The 22 Best Foodie Destinations on the West Coast

Windswept beaches, whitewashed walls, the scents of ocean, salt and veld laced with a drift of woodsmoke… The West Coast is a place where time moves slowly. Its food reflects the landscape… seafood feasts, traditional potjies cooked over the fire, oysters, mussels and crayfish (in season), and its indigenous umami ingredient – pungent dried bokkoms from Velddrif. There’s salt from the flamingo-flecked salt pans to season simple home-cooked dishes, foraged seaweeds and wild herbs from the veld.

Fine dining, fish-and-chips takeaways, old-school farmstalls, beach seafood extravaganzas and artisanal cheese tastings, we’ve picked our favourite foodie experiences for a wander up the West Coast.

Where are you headed?
Melkbosstrand
Darling
Yzerfontein and Langebaan
Paternoster
Vredenburg and Hopefield
St Helena Bay and Velddrif
Elands Bay and Doringbaai

Melkbosstrand

Cafe Orca

Ease into the West Coast vibe, with Melkbos beach views and a cottage-style family-run seafood restaurant. Fish is the only thing on the menu: there are two or three different linefish options daily (maybe tuna or swordfish), cooked to perfection and beautifully plated with a choice of sauces, plus roast vegetables, as well as chips or rice. Or go for one of several platters loaded with calamari, prawns, mussels or crayfish. Whether you get an outside table on the covered verandah or indoors in one of several small rooms, there are sea views and a welcoming atmosphere.
Good to know They cannot accommodate groups of more than 6 people.
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday, 12pm – 3pm; 6pm – 8.30pm
Sunday, 12pm – 3pm
Contact 021 553 4120
Where to find it 88 Beach Road, Melkbosstrand

Melkbos Kitchen

The best location in Melkbos, right on the rocks with sea and sunset views deluxe. Melkbos Kitchen is a popular spot with locals for its varied menu (vegan options included) that takes you through brunch to dinner. There’s something for everyone; think eggs Benedict, roosterkoek with various fillings, sushi, poke bowls, fish and chips, lamb kofta on flatbread, seafood platters, brisket burgers. Go for an outside table on the terrace under umbrellas to soak up the sea air, waves breaking and seagulls swooping.
Good to know Booking advised.
Opening times Sunday – Tuesday, 10am – 5pm
Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 8.45pm (last food orders 6.30pm)
Contact 021 001 8210, info@melkboskitchen.co.za
Where to find it 47 5th Avenue, Melkbosstrand
Book through DinePlan

Darling

Groote Post

One of the oldest farms on the West Coast, Groote Post originally served as a trading post for sailors heading down to the Cape. Now a celebrated wine estate run by three generations of the Pentz family, Groote Post captures West Coast flavour in the bottle – their Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc has been lauded as the quintessential Weskus white. Pop in for a tasting and cheese platter and stay for lunch at Hilda’s Kitchen – serving modern country cooking in the historic manor that was home to Hildagonda Duckitt (an avid cook and cookbook author in the late 1800s).
Opening times Tasting: Daily, 10am – 4pm
Hilda’s Kitchen: Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm (booking essential)
Contact 022 492 2825 / 083 325 4148, mclaughlin@worldonline.co.za
Where to find it Darling Hills Road, Darling

Marmalade Cat

When your road trip takes you through the charming little town of Darling, Sandi Collins’ welcoming café and gift shop gives a taste of the dorpie. It’s a place to settle in for laid-back breakfasts and wholesome lunches, among shelves stacked with locally made jams, preserves and handmade crafts. A freezer stocked with homemade ready meals, and a stash of Darling Brew beers, local wines, baked goods, sweets and cheeses, mean you can also stock up for an easy meal or two at your holiday cottage, or back home.
Good to know Friday is pizza night – they stay open late and it’s best to book (by phone or email).
Opening times Daily, 8am – 4.30pm
Contact 022 492 2515, marmaladecat@telkomsa.net
Where to find it 19 Main Street, Darling

Yzerfontein and Langebaan

Rosemead Artisan Bakery and Cafe

Georgia East

Run by Anli and Brett Nortier, this popular spot is never devoid of a crowd from breakfast onwards, drawn by the irresistible aroma of baking bread. True artisan bakers, making loaves and pastries in small batches (when they sell out that’s it for the day), their pasteis de nata are legendary, as are the pain au chocolat, seeded sourdough, ciabatta and olive sticks. There’s a chalkboard menu for breakfast and lunch, ranging from hot pressed sandwiches to salads and scrambled eggs, and of course excellent coffee and croissants.
Good to know Place your loaf order prior to arriving to ensure you get what you came for.
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday, 8am – 3.30pm
Sunday, 8am – 2pm
Contact 066 222 5076, @rosemead_artisan
Where to find it Corner of Park and Volstruis Street, Yzerfontein

