5 coastal towns in South Africa serving up top-notch seafood
These coastal towns don’t just serve seafood—they embody it. And they dish it up the way it’s meant to be: fresh, authentic, and truly memorable.
South Africa’s coastal towns deliver more than scenic views and great waves—they haul in some of the country’s best seafood.
From quiet fishing villages to lively seaside cities, these five destinations dish out ocean-fresh meals that easily outshine most inland eateries.
No frills, just exceptional seafood.Take a look…
1. Hout Bay, Western Cape
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 line up at fish-and-chip spots along the harbour for deep-fried snoek, slap chips, and takeaway calamari. They enjoy their seafood perched on the rocks, taking in panoramic views of the Atlantic.
2. Knysna, Garden Route
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.
3. Paternoster, West Coast, South Africa
What to eat: Crayfish, mussels
This quiet fishing village still preserves its timeless charm. At dawn, fishermen set out in wooden boats and return with nets brimming with crayfish. Much of the catch lands on beach braais or is plated at Wolfgat, arguably the country’s most talked-about restaurant. Even the modest beach shacks dish up mussels so fresh they carry the scent of the sea.
4. Gansbaai, Overberg
What to eat: Abalone (perlemoen), yellowtail
Gansbaai, famous for its shark cage diving, also boasts one of South Africa’s richest marine ecosystems. Several abalone farms operate in the area, and some restaurants legally and sustainably serve this rare delicacy. You can enjoy it grilled or thinly sliced like sashimi. Another local favourite is yellowtail, best enjoyed simply, fresh off the coals.
5. Port St. Johns, Wild Coast, South Africa
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.