Die naweek in Paternoster het veroorsaak dat ons nou lief geword het vir die Weskus! Ons het 'n onvergeetlike, rustige en stres vrye naweek geniet. Baie dankie aan al die Paternoster inwoners wat hulle dorp so mooi oppas vir julle naweek gaste! Julle sal ons weer sien. Die Voorstrand Restaurant verdien ook melding, want hulle Peri Peri prons wat uit die boonste rakke. Anli van Wyk - Swellendam

firstly the amazing long drive , and as we reached into this little dorp the warm and welcoming smiles of the people there just made it all worthwile ,and everyone wanting to sell you crayfish was just tempting as a big crayfish fanatic i wish i could have supported everyone , well the stay there was absolute awesome the clear blue skies and warm sun and the beautiful beaches oh i felt like i was in heaven , waking up to the smell of the fresh ocean the tantalising smells of the crayfish , and the breathe of fresh air , the little shops on the boardwalk all selling the most amazing items , most of all the friendly people never have i felt such lovable warmth , its a place i sure would like to visit soon and take my kids there i hope i win so i can spoil my family to the best resort ever

It is easy to see why this picturesque town on the West Coast continues to increase in popularity. Whether you are looking for a weekend away spot from Cape Town, or trekking all the way down from Gauteng for a longer break, it is well worth it! The setting is beautiful, the hospitality unsurpassed, and the atmosphere absolutely unique. If only crayfish season lasted from January to December…

I was saddened by the defiance of those openly selling crayfish in closed season. I know this is part of the fisherman's livelihood and sympathize with them. However it is the affluent who buy the contraband who encourage the practice. This spoils Paternoster for me. It is a pretty town but rather contrived- the surrounding areas are stunning. The Paternoster hotel where we ate gave good service and made us feel welcome. Rate paternoster as 3 star

Pragtige vakansie vissers dorpie. Hier ervaar mens die rustige atmosfeer wat so nodige is na 'n jaar se harde werk. Vars kreef vanaf die bote en 'n lieflike lang strand, moenie eers praat van die goeie akkommodasie nie - Perfek Lily Venter

Dit is 'n WOW dorpie met soveel mooi en lekker! En die Voorstrand en The Noisy Oyster is great restaurante!!! Tietiesbaai is ook asemrowend mooi!

We recently had opportunity to visit this beautiful village, during a visit to the wild flower reserve at Cape Colombine we stopped in at the "Seekos kombuis" for a pub lunch and the only item was ...crayfish! what a bargain for an up country resident used to unaffordable crayfish. Except for the in your face locals trying to sell illegal crayfish everyone else typified what the West Coast has become famous for, friendly, helpful+welcoming. welcoming

I found my little piece of heaven in Paternoster. A quaint fishing village where locals and visitors mingle quite happily. The beautiful white-washed cottages and colourful fishing boats are any artist's dream . You can just chill on the beach and watch the wooden boats come in with their daily catch . You can take a leisurely stroll along the water's edge or cycle through the village to the fish market and buy some fresh crayfish to “gooi” on the braai. If not the braai'ng type pop-in to one of the excellent restaurants and enjoy fresh West Coast oysters and a bottle of chilled bubbly . Bring you bikes , trikes or whatever floats your boat. Paternoster offers something for eveyone .

With it's quaint white-washed buildings and colourful fishing boats dotted along the beach, Paternoster has a charm all of its own on the Cape west coast. Had a lovely stay at Mosselbank B&B, complete with fireplace in our room and a seafood feast at the Voorstrand restaurant. A wonderful weekend breakaway from Cape Town!

It really felt like we were away from civilisation. Paternoster is a small fishermen village that is yet so inspiring to be there. Great restaurants, my wife and I went to two of them (Noisy Oyster and Blikkie Pizzeria), coming from Cape Town, we were overwhelmed by the decor and the vibe. We will definitely go back. Very relaxing place to be.

My husband introduced me to Paternoster years ago, as in his university holidays he used to work as a barman at Paternoster Hotel for Johan Carossini who is still the owner now. Paternoster looks like a Greek Island - white washed houses with colourful shutters and all houses are a skip and a jump to the unspoilt sandy white beaches. Crayfish is on tap at a pittance and eventually you cannot eat anymore!! This picturesque West Coast "fishing village" is a holiday for all ages. Every morning the locals launch their brightly coloured fishing boats to make their catch of the day. Restaurants are a must in Paternoster for West Coast cuisine - Master Chef South Africa even used the outside area of the quaint beach restaurant "Gaaitjie" for one of their cook offs amongst the rocks. They said it was one of the most beautifully filmed episodes. Paternoster, meaning "Our Father" derives its name from the prayers of shipwrecked Portuguese sailors many many years ago. Whales, dolphins, indigenous flowers, seagulls, oystercatcher, ibis - just some of the species one can see. Ahhhh Paternoster - we look forward to our next visit to relax and restore the soul.

