When Liz McGrath reimagined the old Lookout Hotel as an intimate country house hotel in 1988, she claimed one of Plettenberg Bay’s finest vantage points. The Plettenberg still keeps watch from its headland, with the Indian Ocean, golden beaches and the Tsitsikamma mountains spread out below.
Amelia’s is the heart of the hotel. The menu leans towards the catch of the day, with quality steaks, local meats and vegetarian dishes alongside, and the ocean views are every bit as memorable as the food. The Sandbar takes over from late morning for drinks, and breakfast can be enjoyed in the restaurant or in your room.
Days here can be as lively or as lazy as you like. Two pools overlook the bay, one heated and one kept cool, and Fresh Wellness Spa offers a full menu of skin, body and massage treatments. Southern right and humpback whales visit the bay between June and mid-November, and dolphins may be spotted from the terraces. Smaller dogs are welcome in selected ground-floor rooms, so even the family pet can join the holiday.
For anyone exploring the Garden Route by road, The Plettenberg is an ideal place to break the journey.
Rooms and suites are spread between the main house and the Blue Wing, dressed in soft neutrals and gentle blues that echo the bay outside. Sea-view rooms frame the water, while the suites add a bath and a private balcony. For families or friends travelling together, the Beach House and the Lookout Villa are self-contained residences with their own heated pools, kitchens and dining rooms, plus a dedicated concierge. The Beach House also has a fireplace for cooler evenings.
The Plettenberg sits on Church Street in the heart of Plettenberg Bay, a five-minute walk from Lookout Beach. George Airport is about 103 km away, roughly a 1 hour 15 minute drive, and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha is around two and a half hours by road. Keurbooms Lagoon Beach and Robberg 5 Beach are both under 4 km from the hotel, and two golf courses lie less than 5 km away. Between June and mid-November, whales gather in the bay itself.
Speak to a specialist for availability and pricing.