!Khwa ttu

Georgia East

Located just before the Yzerfontein turnoff on the R27, !Khwa ttu is home to a comprehensive collection of indigenous art, history and culture. It celebrates San and human origins through its enjoyably educational Heritage Centre. Come for the culture, stay for the cuisine – chef Werlise Rautenbach’s mouthwatering breakfast and lunch menu encompasses her passion for local produce, foraged ingredients and endemically South African fare: heerbone (heirloom beans), veldkool (wild asparagus), smoked snoek bobotie dumplings, venison burger, and crunchy fried silverfish, the menu changing with the seasons and what is available on the land.
Good to know Great for families, !Khwa ttu also offers tours led by San guides, game drives and walking routes around its property.
Opening times Daily, 9am – 5pm
Contact 022 492 2998, bookings@khwattu.org
Where to find it  R27 West Coast Road, Yzerfontein

La Petite Maison

Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Yohann Suire and his wife LaRetha Venter, this culinary collaboration celebrates West Coast ingredients with French execution – think classic mouclade made with mussels sourced in neighbouring Velddrif. Located in the historic Farmhouse Hotel in Langebaan, La Petite Maison’s fine bistro menu is not the only drawcard: a sprawling verandah overlooks the lagoon, while inside a double-volume space replete with fireplace and thatched eaves offers respite on cold winter evenings.
Good to know It’s family-friendly with a children’s menu.
Opening times Daily, 12pm – 1.30pm; 6pm – 9pm (seating times)
Contact 064 657 7716, reservations@lapetitemaisonrestaurant.co.za
Where to find it 5 Egret Street, Myburgh Park, Langebaan
Book through DinePlan

Queen’s Cottage Woodfired Kitchen

Hidden away two blocks back from the Langebaan beach, this is a smokehouse well worth seeking out. Wood fire burning in the open kitchen, a chalkboard menu infused with smoke, and fabulous barbecue flavours, from the marrow bone starters and smoked brisket croquettes to the charred cauliflower, excellent steaks, BBQ chicken and short rib. Owner and chef, Anthony, makes everything from scratch (including the sourdough, sausage and peach BBQ sauce) and the sweeping vistas of flavour more than make up for the lack of ocean view.
Good to know You’ll need a second visit to take in the beer bacon mac and cheese and the pulled pork buns.
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 5.30pm – 10pm
Friday + Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Sunday, 12pm – 8pm
Contact 079 830 7235
Where to find it 8 Suffren Street, Langebaan

Die Strandloper

For an authentic West Coast sand-between-your-toes, sun-kissed seafood feast, head to the fishing net hung boma on the beach at Langebaan. It’s fire-cooking in its original form: blackened potjies slow-cooking fish curry on the coals, pots of mussels, braaied snoek, sweet potato, and crayfish (when available) and lashings of fluffy pot bread, jam and farm butter in between. Wander in between the fires to watch the cooking and get braai tips, and hang out on the rocks and sands soaking up the salty breeze until the next course is ready. With 10 generous courses over four hours, it’s a feast of epic proportions.
Good to know Booking is essential and operating days vary according to the season. It’s delicious, but don’t overindulge on the pot bread at the start. Bring your own bottles and ice (no corkage) or buy from the cash bar.
Opening times Wednesday + Friday + Sunday, arrive 12pm for 12.30pm start
Saturday, 12pm for 12.30pm start, 6pm for 6.30pm start
Contact 083 227 7195, info@strandloper.com
Where to find it Jan Olfsen Street, Leentjiesklip, Langebaan

Paternoster

Wolfgat

Needing little introduction, Wolfgat and the restaurant’s chef-patron Kobus van der Merwe epitomise the West Coast dream. Having adapted his unique approach to the food of the region, Kobus’ cuisine is predominantly a mixture of foraged botanicals, locally sourced ingredients and fresh-caught seafood. Seven-course tasting menus transmit Kobus’ passion for sustainability, paying homage to the indigenous culture of the San hunter-gatherers and the flavourful mix of Cape Malay and Afrikaans fare – all served as an interpretation of the award-winning chef’s signature Strandveld style.
Good to know Booking is essential and, while the wait for a reservation is lengthy (only 20 diners per sitting), the experience is a lasting one.
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12.30pm
Friday + Saturday, 6.30pm
Contact diewolfgat@gmail.com
Where to find it 10 Sampson Street, Kliprug, Paternoster
Book through DinePlan

