The Definitive Guide to Activities in the Area of Nature's Valley, Plettenberg Bay Area, South Africa

FOOD, RESTAURANTS AND CULINARY TRIPS

Food

Nature's Valley has only one trading licence for a shop and restaurant, the former being well stocked, with the feel of an old-fashioned trading store. A local baker makes delicious carrot cake, traditional milktart and an variety of sweet and savoury foods that can be collected or delivered (contact Dawn on 044-531 6725).

Natures Way Farm stall is a few kilometres from Nature's Valley on the R102, direction Plettenberg Bay, and sells dairy products, home bakes, preserves and farm eggs. Open from 9am to 5pm, contact Judy on 044-534 8849 or cell 082-875 7044 and watch the cows being milked or enjoy a coffee on the verandah. At the Crags is a shop, petrol station and ATM. For more elaborate shopping there is the Pick & Pay in Plettenberg Bay. For fresh fish try Robberg Fish just across from the Shell garage at the large roundabout in Plettenberg Bay behind where the Liquor Guys are located.

Restaurants

For the culinary tourist, there are no less than 130 restaurants in the Plettenberg Bay area, see http://www.goplett.co.za. Here are some that are close by which we can recommend. A couple of hundred metres from Nectar Cottage in Nature's Valley is the The Valley Inn, a reasonably priced and unpretentious restaurant, beergarden, and place to hang out and, if you want, to watch TV (unless sport is on you can often request a change of channel). Just in the Crags on the N2 above Nature’s Valley is Bramon Wine Estate which serve tasty lunches not only inside but also to tables set out in their vineyard depending on weather and if you find an available table. Both the delightful Emily Moon behind PennyPinchers (about 1km before Plettenberg Bay) and Lookout in Plett itself are not to be missed for their stunning views. Also try Enrico in Keurboomsstrand and Rafter's Restaurant in Storm's River for wonderful views.

Knysna's restaurants range from the informal Old Goal, a former jail, to the upmarket Phantom Forest, nominated as one of South Africa's top 100 restaurants by the Food and Wine Society of South Africa in 2001. For a delectable lunch try 34 degrees South Restaurant and Delicatessen on the waterfront in Knysna for fresh oysters, sushi, and just about anything you care to eat or buy. If you are looking for an unusual setting, there is also a luxury floating restaurant in Knysna. for more restaurants in Knysna see www.knysna-info.co.za

RESTAURANT	CONTACT INFORMATION
The Valley Inn Nature’s Valley	044-531 6835, E -mail: beefy@cyberperk.co.za
Bramon Restaurant The Crags	044-534 8007 / 082-897 3753 (only open for lunch)
Enrico Main beach, Keurboomsstrand	044-535 9818 http://www.enricorestaurant.co.za
Emily Moon Behind PennyPinchers, N2	044-533 2982, Fax: 044-533 0687 E-mail info@emilymoon.co.za http://www.emilymoon.co.za
Rafter's Restaurant Storm’s River	042-281 1512, Cell/Mobile: 082-296 2000 E-mail: armagh@mweb.co.za
Phantom Forest	044-386 0046, Fax: 044-387 1944 E-mail phantomforest@mweb.co.za http://www.phantomforest.com
Hemingways	044-533 2488 E-mail: hemingways@mwebiz.co.za
34 degrees South Restaurant and Delicatessen	Tel/fax: 044-382 7331, Cell/Mobile: 083-300 6270 E-mail: tf-south@mweb.co.za
Knysna's luxury floating restaurant	John Benn on 044-382 1693/7.
Knysna Oyster Company	The tavern is open daily, including weekends. Tel. 044-382 6942/1

For a more comprehensive list of restaurants see:

In Plettenberg Bay: http://www.goplett.co.za
In Knysna: www.knysna-info.co.za
On the Garden route: www.gardenroute.co.za/business/restaurant.htm
Throughout South Africa: www.dining-out.co.za

For shops & restaurants in the area see www.plettenbergbay.co.za/business/index.htm

Nature's Valley Inn

Culinary Trips

Take a scenic drive and visit the Trumilk Dairy in the pristine Bitou Valley for cheese, wine and liquor tasting. Trumilk Dairy recently received an award for the best feta cheese in South Africa. Their production includes cheddar cheese and a handmade Camembert. Carefully selected wines from the Cape and Klein Karoo compliment the high quality cheese that can be tasted and bought on the farm.

In the Harkerville forest, enjoy a romantic sundowner at Woodberry's Jam Factory where tours through the Woodberry's factory can be booked. An Explorer Landrover with guide is available to take guests through the Harkerville forest.

No visit to Knysna is complete without a feast of delectable oysters, freshly harvested from the lagoon. The Knysna Oyster Company welcomes visitors at their Oyster Tasting Tavern on Thesen's Jetty where cultivated and wild oysters can be enjoyed on site or purchased to take home.

ESTABLISHMENT	CONTACT INFORMATION
Trumilk Dairy	044-535 9564/9776 E-mail: trumilk@cybertrade.co.za
Woodberry's Jam Factory	044-532 7985, Fax: 044-532 7997 E-mail: wdberrys@global.co.za
Red Berry Farm Pick your own strawberries	044-870 7123 / 083-277 7421 Open Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays 10am - 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm.
Fynboshoek Cheese	042-280 3879 Open daily from 11am to 3pm
Knysna Oyster Company	Tel: 044-382 6941 / Fax: 044-382 6943 E-mail: knysnaoysterco@mweb.co.za www.mbendi.co.za/koyster/home.htm

Sundowners at Storms River
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