5 seaside towns in South Africa with seriously good seafood
From tiny fishing villages to bustling coastal cities, these five seaside towns serve up ocean-fresh dishes that put most inland restaurants to shame.
No gimmicks. Just seriously good seafood. Take a look… Grilled calamari. Image: canva
What to eat: Snoek & chips, grilled calamari
Just 20 minutes from Cape Town, Hout Bay is a working harbour with real grit and flavour. Locals queue up for deep-fried snoek, slap chips, and takeaway calamari from fish-and-chip joints lining the harbour. Eat your seafood right on the rocks, with sweeping sea views of the Atlantic. Knysna is known for its oysters. Image: canva
What to eat: Oysters
Knysna isn't just pretty, it's the oyster capital of South Africa. The Knysna Oyster Festival draws crowds, but you can score fresh oysters year-round from lagoon-facing spots like 34° South. Whether raw, grilled, or soaked in Champagne, Knysna oysters are clean, plump, and impossible to forget.
What to eat: Crayfish, mussels
This quiet fishing village still feels untouched by time. Fishermen head out in wooden boats at dawn and come back with nets full of crayfish. Many end up on beach braais or plates at Wolfgat, arguably the most talked-about restaurant in the country. Even the humble beach shacks serve mussels so fresh they still smell like the tide. Abalone sashimi. Image: canva
What to eat: Abalone (perlemoen), yellowtail
Known for shark cage diving, Gansbaai also has one of the richest marine ecosystems in South Africa. It's home to several abalone farms, and some restaurants serve this rare delicacy legally and sustainably. Try it grilled or sliced thin like sashimi. Yellowtail is another highlight, best served simply, straight off the coals.
What to eat: Grilled fish, seafood potjie
Far from the tourist traps, Port St. Johns is raw, wild, and packed with flavour. The seafood is rustic and real, think whole fish grilled over open flames, spicy seafood potjies bubbling over fire, and prawns that taste like they came out of the ocean an hour ago. Don't expect white tablecloths, just good food and a front-row seat to the Indian Ocean.
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