Plettenberg Bay is as much a destination for food lovers as it is for beach seekers. With the Indian Ocean on your doorstep at The Bungalow, you’re perfectly placed to explore a dining scene that ranges from barefoot beachfront seafood to craft-brewery smokehouse feasts and elegant South African fine dining. We’ve rounded up our eleven favourite restaurants in and around Plett, places we keep coming back to and always recommend to our guests.
1\. The Bungalow Restaurant
You don’t even need to leave home for this one. Our own restaurant sits right on Hobie Beach beneath the milkwood trees, serving relaxed coastal fare with sweeping ocean views from the open deck.
The kitchen focuses on fresh seafood, wood-fired thin-crust pizzas, and hearty classics like beer-battered fish. Pair it all with handcrafted cocktails or a glass of South African wine while watching the sun dip behind Robberg. Lunch and dinner are open to everyone (not just guests), but booking ahead is recommended.
Cuisine: Coastal Bistro & Pizza
Vibe: Beachfront, relaxed
Address: 5 Meeding Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 1864
Website: thebungalowplett.co.za
Popular dishes: Beer-battered fish, thin-crust pizzas, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails
2\. The Lookout Deck
There’s a reason The Lookout Deck tops almost every Plett restaurant list. Perched right above Lookout Beach where the Keurbooms River lagoon meets the sea, the views alone are worth the visit, but the food more than holds its own. The seafood is sourced locally, and the kitchen handles everything from platters of grilled crayfish and tempura prawns to a surprisingly good Cape Malay mutton curry. Come for a lazy breakfast of Eggs Benedict, stay for sundowners, and don’t leave without trying the seared tuna salad.
Cuisine: Seafood & International
Vibe: Relaxed beachfront
Address: Hill Street, Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 1379
Website: lookout.co.za
Popular dishes: Tempura prawns, grilled crayfish, Cape Malay mutton curry, seared tuna salad, Eggs Benedict
3\. Nguni Restaurant
Tucked into a historic building on Crescent Street and connected to the White House Theatre, Nguni is where South African cuisine gets the fine-dining treatment without losing its soul. Chef-driven plates of smoked ostrich, springbok loin, and the legendary Nguni steak are prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and presented beautifully. The atmospheric courtyard with its soft lighting makes this one of the most romantic dinner spots in Plett. Reservations are a must; Nguni only opens for dinner from 6 pm.
Cuisine: South African Fine Dining
Vibe: Elegant, intimate
Address: 6 Crescent Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 6710
Website: nguni-restaurant.co.za
Popular dishes: Smoked ostrich, Nguni steak, springbok loins, roasted harissa cauliflower, lemon meringue
4\. Ristorante Enrico
“Any closer and you’ll get wet” is Enrico’s motto, and it’s barely an exaggeration. Sitting right on the sand at Keurboomstrand with Robberg Peninsula framing the horizon, this Italian restaurant is one of the most scenic spots on the entire Garden Route. Owner-chef Enrico is famous for wandering out of the kitchen to chat with guests, and the homely, relaxed atmosphere feels like dining at a friend’s beach house. The kingklip pizzaiola and fettuccine poverella are standouts, and the tiramisu is the real thing.
Cuisine: Italian
Vibe: Beachfront, family-friendly
Address: Main Beach, Keurboomstrand, Plettenberg Bay, 6602
Phone: 044 535 9818
Website: enricos.co.za
Popular dishes: Kingklip pizzaiola, fettuccine poverella, pasta Bolognese, tiramisu
5\. The Fat Fish
A Plett institution on Hopwood Street, The Fat Fish does seafood with imagination. The menu spans fresh-off-the-boat grilled linefish and chargrilled prawns through to sushi and seafood tapas, with a parmesan-crusted kingklip that regulars swear by. The outdoor terrace is pet-friendly, and Saturday brings a sushi special with 30% off, one of the best deals in town. Views stretch across to the Tsitsikamma Mountains, and the vibe is lively without being loud.
Cuisine: Seafood, Sushi & Tapas
Vibe: Lively, pet-friendly
Address: Milkwood Centre, 22 Hopwood Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 4740
Website: thefatfish.co.za
Popular dishes: Parmesan kingklip, chargrilled prawns, grilled calamari with lemon-herb butter, seafood curry, sushi platters
6\. Barrington’s
Part craft brewery, part smokehouse, part bakery, Barrington’s is a Piesang Valley destination in its own right. The slow-smoked free-range meats are the headline act, but the house-made pork dumplings and the kimchi chicken burger have earned cult followings of their own. Pair everything with their on-site brewed beers (the beer-and-bacon mussel pot is a must), and finish with their berry beer and vanilla ice cream cone. The modern farmhouse space with vaulted ceilings and rotating art exhibitions makes lingering easy.