It’s been 8 years now since the first time i visited the lovely little town of Paternoster. With my mental tank on empty and in need of a holiday a booked to stay in Paternoster for two weeks. People said i would not last in Paternoster for that long. My holiday was two weeks to short. Not only did I have a relaxing holiday but it was quality. The best restaurants, friendliest people and so much to do. This resulted in Paternoster being my number one holiday destination. With the West Coast mall you even have the luxury of shopping (luckily not to close). There is no better place for early morning walks and evening strolls along the beach. Most importantly you feel safe in Paternoster. It is also close to other little towns like St Helena Bay with its spa and golf estate. The loveliest little town in South Africa, If I had to award town of the year, Paternoster will win it every time!

I loved Paternoster - but will think twice before i go again - always had a feeling of being unsafe, also we live in JHB and have to lock up everything and had to do the same here - actually felt more unsafe than in JHB. Pity

Quaint and beautiful seaside village on the West Coast offering an abundance of seafood’s to delight your taste buds. Friendly locals offering lovely local produce and delicious treats. There is a lot to do if you into hiking, cycling, canoeing and more and on rainy days just to snuggle up in front of a warm fire with a glass of wine. Paternoster is a true gem on the West Coast and I will certainly be visiting again.

I just love Paternoster. If you want piece and quite that is the place to go to. The beach are just amazing and you can walk for hours and just enjoy the view. The people are friendly and always helpful. Paternoster is the place to go to, to spoil yourself. Madeleine da Silva

I absolutely loved Paternoster. The beautiful boats on the beach, the blue and white houses - it was like a mini Greece. An ideal romantic getaway from the city. Lovely to take long walks on the beach!

We had a lovely stay at Albatross, so much so that we were back within a few weeks! Excellent home, matched by excellent service. Will definitely be back as soon as we can! Thank you :)

My wife and i travelled there during May 2012 for her birthday surprise, i had bought her a new slr camera. We stayed in the Paternoster Hotel and thoroughly enjoyed the hotel and especially the bar so called "The Panty Bar". Early morning photography is so beatiful with its long stretched beach and all the colourfull fishing boats and the down to earth fishermen. The whole little town, more like a village is so beatiful with all the houses painted white it makes you feel like that you are in Greece. This place is a town not to be missed and one has to go there if you have never been, its a "bucket list item" and it is only two hours drive from Cape Town airport.

White washed seaside cottages, a traditional winkel selling homemade jam and baked goods, a beautiful restaurant with coloured sails and poetry on the wall, a farm stall selling freshly pickled chilli mussels, Ciolumbine nature reserve consisting of miles of untouched rocky beach and a lovely lighthouse, an amazing art gallery with South Africa's most talented sculptors... truly the prettiest and most character filled little town in South Africa! Paternoster will always be one of my favourite places in the world and has stolen my heart, go there, it is one of a kind.

Leave the malls, fast foods, crazy pace and noise behind and head for Paternoster. Indulge in peaceful strolls on the beaches, unhurried pace of the local folk going about their business of fishing or entertaining guests, relax with your companion or family in a safe old world atmosphere - fall asleep with the sound of crashing waves or the distant fog horn in your ear. Unwind with a glass of wine over a simple meal and gaze out over the sea while your senses regain their resilience to face the world outside of Paternoster. Come - visit a jewel on the west coast and be touched.

Paternoster will definitely give one a feeling of a typical west coast fishing village. It has two good beaches for walks and a brave swim in the Atlantic. It has a few restaurants, but no large shops. Vrydenburg has plenty of shops and is only 15km away. Paternoster is also close to Saldanha Bay and Langebaan so there is plenty to see and do in the area. We enjoyed the peace and quiet, yet slight untamed wildness about the area.

Paternoster is a nice getaway for a couple of days if you want to relax and get away from the city hustle and bustle. Not a lot to do for the kids though.

Paternoster is one of those places that restores one's soul.

You are captivated by Paternoster the moment you drive into the quaint fishing village with its white washed houses, reminiscent of the Mediterranean islands. The ingenuity of resident chefs are rivaling those of Franschhoek and there is no place better for pure relaxation of the soul. The tranquil blue waters in the summer to stormy seas in the winter appeal to all holiday seekers. Best of all the town is small so you are never too far from long walks on the beach no matter where you stay.

A little piece of heaven.

Just one and a half hours drive away from Cape Town, it is perfect for an unwinding breakaway from the hectic city life.

Really nice beaches.