Leeto

When you’re looking for relaxed and elegant dining with plenty of West Coast flavour, Leeto hits the spot. Hidden away in a contemporary boutique hotel, with peaceful views over the dunes to the beach from the reed-shaded deck, it’s an oasis of barefoot luxury… and chef Garth Almazan creates beautifully presented plates to match. Think prawn and calamari risotto with tomato bisque, Malay-spiced mussel soup, seafood linguini, and chalmar beef, on a simply sophisticated à la carte menu.
Good to know No children under 12 years.
Opening times Daily, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 9pm
Contact 060 927 0403, reservations@leetopaternoster.co.za
Where to find it Strandloper Boutique Hotel, Patterson Slot, Paternoster

Noisy Oyster

It’s not right on the beach but the al fresco courtyard filled with brightly coloured tables, benches and booths, and hung with fairy lights and bunting, channels fun and funky barefoot beach vibes in spades. It’s been a stalwart of the Paternoster scene for years, serving the oysters of its name in various guises, whole fish (such as gurnard and silverfish), seafood laksa, calamari and fish croquettes. And if you’ve maxed out on seafood on your West Coast culinary wander, there are plenty of meat and vegan options too.
Good to know It’s pet-friendly.
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday, 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm
Sunday, 12pm – 3pm
Contact 022 752 2196, noisyoysterpaternoster@gmail.com
Where to find it 62 St Augustine Road, Paternoster

Dispens

The iconic Oep ve Koep at Die Winkel op Paternoster was re-named Dispens, and got a fresh new look in 2023. Still run by the Van der Merwe family (Kobus of Wolfgat fame) and set in the historic walls of Paternoster’s 1920s shark-liver-oil factory, Dispens offers the best of nostalgic local kos and a strong focus on shoreline flavours unique to the West Coast, both in the shop and the café. Stop by for coffee and cake, light meals, freshly baked bread and specialty artisanal products such as bergamot marmalade, waterblommetjie piekel, fresh fynbos flowers and hand-stitched table linen.
Opening times Monday + Wednesday – Saturday, 9am – 4.30pm
Sunday, 9am – 3pm
Contact 064 041 6914, dispens.paternoster@gmail.com
Where to find it Corner R45 and St Augustine Road, Paternoster

De See Kat

For sushi with a West Coast feel, De See Kat is your go-to. Perched above the rocks on the Paternoster waterfront, you get ocean views to the max from the outside terrace, plus a fire pit and stairs leading down to the water. Besides the excellent and creative sushi there’s a full menu of seafood: fresh fish, calamari, prawns, fried sardines, snoek samosas, mussels, Cape Malay curry and more, all served with generous West Coast hospitality and warmth.
Good to know It’s dog friendly.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 9pm
Sunday, 12pm – 4pm
Contact 072 343 9793, deseekat1@gmail.com
Where to find it Kreefte Street, Kliprug, Paternoster

Voorstrandt Restaurant

If you’re after fish and chips with a classic Paternoster beach view and the sound of the waves rolling onto the sand, look no further than this popular spot. Housed in a historic building with an iconic red tin roof, the restaurant serves up fresh fish of the day alongside West Coast classics – with snoek samoosas a particular highlight. Sit seaside and enjoy a glass of local wine or kick off your shoes and stroll down to the ocean while you wait for your food to arrive.
Good to know It’s child-friendly and pet-friendly.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 9pm
Contact 022 752 2038, voorstrandt@gmail.com
Where to find it Strandloper Street, Voorstrand, Paternoster

Vredenburg and Hopefield

Weskus Spens Padstal

Just before the Vredenburg turnoff on the R27, this nostalgic farmstall is famous for its ship forecastle, delicious preserves and proper plaasbrood (farm bread). Run by Annemarie Thom, who bakes up all kinds of treats to tempt locals and hungry travellers alike, it’s open daily, for lavish breakfasts and traditional pies, light lunches, divine lemon meringue pie and coffee made with condensed milk the old farm way. Browse the shelves for more West Coast food treasures: rusks, home-baked biscuits, preserves, even bokkoms.
Good to know Be warned, the plaasbrood is baked each morning in a wood-burning oven and sells out fast. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some, enjoy it fresh with some snoek pâté or toasted with butter and konfyt (jam).
Opening times Daily, 8.15am – 4.30pm
Contact 072 350 5330
Where to find it R27, Vredenburg

