The second leg of our honeymoon brought us to Hermanus, a coastal town known for loads of whales just to two hour drive from Cape Town which we too an Uber to for a very reasonable price. (One thing to note: Uber was great everywhere we went in South Africa expect in Hermanus, which once we were there we had to take local taxis which were much more expensive than Uber).
Our chat agenda here was beach walks, hiking, and great food and drinking. Read on for our two-day travel diary to Hermanus, and read about our stay at One Marine Drive in Hermanus here.
Day One Hermanus, South Africa Guide:
Lunch at Barefoot Cook: Our first order of business after arriving in Hermanus was to settle down for lunch at Barefoot Cook, a restaurant in a historic home that came highly recommended. We loved the cosy feel of this small but charming restaurant which centers around a beautiful fireplace and opens up into an enchanting courtyard.
The menu is constantly changing, and is presented on a blackboard hanging on the wall for ease of editing what’s in season and the day’s fresh catch. Seafood features heavily given Hermanus is a beach town with loads of great local fish being caught off of its shores.
To start, we had crispy calamari with coriander and pineapple which was out of this world good. The way the sweet and spicy flavors meshed as well as the perfectly-friend calamari was one of the best versions of the squid we’d ever tried.
For our mains we had the fish and chips, which was a local variety of white fish perfectly battered and the steak, with celery, egg, olive and raisins, which was just light and delightful. Our waiter paired our entrees with some delicious South African red wine.
The head chef, who happens to be the owner, is just super creative in his flavor profile of the dishes and unafraid to experiment with bold combinations. This results in mouth-watering dishes sure to leave you satiated.
Cliff Path Walk: Following lunch, we headed to the water for Hermanus’s famous Cliff Path Walk, which offers the most astounding views. In the right months, you can spot whales from the walk, but even when it isn’t whale season, this walk is just so peaceful and worthwhile. Parts of it are adjacent to a cute little town with ice cream shops and bars, so you can start or end your walk that way.
Dinner at Fisherman’s Cottage: After our amazing lunch at Barefoot Cook and meeting the chef and owner, Anton, we were invited to dinner at his other restaurant, the Fisherman’s Cottage. The building, which dates back to the 1800s, is as it is billed: a historic fisherman’s cottage that now serves up some of Hermanus’s best seafood.
We were treated to a dinner with Anton and his friends where we got to sample some of his menu’s greatest hits. We dined on their seafood curry which was just incredibly flavorful and filling, smoked pork belly with hake, gyros, and other sharing plates paired with South African wine. Like its sister restaurant, the menu is constantly changing depending on what’s in season or what Anton is inspired by.
The food was just impeccably done and so flavorful. Anton is a master at utilizing different spices and rubs, which was so additive to each dish we tried.
Day Two Hermanus, South Africa Guide:
Fernkloof Nature Reserve Hike: The Fernkloof Nature Reserve hike has several different paths depending on your physical abilities or amount of time you have to hike. We highly suggest this hike because it has incredible views and is just really pretty. The reserve is home to loads of indigenous plants and animals, and if you’re lucky you may even encounter a baboon or two. We did a two-hour hike which served as our workout for the day and got us some great photos.
Lunch at Lizette’s Kitchen: After our hike, we stopped at Lizette’s Kitchen for a quick lunch and some South African wine fore heading on our next adventure. This restaurant specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, so we got some spring rolls and salads to share while sitting on their patio taking the sun.
Sand Dune Biking: One of the funnest activities we did on our honeymoon was a Fatbike adventure on the sand dunes in South Africa. About an hour’s drive from Hermanus is a wonderfully run adventure company that specializes in sand dune rides on the beach. Dave, the owner of Fatbike Tours, personally takes you out for your ride, which is unlike anything I’ve ever done before.
We drove out to totally pristine sand dunes and proceeded to learn how to ride and control a fat tire bike. Dave was such a great teacher and totally patient with us a we got our bearings. Once I went down my first, steep sand dune and experienced the adrenaline rush, I was totally hooked. We went down a bunch of sand dunes of different heights and shapes and Dave took the most amazing videos and photos with his GoPro which he shared after, which made for an awesome way to capture our memories.
At the end of the ride, we rode along the shore line and watched the waves crash and sun begin to set and it was just incredibly beautiful and peaceful. We had the entire beach and dunes to ourselves and didn’t see anyone else while we were there.
Dinner at Origins: We were treated to a delicious multi-course dinner at The Marine Hotel’s restaurant, Origins. This was a fine dining experience where the food and service was just top notch and is a great place for a special occasion. We started at the bar having some craft gin and tonics before making our way over to the restaurant.
We were lucky to sample a lot of the menus greatest hits, leaving up full and happy when we left the restaurant. For starters, we had a delightful cheese and charcuterie board which consisted of wonderful local cheeses. We then had the springbok tataki. Springbok is a local meat that is quite common in South Africa and is very tasty. We loved the way Origins prepared this dish because it was packed with flavor.
For our mains, I had the duck breast which had a coffee rub, pickled cherries, pea and corn ragout, onion puree and polenta. This dish was just absolutely delicious and complex. My husband had the seared Indian Ocean tuna which was prepared with soba noodles, pickled ginger and sesame dressing. This was paired with a gorgeous bottle of Sour African Pinotage, which was the perfect compliment to the meal.
Read More Of Our Africa Travel Guides:
The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
Where To Eat & Drink in Cape Town
How To Get A Reservation At Test Kitchen In Cape Town
Where To Say In Cape Town: The Twelve Apostles Hotel
Safari Fashion: How To Look Chic on Safari
Where To Stay In Hermanus: One Marine Drive Hotel
Hermanus, South Africa Travel Guide
Franschhoek & Stellenbosch Travel Guide
Our Safari In Sabi Sands