A relaxed and authentic beachside setting brimming with West Coast soul.
When a quiet coastal village like Yzerfontein, hunkered down at the southern end of a 25-kilometre stretch of white-sand beach, captures the attention of acclaimed chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin, you can be sure it’s about to join the culinary hotlist of destinations worth driving to. Just an hour up the coastal road from Cape Town, the fishing village is now home to The Beach House, a relaxed but beautifully curated restaurant right on the beach that champions the authentic flavours and foraged ingredients of the West Coast.
A winning chef team
The two chefs (at award-winning restaurants Dusk and Le coin Francais) have won a reputation for exquisite fine dining rooted in a sustainable ethos. At The Beach House they are going back to their roots for a simpler (but still world-class) expression of that ethos. Together with chef Jacques Grove (whose experience spans top positions at the Chefs Warehouse group and stages at Michelin-starred institutions in London), they celebrate the authenticity of the West Coast and the region’s deep connection to the sea.
West Coast flavours
Heading up the kitchen, Jacques focuses on what makes the West Coast truly special: the ingredients. The menu is approachable yet sophisticated, offering coastline cuisine prepared with world-class technique. Expect freshly harvested mussels, foraged beach herbs, and seafood caught daily by a local village fisherman, all brought together in dishes that speak to the heart of the West Coast.
On the menu
Signature dishes include the Baai slaai, a foraged salad with dune spinach, soutslaai, and wood sorrel flowers, and the whole baked line-caught fish, cooked over a wood-fired kaggel just as the local fishermen have done for generations. Then there’s a 1.2kg prime rib on the bone à la steak Florentine served with café de Paris butter, or classics like fish and chips and peri-peri chicken.
The space
A mussel-clad gabion wall and Klompie brick pathway lead to the entrance of the restaurant where local designer Hayley Breytenbach has reimagined an 80-year-old original beach house, with inspiration from Ralph Lauren’s iconic summer-by-the-sea style, and captures the essence of the West Coast’s raw beauty. The space feels timeless yet elegant, with deep Beach House Navy paint, handcrafted naval-themed balustrades, and antique maritime décor curated from local sources. The original Oregon pine floors have been repurposed, grounding the restaurant in its heritage.
In line with its commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing, The Beach House ensures that every meal is a reflection of its surroundings—authentic, mindful, and deeply rooted in the community. A celebration of the West Coast’s unique culture, history and environment, the captivating new space is set to be a must-visit on every foodie’s summer bucket list.
Good to know There’s a dog-friendly patio!
Opening 24 October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, lunch + dinner
Contact reservations@beachhouserestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Yzerfontein
Book through DinePlan
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