Can I tempt you to come and meet me where the sky touches the sea?

With the engine humming and the windows down, my road trip adventure began along one of the most beautiful drives in South Africa. So scenic is the stretch of road along the Tsitsikamma National Park that it was named the Garden Route.

Location

Somewhere in the middle of this route is the holiday town of Plettenberg Bay — an ultimate South African seaside escape with six beautiful beaches and long stretches of golden sand lapped by gentle waves. Plettenberg Bay is considered an exclusive and affluent destination for visitors seeking a secluded holiday retreat in a beautiful natural setting.

Originally known as Baia Formosa (Beautiful Bay) by the Portuguese who landed here, this pristine curve of beach is now a trendy playground for sunbathers, surfers and wildlife lovers. With dolphins leaping in the waves and whales patrolling the waters, Plettenberg Bay is a cosmopolitan coastal paradise that adds a splash of Garden Route glitz to any South Africa holiday.

My destination was The Plettenberg, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World — a hotel built on a rocky headland in a prime position of coastline with breathtaking vistas of the sea, mountains and miles of golden sand. The bay is situated within a narrow coastal stretch of 300 kilometres between Mossel Bay and the Tsitsikamma Mountains.

The moment I walked in, I felt like I had stepped into a coastal dream, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salty air. I was welcomed into a beautiful, picture-perfect space of splendid design and inviting public areas, using colour, textures, wallpaper, objects d’art and original South African works of art in themes of blues, greens and soft sand colours to emphasise the ocean, beach and sky.

Rooms

The 35 luxury rooms and suites are elegantly furnished, featuring large floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary bathrooms. Whatever room category you choose — from a Double Room right up to a spacious Premier Suite with a private step-out balcony — you can rest assured of stylish and comfortable accommodation. The Double rooms are spacious, while the Luxury Double rooms feature a small sitting area. Some also come with a private balcony offering wonderful views of Plettenberg Bay and the ocean. Suites are open and bright, featuring a separate spacious living area, and some can be interconnected to accommodate families. Meanwhile, Premier Suites have French doors leading out to a private balcony. All rooms offer a truly idyllic and indulgent experience, each individually designed with sea-inspired décor and endless sea views.

In addition, two larger accommodation options are also available — perfect for families — the 2-bedroom Beach House and 3-bedroom Lookout Villa. Both are ideal for those wanting more privacy or travelling with larger groups, and both villas have their own private swimming pool.

The hotel is spread over two buildings, with the more private being the Blue Wing, reserved for in-house guests only. It has its own heated infinity swimming pool with recliners and an elegant glass-surrounded garden lounge, again exquisitely decorated in cool green and blue hues.

Food and Drink

Set in a contemporary environment, the recently revamped restaurant, Amelia’s, is elegantly decked out in harmonious hues — a palette reflecting the blues, yellows, ochres and turquoise of the seascape it overlooks — and extends out onto the newly widened terrace for easy, breezy outdoor dining on sultry summer days and evenings.

The menu offers a fresh take on the signature dishes that regulars know and love. The indoor dining section offers beautiful views of the pool and ocean, while the outdoor terrace is perfect for alfresco dinners with mesmerising ocean vistas — especially at sunset. The restaurant is renowned for its ocean bounty, drawing inspiration from the rich marine life found in Plettenberg Bay.

I decided on the tempura prawns for my starter — plump and juicy, served with glass noodles, homemade sweet chilli jam, aioli and stir-fried vegetables. My husband enjoyed the steamed black mussels in a garlic, white wine and cream sauce. For our main courses, one was a beautiful pan-seared South Atlantic Ocean tuna with pickled ginger, soba noodles, wok-fried greens and toasted sesame dressing, and the other a hand-caught battered hake with triple-cooked chips and peas. The sweet, delicate flavour of the fish was undeniably fresh with a clean, ocean-like quality. All the dishes were not only delicious but also visually appealing, with careful attention to detail.

The delicious food, impeccable service and charming atmosphere made for a memorable evening.

The Sandbar

Leading off from the sun lounge, the contemporary Sandbar cocktail bar and lounge continues the light and breezy beach theme in its décor. In the evening, it makes an ideal spot to savour a selection of local award-winning wines, bubbly, spirits and expertly mixed cocktails.

Barefoot Luxury

I really connected with the hotel’s way of describing itself as barefoot luxury. This concept is strongly associated with South Africa and speaks to a desire to embrace more relaxed, authentic, luxurious experiences seamlessly integrated with the natural world. It is a way of appreciating the finer things in life — not in material possessions but in experiences and connections that enrich the soul. Barefoot luxury is a state of mind, one that invites us to pause, take a breath, and simply be.

The Plettenberg is one of the three 5-star hotels in the Liz McGrath Collection. All are in unique locations that exemplify South African hospitality and share the philosophy of creating ‘a world away from the ordinary’.

Facilities and Activities

Guests can make use of the two outdoor swimming pools, the spa and the gym. The spa, with its cool, calm interior, is the perfect retreat for guests looking to relax, unwind and recharge. The spa menu features a range of indulgent signature treatments and packages for ladies, gents and couples. There’s also a boutique on site, while complimentary Wi-Fi can be accessed throughout the property. Free secure parking is available for those who are self-driving. If you can bear to leave the gorgeous hotel grounds, a leisurely 10-minute stroll takes you to the bustling town centre of Plett, as the town is fondly known — an array of wonderful shops, boutiques, laid-back restaurants and popular nightlife spots.

The hotel has a whale bell for guests and visitors to ring when they spot whales or dolphins in the bay. There can be year-round sightings of resident Bryde’s whales, pods of bottlenose dolphins and shy Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. The temperature stays warmer in this area for longer, meaning that the whales linger until December.

The wonderfully attentive but discreet staff — all incredibly friendly and helpful — are a true asset to the hotel, and we received excellent service from everyone throughout our stay.

This magnificent landscape, combined with a warm Mediterranean climate, makes the Garden Route a perfect cocktail of sunshine and scenery. The winter months are gentle and moderate, while the summer is warm without being uncomfortable. A high level of rainfall in winter explains the lush forests, rushing rivers and bright, blooming flowers of the region.

Come dance with the waves, move with the sea, and let the rhythms of the water set your soul free. An escape to a world of sun-kissed sand and endless ocean views.

E: Reservations
W: The Plettenberg Hotel

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Written by Diane McLeish for Luxuria Lifestyle International