Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for The Garden Route and the Little Karoo right now.
Most medium-size towns along the Garden Route offer a decent selection of restaurants, and the smaller towns of the Little Karoo usually have one or two good restaurants and a handful of lesser eateries. On the Garden Route the emphasis is often on seafood in general and oysters in particular. (Knysna has an oyster festival in July.) Restaurants in the Little Karoo feature fresh ostrich meat and organic mutton or lamb, which is delicious accompanied by a good South African red wine. Look out for farm shops between towns. These make excellent comfort stops where you can buy traditional home-baked fare, dried fruit, and other snacks for the road.
Right on the water's edge in what appears to be a former warehouse, bustling 34° South manages to combine elements of a fishmonger, a bar, a bistro, a deli, a coffee shop, and a seafood restaurant. Choose from the huge array of fresh fish (including sushi), opt for a rustic pizza, or just fill a basket with tasty breads, pickles, cheeses, meats, and other delights. Whatever your choice, enjoy your feast while sitting on the jetty looking out at the boats.
Mossel Bay's premium seafood house serves fresh oysters and seafood alongside inventive dishes like ostrich fillet with caramelized onions and port-soaked apricots. In summer, it's virtually mandatory to sip a cocktail on the deck of the Blue Oyster bar with its great sea view. If you crave privacy, there's also a private dining room. Tour-bus crowds occasionally descend on this popular spot, located right next to the Dias Museum and Old Post Office Tree but don't let that put you off.
This place is favorite with both locals and visitors, and you’ll realize why the minute you tuck into some of the freshest, tastiest food in Plett. The super-friendly staff will talk you through the seafood-heavy menu, but you can’t go wrong with the fish-and-chips. The dining room has a stylish blue-and-white tiled floor, but you'll probably head to the terrace to take in the views the Beacon Isle Peninsula. Although you can pop in without a reservation, don't risk it on a weekend.
Painted kingfisher blue, this popular seafood restaurant overlooking the beach and the St. Blaise lighthouse is where the locals hang out. Head to the deck shaded by umbrellas and enjoy some of the area's best fresh seafood. You may be lucky and spot whales or dolphins as you dine. This popular spot is often very busy, particularly on weekends and in high season, but it's worth the wait. There's also a good selection of local wines.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
