Food scene
If you are looking for traditional South African food, in a beautiful setting, this Melkbosstrand restaurant is highly recommended. The building is an original fisherman cottage, hundreds of years old, and it is situated by the beachfront. Try their desserts which are handmade on the premises!
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Damhuis Restaurant
32 Beach RdIf you are looking for traditional South African food, in a beautiful setting, this Melkbosstrand restaurant is highly recommended. The building is an original fisherman cottage, hundreds of years old, and it is situated by the beachfront. Try their desserts which are handmade on the premises!
Another old fisherman's cottage, situated in Blouberg, about 15 minutes drive away. On a beautiful day, try to get an outside table to enjoy the sea views. Try the traditional South African dishes or seafood to get the best food here. My favourite is the mussels which come in a creamy smokey sauce served in a mini poitjie pot.
149 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ons Huisie Restaurant
Stadler RoadAnother old fisherman's cottage, situated in Blouberg, about 15 minutes drive away. On a beautiful day, try to get an outside table to enjoy the sea views. Try the traditional South African dishes or seafood to get the best food here. My favourite is the mussels which come in a creamy smokey sauce served in a mini poitjie pot.
Looking for the best takeaway fish and chips in the area? Come to Melkbos Fisheries and eat like the locals do. Grab your food and take it down to the beach to enjoy the sunset. Based in Melkbosstrand, around 5 minutes drive away.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Melkbos Fisheries
6th AvenueLooking for the best takeaway fish and chips in the area? Come to Melkbos Fisheries and eat like the locals do. Grab your food and take it down to the beach to enjoy the sunset. Based in Melkbosstrand, around 5 minutes drive away.
We don't mind that its the only place in walking distance to get a restaurant meal or take-away, because this pizza place ROCKS! Wood fire pizzas and proper Italian meals. The restaurant is owned and operated by an Italian family so this is the real deal. Just 5 minutes walk away, in the same shopping centre as the OK minimart by Pelican Parade.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Forneria Pizza
Charles Hoffe AvenueWe don't mind that its the only place in walking distance to get a restaurant meal or take-away, because this pizza place ROCKS! Wood fire pizzas and proper Italian meals. The restaurant is owned and operated by an Italian family so this is the real deal. Just 5 minutes walk away, in the same shopping centre as the OK minimart by Pelican Parade.
A local favourite by the sea with good sushi and other great meals made with fresh, quality ingredients. Book in advance to secure a spot. Recently moved to right by the sea, on 5th Avenue where Castella Amare used to be.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Melkbos Kitchen
47 5th AveA local favourite by the sea with good sushi and other great meals made with fresh, quality ingredients. Book in advance to secure a spot. Recently moved to right by the sea, on 5th Avenue where Castella Amare used to be.
A fun bar/restaurant at Eden on the Bay which has electronic dart boards and other games to play while you enjoy a meal or just drinks.
Happy Folks Big Bay
A fun bar/restaurant at Eden on the Bay which has electronic dart boards and other games to play while you enjoy a meal or just drinks.
Shopping and more
Just a 10 minute drive away, sits Eden on the Bay, a small beachside shopping centre. It has some cute speciality shops to look around, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab some food or just a cocktail. Especially popular on weekends as the sun goes down, but a local favourite at all times. You can also hire surfing, kite surfing and SUP boards, or even take a lesson. The bay is protected from big waves so its a nice place for kids (of all ages!) to enjoy the water.
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Eden On the Bay
Beach Estate BoulevardJust a 10 minute drive away, sits Eden on the Bay, a small beachside shopping centre. It has some cute speciality shops to look around, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab some food or just a cocktail. Especially popular on weekends as the sun goes down, but a local favourite at all times. You can also hire surfing, kite surfing and SUP boards, or even take a lesson. The bay is protected from big waves so its a nice place for kids (of all ages!) to enjoy the water.
This large shopping centre opened in 2018 and has a great selection of chain stores common in South Africa. It includes Pick n Pay, Checkers and a large Woolworths for your supermarket shopping. Parking outside is free, and if you go to the underground parking you can get free parking for 1.5 hours if you shop at one of the supermarkets and scan the parking code on your till receipt.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Table Bay Mall
This large shopping centre opened in 2018 and has a great selection of chain stores common in South Africa. It includes Pick n Pay, Checkers and a large Woolworths for your supermarket shopping. Parking outside is free, and if you go to the underground parking you can get free parking for 1.5 hours if you shop at one of the supermarkets and scan the parking code on your till receipt.
Melkbosstrand's only dedicated butchery has great quality cuts of meat. Grab some for a braai at home at Uiltjie by die See.
The Patient Butcher
5 6th AveMelkbosstrand's only dedicated butchery has great quality cuts of meat. Grab some for a braai at home at Uiltjie by die See.
