7 Best Hotels in Plettenberg Bay, The Garden Route and the Little Karoo

Only 10 minutes away from the hubbub of Plettenberg Bay, this delightfully quirky lodge on the banks of the Bitou River combines an enchanting mix of African, Asian, and Polynesian decor. Each of the 16 suites in the lovely garden have a fireplace and a private balcony with expansive river and wetland views. Emily’s restaurant serves locally sourced produce, and there’s an innovative vegan and vegetarian menu. Simon’s Bar has breathtaking views, great cocktails, and yummy pizza.  

High on a rocky point in Plettenberg Bay, this luxury hotel has unbelievable views of Keurbooms Lagoon and the Tsitsikamma Mountains. In season, whales and dolphins frolic just beyond the waves. Built around an 1860 manor house, the hotel has an aura of graciousness. Grab one of the corner suites for wraparound vistas of the Indian Ocean. Even if you don't stay here, treat yourself to lunch on the terrace at Amelia's, where the food is as fantastic as the views. 

At this pleasant lodging overlooking Plett’s lovely Hobie Beach, you’ll soon be dipping your toes in the Indian Ocean. There are shared decks on the upper and lower levels, or go cliffside if you’d like a more intimate spot (but without the view). Take a dip in the plunge pool by indigenous milkwood trees. A small restaurant and bar complete this beach idyll, but if you want to stretch your legs, more restaurants, shops, and the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve are close by.

Just 10 minutes from town, this tranquil property is set amid gardens that descend into a forested valley. The heart of the property is an old farmstead, a lovely thatched building with low beams and large fireplaces. Guest rooms are in cottages with their own fireplaces and verandas. Three suites have private plunge pools. Tasteful antiques grace the rooms, and clawfoot tubs are the centerpiece of many of the spacious bathrooms. Most guests eat at the hotel's excellent table restaurant, serving classic dishes with a South African twist. There's also the option of eating at Zinzi's, a separate restaurant on the grounds. The Summer House, in the garden, is open for tea and lunch, and early dinners can be enjoyed in the Conservatory. Hunter's is very child-friendly, making it one of the few places where you don't have to sacrifice sophistication for family accommodations.

The setting of this stylish, minimalist lodge—in splendid isolation on a cliff top in a private nature reserve on the western (wild) side of Robberg Peninsula—is one of the best anywhere, and the view of the open ocean across fynbos-clad hills is spectacular. Rooms are decorated in understated creams, blues, and browns; those that face the sea have dramatic views, and the others overlook a tranquil lily pond. A steep path leads to a private beach and natural tidal pool. Rooms all have fireplaces and underfloor heating for the winter months.

This stylish hilltop hotel has 360-degree views over the Keurbooms River, the Indian Ocean, and the Tsitsikamma and Langkloof mountains. Twin curving wrought-iron staircases lead up to 14 luxurious rooms with private terraces. Interesting animal sculptures flank the lovely pool where you can admire the uninterrupted views as you float. Sip a drink at the sensational rooftop Sky Bar before dining in the chic restaurant that sources local, organic ingredients for its seasonal menu.

Immerse yourself in nature at this lodge where impeccably designed chalets perched on stilts gaze out at the forest canopy. Stone fireplaces dominate the soaring suites, which have spacious private verandas and plunge pools. In the spa-like bathrooms, hand-beaten brass fixtures fill oval-shaped tubs. The rest is glass walls and a deck suspended over the forest floor, and there's the further option of dining at Zinzi's, a lovely restaurant on the same property.