Categories > Guides and Tips
The best bars in Hermanus serve incredible drinks & scenery!
- SkyBar Hermanus
- The Gecko Bar & Restaurant
- Barney's Restaurant / Pub
- The Wine Glass Hermanus
- Jax Pub Hermanus
- Tipples Hermanus
- Dutchies Summer Lounge
- Bientang's Cave Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Old Harbour Beer (Hermanus Brewery)
- The Sun Lounge and Bar at The Marine Hotel
- THE BREWERY & GRILL
- Lizette's Kitchen Bar & Restaurant
- Char’d Grill & Wine Bar
You know that golden feeling of nursing a Cab Sav in a stress-free bar where euphoria comes in each glass? Now, imagine catching that sensation while facing mountains, waves, and the real thing: actual whales. That’s Hermanus for you.
Honestly, almost every watering hole in the Riviera of the South is built for panorama-rich sundowners. Factor in that palpable ‘small town’ atmosphere, and you just might never leave.
If that’s not a problem, why not give the town’s finest bars a shot? Our personal faves are down here.
SkyBar Hermanus
From skybarhermanus
Address: 104 Main Rd
Contact Details: +27 82 334 4034
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 10 pm
Chances are, I penned this at SkyBar Hermanus, while staring at Walker Bay with Japanese sushi in one hand and peppered oysters on standby. I say ‘chances’ because there’s no way I’d clearly remember with their cocktails swimming in my thoughts.
Once you’ve had a shot of the bar’s signature and quirky tipples, like Creme Brulee Martini, you’ll get me. That’s especially true if you order my favourite, which is a Smoked Old Fashioned, flavoured with Angostura bitters and lit right on the table.
| Tip: The views look more immaculate at night. |
The Gecko Bar & Restaurant
From thegecko.hermanus
Address: New Harbour
Contact Details: +27 28 312 4665
Operating Hours: Daily – 11 am to 2 pm
Facing Walker Bay, The Gecko is a jol if your gut or mood is game for seafood pizza, ice-cold brews, live tunes, or a laze sesh by the fire.
Most patrons talked me into getting pints of Hahn Beer, which I don’t regret. The brew wasn’t hard on the ABV and popped with a crisp, dry profile that complemented my sushi order.
Cocktails were on the menu as well, mostly classics like margs and negronis.
| Tip: You can bring pets! |
Barney’s Restaurant / Pub
From thatsaintjames
Address: 151 Main Rd
Contact Details: +27 60 985 0841
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 2 pm
Intimate in size, massive in character—that’s how I’d describe Barney’s. In fact, this is where I immediately park when those ‘old-school pub’ cravings hit.
The staff there is a lekker to chat with, and they whip up a mean woodfired Margarita that ticks the ‘flavourful’ and ‘cheap’ boxes. It will even taste better if you chow down in the courtyard.
As for sips, they mostly pour heavy but smooth poison, mainly vodka, brandy, and whiskey, with glasses starting at R35. The cherry on top is that you take it all in with 60s to 90s rock bangers as the BGM.
| Tip: Wine bottles cost 20% less on Wednesdays. |
The Wine Glass Hermanus
Address: 2 Harbour Rd
Contact Details: +27 82 082 0007
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 4 pm to 10 pm
- Sat to Sun – 11:30 am to 10 pm
Western Cape’s nippy climate leads to exquisite Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, most of which are decanted at The Wine Glass Hermanus.
We rolled there as a group and immediately got offered nearly 100 local wines. The sips are all straight from regions like Hemel-En-Aarde, Elim, Botrivier, and Stanford, so the profiles usually swing between spiced and fruity.
For the food, we had fresh West Coast oysters and tapas, but that’s not where the bites end. There’s a full menu for the hungrier connoisseurs.
| Tip: Special deals are posted first on their Insta. |
Jax Pub Hermanus
From jax.pub_
Address: Ritcarlo building, 9 Royal St
Contact Details: +27 71 462 0053
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 10 am to 2 am
- Sun – 10 am to 12 am
For me, nightlife in Hermanus wouldn’t be the same without Jax Pub. Why? It’s a town mainstay that has that ‘classic pub’ energy and drink list.
Shooters are what our bunch pops by for, usually. They go down easy and hit like a truck (especially shots with Jager)—the ideal combo for an all-out night.
There are scores of beers, too. We knock them back when the general mood is to chill and break some balls on the pool tables.
| Tip: If you want a quieter time, stop by between Monday and Wednesday. |
Tipples Hermanus
From jeanleighk
Address: 12 Mitchell St
Contact Details: +27 28 313 0377
Pizza, wine, rugby—the holy trinity of Tipples, and not necessarily in that order.
If we go by clout, their homemade slices would be numero uno. The 30-cm bases are slathered in authentic Italian sauce, then topped with either no-frills or gourmet ingredients.