Hopefield Market at The Foodie Hub

Georgia East

Hopefield is a short drive from Velddrif and hosts a wonderful pocket-sized farmers’ market every Saturday morning. Stocking a wealth of gorgeous produce from artisans across the region, this is the best place to source seasonal fruit and vegetables, organic eggs, cheeses, breads, chilli sauce, preserves, pickles and more.
Good to know The Foodie Hub stocks many of the artisanal products on sale at the market (including Kokerboom Kaas who are partners in the deli) and is open in the week too.
Opening times Market: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
The Foodie Hub: Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 4pm
Contact 022 723 0569, hopefieldmarket@gmail.com
Where to find it 45 River Street, Hopefield

St Helena Bay and Velddrif

BP Marine

A West Coast odyssey isn’t complete without a good old fish-and-chips takeaway eaten straight from the wrappings with no fuss. In St Helena Bay, the harbourside BP Marine has reached almost cult status, with queues of locals at lunchtime (they’re expert at serving swiftly and the short wait is worth it). Choose between hake and snoek (both delicious) and proper slap chips sprinkled with vinegar.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 9am – 6.30pm
Contact 022 736 1246
Where to find it St Helena Bay Harbour

Kokerboom Kaas

Georgia East

Craving an oozy Camembert or rich blue cheese? Look no further than Kokerboom Kaas. Started by David and Carolyn Malan, the Kokerboom Kaas range consists of hard and soft cheeses and yoghurt made using Guernsey milk from nearby Langrietvlei farm. Together with his assistant Leah, David specialises in artisanal cheeses and charcuterie that is retailed all over the West Coast and into Cape Town. An avid cook himself, booking a bespoke tasting with David at his home is a must-do when in the area.
Good to know Booking essential for tastings; minimum 4 people, maximum 8.
Opening times Shop: Monday – Friday, 4pm – 5.30pm
Contact 082 572 1822, david@kokerboomkaas.co.za
Where to find it 5 Waterkant Street, Velddrif

Columbine Co.

The historical heart of Velddrif, Bokkomlaan is instantly recognisable for its quaint fishing huts and spindly wooden jetties. While only a few of the bokkom huts are still operational, the rest contain a quirky mixture of eateries, shops and cafés – with one of the most popular being Columbine Co. Choose from a selection of tea and coffee – owner Albert hand-roasts his own brew – and take up residence on Columbine’s stoep to chat with the locals or perhaps spot the Laan’s resident pelicans.
Good to know If you’re in search of the West Coast’s very own umami ingredient, the coffee shop sells bokkoms and other products from neighbouring Mappie Visserye.
Opening times Daily, 8am – 4pm
Contact 084 879 7006
Where to find it 9 Bokkom Laan, Velddrif

Elands Bay and Doringbaai

The Jetty Restaurant at Fryer’s Cove

Hidden away on a wild coastline in the tiny fishing village of Doringbaai, Fryer’s Cove is an unexpected place to find a winery, its unique wines tempered by the closeness to the sea. To the soundtrack of waves crashing onto the rocks, settle in for lunch at the Jetty Restaurant for West Coast flavours that show off the wines on their home territory. Local favourites such as snoek koekies (fish cakes), kerrievis (pickled fish), makataan (wild watermelon), perlemoen risotto plus seafood platters and roosterkoek are served with a side helping of stunning sea views.
Good to know Booking is essential.
Opening times Daily, 10am – 6pm (4.30pm last seating)
Contact 027 215 1092
Where to find it Quality Street, Doringbaai
Book through DinePlan

Muisbosskerm

Muisbosskerm claims the honour of being the original open-air West Coast beach dining experience and has been cooking and smoking a feast of seafood over open fires for over 35 years. Set on the shore between Elands Bay and Lambert’s Bay, the team fires up a cornucopia of food cooked over coals while you watch, from smoked angelfish to braaied yellowtail, fried calamari, hake and seafood paella. Traditional potato yeast bread cooked in a clay oven, caramelised sweet potatoes, waterblommetjie bredie, curried tripe and many more West Coast specialities fill in the gaps on this substantial multi-course help-yourself buffet.
Good to know Booking is essential. The restaurant only lights its fires once 20 people have booked, so get a group together or enquire for available dates. Crayfish (when available) is an optional extra.
Opening times Days according to booking, 12.30pm and 6.30pm
Contact 027 432 1017, info@muisbosskerm.co.za
Where to find it R365, Lambert’s Bay
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Which are your favourite places to eat on the West Coast? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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