A wonderful, wild place to stay - beautiful beach and good restaurants to eat in. If, however you are hoping to braai - bring your own food. The local Express shop sells a very limited range and you can't, as I had hoped buy fresh fish anywhere. Only crayfish was being sold, by individual sellers on the beach and street, and as we were there 'out of season', it is seemingly illegal to buy it. It would help if visitors were made aware of the lack of grocery provisions in Paternoster.

It is an uncomfortable place and does not feel safe. There are lots of guys walking past selling crayfish all the time, apparently checking out where you are, what you have and what can be stolen. We know this from personal experience as to what happened while staying there. There are no police or ADT on hand. All security and help have to come from Vredenburg; so you are on your own in an emergency. Police take 40 minutes to arrive and no amount of calling or yelling rouses any neighbouring accommodation to check if all is ok.

This is a stunning village, 90 minutes from Cape Town with great sea views and very good restaurants (food here much better than over rated Franschhoek in my experience). The noisy oyster was great and Blikkies pizza was super friendly, not to mention, super good..... My only reservation is that there is no centre on the beach (a couple of good restaurants though), but rather along a road that runs along the back of town. Also, if like us you are on the periphery and you have a child, it's a long walk or you have to jump in the car to get anywhere.

A small fishing village with a good selection of self-catering or B&B accommodation to rent. Some excellent restaurants, a mixture of upmarket and mid-range accommodation mixed with local residences. Would recommend it.

Its an Amazing place but the beach accomdation prices are overrated especially for the locals. The accomodation at Pelgrimrust gives you a better experience especially if you have kids. Arts and Crafts are limited and coming from Cape Town, we have more exciting stuff at our markets so they need to have some uniqueness for us to really buy something. We will definitely go back and explore more.

I should say 'very bad' so that less people go and hopefully it stays special forever. It was amazing. Great walks, eat outs and interesting places to visit.

Paternoster is one of the nicest villages on the West Coast. It has so much character, with fishing boat activities and pretty cottages all along the beach. The beach is lovely and there is a rustic atmosphere about the town. There are enough places to eat out if you wish and some special shops like the Padstal and the Shell Shop at the hotel. Blikkie makes the best pizza in the Western Cape. Quaint is the best word to describe Paternoster. A perfect place to unwind, read a book, braai, walk on the beach and take day trips to other places along the coast.

Loved everything about Paternoster!

I have been going to Paternoster for a couple of years now. The most relaxing place on earth. Best restaurants in such a small place, will recommend to anybody to have a real holiday there.

A gem of a village which still exudes the old life, living in harmony with new influences. The village has great restaurants and food and unspoilt surroundings. The wonderful Columbine Nature Reserve and Lighthouse is on the doorstep. Buying crayfish directly off the fishing boats from the locals provides a fabulous interaction which hopefully will never change. A place to revive one's inner energies from the frenetic city lifestyle we live.

Dit is 'n lieflike plekkie en lekker naby aan die Kaap. Ideaal vir n wegbreek naweek en daar is ook die lekkerste restaurantjies. This is a lovely place and no nice and close to Cape Town. It is ideal for a weekend getaway, and there are the best restaurants.

Loved it! The people are so friendly, the food is to die for and the atmosphere is contagious. A must-visit destination.

Wonderful destination with friendly people, lekker food and generally fantastic all round.

Lovely West Coast dorp with huge character. It is definitely a cut above many other places on the coast.

Loved the village feel. The food was to die for. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back, and the people are all very friendly. There is something for every one. Do you want a break from the hustle and bustle... go!

Paternoster is an idyllic little fishing village located along the West Coast. This quaint town is poetic and the locals enjoy a simple life. Paternoster is quite possibly somewhere where Wordsworth would have found inspiration. Whitewashed houses surround a sheltered bay and it's a great destination for swimming during the balmy summer months. Just be wary though, Paternoster should be avoided during December when it's overrun with tourists. It can also get really windy. The main drawcard of the area is the annual crayfish festival. I'm not entirely sure if it's legal to buy crayfish. But try anyway?! I loved the panty bar in the Paternoster hotel. It's kind of a local tradition where female visitors leave a pair of panties in the bar. Paternoster - the town your panty never forgot.

A gorgeous fishing village on the West Coast. You can purchase delicious fish at a good price. Very quiet and laid back atmosphere. Enjoy walks among the fynbos and dip your toes into the Atlantic.

I could say pearl, but bokkom is high praise indeed in this picturesque fishing village on the West Coast. Many locals are true fishermen or pioneer 'boer' descendants – all colourful characters! There are a few good restaurants – start on the beachfront with Voorstrandt. Grab a bicycle and explore Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and Tietiesbaai.