That’s not to say the reds, whites, and sparklings are meh. The fruit and fig-heavy Franschhoek Cellar Sauvignon Blanc, for instance, had us knocking back 5-plus glasses in one night.
| Tip: Call to book a non-smoking room. |
Dutchies Summer Lounge
From dutchiesrestaurant
Address: 172 Grotto St
It’s not fully summer until we’ve had a sip or two at Dutchies. The seasonal bar’s seaside location and vacay-worthy offerings are too good.
The crew normally sets the tone with cocktails that match the haunt’s vibes, namely Piña Coladas and Long Island Iced Teas. But if the day calls for something soft, we reach for The Django, a boozy milkshake flavoured by mango cream liquor.
| Tip: Visit their Facebook for deets on opening dates. They’re usually only around from December to April. |
Bientang’s Cave Restaurant & Wine Bar
From bientangscave
Address: In a cave below Marine Drive, 100m from Old Harbour
Contact Details: +27 28 312 3454
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 4 pm
- Fri – 11 am to 8 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 8 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 4 pm
Missing Bientang’s Cave is a rookie mistake. For starters, it’s right in a century-old cavern that faces Walker Bay, famed for its whale sightings.
The international wine game is also strong there. Think fruit-forward Pinot from Italy, Argentinian Malbec that’s smoky, and Chilean Merlot with cedar accents.
You can’t just pass on the cocktails either. The classic mojitos and martinis go down well with their seafood platters.
| Tip: Ring the number above or email [email protected] to confirm if they’re open until late. Sometimes, they close early due to weather concerns. |
Old Harbour Beer (Hermanus Brewery)
From oldharbourbeer
Address: 11 Mimosa St
Contact Details: +27 28 312 1788
Operating Hours: Tue to Fri – 9 am to 3:30 pm
When Old Harbour Beer dropped its award-winning lager in ‘14, it instantly connected with our gang.
The brew’s crisp and fruity character is right up our alley. On top of that, it goes down light and clean, so we’ve never been crawling on the floor by the third bottle…so far.
Then there’s the brewery itself. The joint is mad-cosy, with a cordial staff to boot, making it a spot-on place for chats and easy-drinking.
| Tip: Bring your kids, and let them play at the play area. |
The Sun Lounge and Bar at The Marine Hotel
From themarinehermanus
Address: Main Road
Contact Details: +27 28 313 1000
The Sun Lounge and Bar had Walker Bay looking extra fresh, with those unobstructed cliff views seen through the hotel.
Well, it also helped that we were necking wines, specifically bottomless L’Ormarins Brut. The vino was a citrusy number with a brioche and apple-ish aftertaste—essentially a drink for mellowing down.
On the side were mainly canapés, though we enjoyed the beer-battered hake and Cajun chicken wraps more.
| Tip: Visit between 11 am and 5 pm if you want to pair the drinks with lunch specials. |
THE BREWERY & GRILL
From thebreweryhermanus
Address: Unit 5 Village Ln, Hemel en Aarde
Contact Details: +27 28 316 4626
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 10 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 5 pm
Whenever we’re parched for small-batch booze that doesn’t play it safe, THE BREWERY & GRILL pulls through like LeBron in a game 7—clutch.
And where else to start than their Nitro Stout? The blend was awarded Africa’s Best Irish beer in 2021, thanks to its toasty, creamy profile made for wintry evenings.
That said, Hermanus Lager is the taproom’s cash cow. Not that it’s shocking, as the brew’s maltier and stronger taste connects with this spot’s ribs, sushi, and steaks.
| Tip: Saturdays are when the bar truly comes alive, with screens broadcasting live rugby matches. |
Lizette’s Kitchen Bar & Restaurant
From lizettes.hermanus
Address: 20 on 8th St
Contact Details: +27 69 519 8031
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 10 pm
Backed by mountains and golden hour scenery, Lizette’s Kitchen is where sipping turns spiritual—especially once the Asian-African plates roll in.
Bevvy-wise, the menu is stacked with ciders, beer, and gins. There are a few cocktails as well, mainly mojitos served the classic way, spiced, or laced with cherry blossom syrup.
For chow, spring roll or patty bun cha gets our vote, followed by tempura and flatbread. The former especially pairs well with dop, often the case with meaty-herby dishes from North Vietnam.
| Tip: Don’t let the cold bother you. They have a ‘Sun Room’ with crackling fires during nippier months. |
Char’d Grill & Wine Bar
From chardhermanus
Address: Hermanus Waterfront, Market Square St
Contact Details: +27 28 312 1986
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 9 pm
Char’d is a cross between a steampunk bar and a beachfront resto (hermanus restaurants) serving primo dry-aged steaks. Hard not to dig it.
What’s more, their drink lineup is as heavy as the decor. Cocktails and beers are the obvious picks, but their gin and brandy tasting trays aren’t shabby either.
If you’re rocking that ‘I got paid’ swagger, though, go red, particularly the full-bodied and berry-heavy ones. They complement this eccentric bar’s leaner meats.
| Tip: Score cheap burgers and beers by visiting between 12 pm and 3 pm. |