Cuisine: Smokehouse & Craft Brewery
Vibe: Artisan, relaxed
Address: Erf 2104, Piesang Valley Road, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 050 3767
Website: barringtonsplett.co.za
Popular dishes: Slow-smoked ribs, beer & bacon mussel pot, kimchi chicken burger, dahl spring rolls, berry beer & vanilla ice cream cone
7\. Nineteen89
Contemporary and cool, Nineteen89 sits in the Upperdeck Centre with ocean views from its blue-walled, dark-wood interior. The menu roams confidently from Mediterranean to Mozambican influences: think balsamic-and-fig halloumi with beetroot and avocado, a Hawaiian Reef chicken burger with pineapple, and a surf-and-turf burger that’s become one of Plett’s most Instagrammed plates. The cocktail list is sharp, and the atmosphere hits a sweet spot between casual and chic.
Cuisine: Contemporary Fusion
Vibe: Trendy, ocean views
Address: Upperdeck Centre, Main Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 079 165 3576
Popular dishes: Balsamic & fig halloumi, surf-and-turf burger, Hawaiian Reef chicken burger, wagyu beef carpaccio, Thai peanut curry
8\. The Palms Plett
The Palms brings a touch of tropical glamour to Main Street. Potted palms, soft whites, and muted greens set the scene for a menu built around fresh, local ingredients with quirky twists on the classics. The cocktails, crafted with glitter and flair by proper mixologists, are destination-worthy on their own, and the rooftop terrace at sunset is hard to beat. The citrus-cured kingklip with fennel salad and the slow-cooked lamb shank are standouts, and the passionfruit mojito is the drink of choice.
Cuisine: Contemporary South African
Vibe: Trendy, cocktail-forward
Address: 31 Main Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 072 927 2304
Website: thepalmsplett.com
Popular dishes: Citrus-cured kingklip with fennel salad, slow-cooked lamb shank, Palms Negroni, passionfruit mojito
9\. Surf Cafe
If Plett has a living room, it’s Surf Cafe. This is where locals come for burgers and live music every night of the week, Wednesday open-mic sessions draw performers from across the Garden Route, and the menu covers enough ground (curries, enchiladas, homemade burgers, brownies with ice cream) that everyone in the group finds something they love. It’s unpretentious, it’s fun, and it’s the kind of place where a quick drink turns into an all-night affair.
Cuisine: Casual International & Mexican
Vibe: Social, live music
Address: 10 Beacon Isle Centre, Pharos Avenue, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 6801
Website: surfcafeplett.com
Popular dishes: Homemade burgers, enchiladas, curries, brownies with ice cream
10\. Moby’s
Moby’s has occupied one of the best seats in Plett, right on Central Beach, for years, and the combination of sweeping bay views, Robberg Peninsula in the distance, and solid pub-meets-bistro cooking keeps it packed. The wood-fired pizzas are reliably great, the oysters are shucked fresh, and the daily specials are worth asking about (Thursday burger night and Sunday seafood specials draw crowds). On a clear day, keep your eyes on the water. Dolphin and whale sightings from your table are a regular bonus.
Cuisine: Seafood & Grill
Vibe: Beachfront, family-friendly
Address: Central Beach, Hopwood Street, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 044 533 3682
Website: mobydicks.co.za
Popular dishes: Wood-fired pizzas, fresh oysters, linefish, Thursday burger specials, Sunday seafood platters
11\. Roadside Café
A short drive into Piesang Valley, Roadside Café feels more like visiting a friend’s farm than going to a restaurant. The wooden interiors open onto a garden with mountain views; there’s a play area for the kids, and the kitchen turns out some of the freshest food in Plett: braai steaks and fish tacos with pineapple slaw, vegan burgers, and towering slabs of French toast. The cakes and scones are baked daily and disappear fast. Rated Plett’s top café, and it’s easy to see why.
Cuisine: Farm-Style Café
Vibe: Rustic, family-friendly
Address: 4 Piesang Valley Road, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: 084 727 1777
Popular dishes: Fish tacos with pineapple slaw, braai steaks, vegan burgers, crumbed calamari wraps, French toast, homemade cakes
At a Glance: Restaurant Comparison
Popular Menu Items by Restaurant
Tips From The Bungalow
Staying at The Bungalow puts you within easy reach of every restaurant on this list. The Lookout Deck, The Fat Fish, and Moby’s are all a short stroll along the beachfront, while the town-centre spots (Nguni, Nineteen89, The Palms, and Surf Cafe) are just a few minutes’ drive up the hill. For a special evening out, book Nguni or Enrico’s in advance (especially in season). For a lazy morning, Roadside Café or The Lookout Deck are hard to beat.
We’re always happy to help with bookings and recommendations. Just ask at reception, and we’ll point you in the right direction.