SOLD! Hillside House: A Revived Gem in Sunny Cove with Knock-Out Bay Views

It’s the view that first takes hold of you – that sweeping, salt-brushed expanse where sea meets sky in an endless rhapsody of blue. Standing on the terrace at Hillside House, gazing out across False Bay, Italy’s Amalfi Coast comes to mind: the shimmer of sunlight on water, the curve of the distant shoreline, the slow rhythm of coastal life. But this isn’t Positano or Ravello – it’s Sunny Cove on the Cape’s False Bay coastline, where south peninsula suburbs like Kalk Bay and St James lean into the ocean with quiet grace. “The views are what first drew us to the house,” says one of the owners. “The outlook from the front terrace is unlike anything I’ve seen in the Cape. Quite simply, breathtaking.”

Arts and Crafts soul

The villa itself feels like a well-kept secret. A grand old soul from the 1920s, lovingly restored but never hurried into modernity. “The bones and spirit of the house were so beautiful, so special. And we wanted that to remain even after the overhaul,” say the owners of their careful restoration. They’ve preserved the Arts and Crafts features – sturdy, honest, handcrafted – and gently layered in every comfort of contemporary life, like linen draped over old wood.

Designed for living

Inside, the house flows with ease and warmth. The entrance hall opens with generous proportions and old timber floors that glow softly in the morning light. The lounge – with its crackling wood-burning fireplace – feels made for winter afternoons with a good book and sea views. Beyond, the dining room spills into a kitchen designed for cooking and for living: Smeg gas hob, integrated appliances, and cabinetry as finely crafted as the house itself. The kitchen’s back door swings open to a counter made for summer breakfasts or sundowner conversations, where the scent of sea air mingles with coffee or wine.

Below the stairs, is a quiet surprise: a private spa-like retreat with a sauna, cold-plunge pool, and a room made for unwinding after salty swims or mountain hikes. There’s practical space too – laundry, staff bathroom, secure parking.

The great outdoors

Back to the terrace… The entire bay lies before you: Kalk Bay’s bobbing fishing boats, Fish Hoek’s curve of white sand, the endless shimmer towards Cape Point. Behind the house, a sheltered courtyard invites barefoot wandering, its tiled swimming pool catching the light. A built-in braai, cushioned seating, and wind-protected nooks make it as perfect for summer gatherings as for quiet, solitary mornings with only the gulls for company.

The lodgings

The villa has everything you need for comfortable family living, or for a gathering of friends over long, lingering weekends.

• 4 ensuite bedrooms
• lounge with fireplace
• dining room
• fully fitted kitchen with Smeg gas hob
• TV room
• guest cloakroom
• terrace and courtyard with built-in braai
• swimming pool
• indoor sauna and cold plunge pool
• laundry room + staff bathroom
• secure parking

Location, location, location

Beautiful bones and interior detail aside, what makes this place extraordinary is its position on the most magical stretch of coastline. “The views of the bay are spellbinding. On weekends, we love the convenience of being able to walk down to the beach for a swim – and then popping to C’est la Vie afterwards for coffee and cinnamon sticks. In winter, after we’ve been to the beach, we’ll come home and play games by the fire,” say the owners.

Hillside House is perfectly positioned for weekends of leisure: you go for a stroll on Fish Hoek beach (safe, timeless, a family favourite), explore the tidal pools and cafés of Kalk Bay, head to the surf and bustle of Muizenberg, or drive along the scenic coast road towards Simon’s Town and Cape Point.

This is a house for slowing down. For leaning into the rhythm of sea and sky. For sunrise coffees on the terrace and moonlit dinners as the mountains glow softly across False Bay.

Contact [email protected]
Where Hillside Road, Sunny Cove, Fish Hoek
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