Wine Farms
Head to Diemersdal if you want to see an old, traditional wine estate. There is a tasting room where you can sample their wines and also buy some bottles to take away. Follow your tasting with a restaurant meal (book ahead, it gets busy.) This is currently my favourite local winery as I enjoy all the different wines they make and they are sold at reasonable prices. Plus its a beautiful setting.
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Diemersdal Wine Estate
Koeberg RoadHead to Diemersdal if you want to see an old, traditional wine estate. There is a tasting room where you can sample their wines and also buy some bottles to take away. Follow your tasting with a restaurant meal (book ahead, it gets busy.) This is currently my favourite local winery as I enjoy all the different wines they make and they are sold at reasonable prices. Plus its a beautiful setting.
A great winery to have a few casual drinks in their wine tasting/bar area. Has great views of the Durbanville Wine Valley. Beer tasting and wine tasting on offer as well as a restaurant.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Signal Gun Wines
Hooggelegen RoadA great winery to have a few casual drinks in their wine tasting/bar area. Has great views of the Durbanville Wine Valley. Beer tasting and wine tasting on offer as well as a restaurant.
Durbanville Hills Winery has had a recent revamp, and its designed to impress in a modern building with stunning views. You can try a wine pairing tasting with chocolate or biltong.
133 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Durbanville Hills Winery
Tygerberg Valley RoadDurbanville Hills Winery has had a recent revamp, and its designed to impress in a modern building with stunning views. You can try a wine pairing tasting with chocolate or biltong.
Lovely wine farm with both a tasting room and restaurant. The new tasting room is around the back of the restaurant, with different tasting pairings if you want more than just wine. The restaurant has a large play area for the kids.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bloemendal Wine Estate
M13 Tygerberg Valley RdLovely wine farm with both a tasting room and restaurant. The new tasting room is around the back of the restaurant, with different tasting pairings if you want more than just wine. The restaurant has a large play area for the kids.
A really lovely tasting room, with great wines and delicious food. Try a cheese platter with your tasting outside, wow!!! Worth the drive to the back of Durbanville, in the countryside.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Groot Phesantekraal Wines & Restaurant
Klipheuwel RoadA really lovely tasting room, with great wines and delicious food. Try a cheese platter with your tasting outside, wow!!! Worth the drive to the back of Durbanville, in the countryside.
The winery has recently had a revamp. There's a tasting room, restaurant and even some trails to walk through the vines before or after your wine tasting or meal.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Klein Roosboom Boutique Winery
Tygerberg Valley RoadThe winery has recently had a revamp. There's a tasting room, restaurant and even some trails to walk through the vines before or after your wine tasting or meal.
Local activities
If you're looking for a fun activity during your stay, Sandboarding Cape Town is less than 15 minutes drive away. Absolutely no experience necessary, the guides will show you the ropes. 4x4 drives are also on offer if you're not up for the sandboarding. Best enjoyed on a windless day - keep in mind the wind tends to pick up in the afternoon, so mornings would be best.
Sandboarding Cape Town
Klein Dassenberg RoadIf you're looking for a fun activity during your stay, Sandboarding Cape Town is less than 15 minutes drive away. Absolutely no experience necessary, the guides will show you the ropes. 4x4 drives are also on offer if you're not up for the sandboarding. Best enjoyed on a windless day - keep in mind the wind tends to pick up in the afternoon, so mornings would be best.
This park is quite large so plan to spend the whole day here. There is only a small restaurant, I would recommend bringing a picnic with you to make the most out of the various picnic areas and natural beauty. You should get to see plenty of animals such as zebra, ostrich, springbok and eland. There are hiking trails, view points and beaches to enjoy. On a warm day bring a swimsuit and enjoy the lagoon or natural sea pool. We've also had great fun kayaking on the lagoon there (you need to bring your own kayak, none available for rent). In August and September an extra part of the park is opened to visitors to enjoy the most magnificient display of wild flowers. There is a fee to enter the park, but its worth it in my opinion.
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
West Coast National Park - West Coast DC
This park is quite large so plan to spend the whole day here. There is only a small restaurant, I would recommend bringing a picnic with you to make the most out of the various picnic areas and natural beauty. You should get to see plenty of animals such as zebra, ostrich, springbok and eland. There are hiking trails, view points and beaches to enjoy. On a warm day bring a swimsuit and enjoy the lagoon or natural sea pool. We've also had great fun kayaking on the lagoon there (you need to bring your own kayak, none available for rent). In August and September an extra part of the park is opened to visitors to enjoy the most magnificient display of wild flowers. There is a fee to enter the park, but its worth it in my opinion.
The West Coast Surf School is based here in Melkbosstrand and offers lessons from beginners to advanced level. Melkbosstrand is renowned for its good surfing waves, so if you're up for the challenge, its a great way to enjoy time in nature the Melkbos way.
West Coast Surf School
Beach RoadThe West Coast Surf School is based here in Melkbosstrand and offers lessons from beginners to advanced level. Melkbosstrand is renowned for its good surfing waves, so if you're up for the challenge, its a great way to enjoy time in nature the Melkbos way.