Of course, pulling into town for a night or two won’t do unless you’re staying somewhere with a spectacular sea view. More preferable is pulling into town during whale season between June and November, when the picture-perfect waters are from time to time made all the more alluring by the sight of whales breaching the turquoise waters or blowing a plume of water into the salty sea breeze.
Such was our welcome to The Plettenberg Hotel on a balmy October afternoon. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Lookout Beach, it boasts the kind of prime location that makes this one of South Africa’s most popular coastal holiday destinations.
The Plettenberg is seriously classy – but wholly warm and inviting. It forms part of The Liz McGrath Collection of hotels, which includes The Marine in Hermanus and The Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town. Each five-star hotel has a charm of its own, and each forms part of the cluster of Small Luxury Hotels of the World – a group of 580 hotels in more than 90 countries chosen for their luxurious, intimate offerings on a smaller scale. As the website says, "each one is anti-chain and anti-same".
The hotel has 37 double rooms and suites split across two buildings, each with a swimming pool, on opposite sides of Church Street; an adjacent beach house with access to the hotel amenities; and an exclusive three-bedroom villa for private use.
From the corner of one of the hotel’s suites in the main, more bustling section of the hotel, we soon found the ocean stretched out before us – a mass of blue, ebbing and flowing into the distance. It's the kind of room hotel dreams are made of: a large, fluffy bed with a duvet and pillows you can sink into; bathroom amenities including Africology lotions and potions (think lavender sleep gel and refresher towels); and all sorts of delights that ensure relaxation. Heated towel rails, a TV (you probably won't get around to using), and a fully stocked mini-bar add to the fine touches.
In between dips in the sparkling pool, head down to the beach for a close-up view of the exquisite ocean. It's just a short walk down a footpath that starts at the hotel’s entrance.
At The Plettenberg, it's all blue and green hues, lovely artwork, plump pillows, and textiles that exude an air of elegance without being pretentious. Nowhere is this more the case than at Amelia’s at The Plettenberg. Unveiled less than two months before our visit, we made ourselves right at home in The Plettenberg’s recently renovated restaurant.
The restaurant terrace has doubled in size and, with plenty of space for lounging outside, it expertly blends the freshness of the ocean air with a playful colour scheme and tasteful touches of décor inside. An impressive centrepiece of handmade ceramic pendants hangs across the length of the restaurant, making one think of clay lamps you might find on a Greek island.
For dinner, we settled into a romantic corner over a couple of glasses of wine and plates of delicious seafood from the kitchen of newly appointed Executive Chef Ewald Schulenburg. Choosing what to order became a tug-of-war situation, with options like steamed black mussels and bouillabaisse seafood soup for starters. We settled on sharing the two dishes and devoured both. Pan-seared tuna and Thai spiced seafood curry are featured as the main attractions. Both dishes were packed with flavour, perfectly cooked, and satisfying, down to the last lick of the fork.
If you’re looking for simpler options, there is battered hand-caught hake or grilled catch of the day. Beyond the tantalising seafood options, you’ll find dishes like butter chicken, beef fillet, burgers, and pasta. Menus change regularly for guests who stay a bit longer than usual to ensure a fresh selection of dishes each day.
Pre- or post-dinner drinks at Sandbar come highly recommended, especially if you happen to run into Honest Venkile, a man whose stories are as entertaining as his cocktails are serious. His espresso martini is particularly delicious, but he’ll gladly whip up something to your liking or try to impress with one of his own creations like The Mermaid’s Dream, which is inspired by the large mermaid artwork in the hotel lobby.
Between dinner after checking in and a long, lazy breakfast with a mimosa and a Bloody Mary station, continental spread, and à la carte menu enjoyed on the dazzling terrace the next morning, our every craving was satisfied – and then some.
While you catch your breath, you may want to treat yourself to Afternoon Tea by the Sea. Served daily from 14:00 – 16:30, it pairs the simple delight of classic sandwiches, quiches, scones, and sweet treats with tea, coffee, or bubbles overlooking the ocean from Amelia’s terrace or the Summer Lounge.
On overcast days, there’s the holiday treat of picking up a book from the many bookshelves around the hotel and then curling up in a cosy corner to read. There’s also a choice of spa treatments for a day of unwinding, a trip to one of the many wine estates that have popped up around Plett over the years, hiking in the Robberg Nature Reserve, or enjoying one of the six impressive Blue Flag beaches along the town’s 15km of beach.
If the relaxing really gets to be too much, the beauty of a holiday along the Garden Route is the many beach towns, plethora of restaurants, array of quirky shops, and scenic stops along the way. With so much to do, the trick lies in finding the perfect balance between exploring and simply enjoying the treat that a stay at The Plettenberg offers.
Rates start from R5,218 per room, sleeping two. Until Dec 15, 2024, The Plettenberg is running a stay three nights, pay for two offer. The offer includes a welcome bottle of wine and daily full English breakfast. Email reservations@collectionmcgrath.com, phone +27 21 794 5535, or visit the website for find special offers or to book your stay.
*We were invited to stay at The Plettenberg Hotel. The views expressed here are our own.
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