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Albeit small and far from the busyness of Cape Town and Johannesburg, Knysna is one of South Africa’s best-known towns. It was a major port and centre of timber production during the era following the first arrival of the English and the Dutch to settle the interior of the country.
Some thirty years ago, people knew Knysna best as a hippie town of sorts. And today, Knysna has a bit of everything: stunning natural sights, wonderful hiking trails, luxurious hotels or more rustic backpackers, and trendy yoga studios. Of course, there are also plenty of fabulous restaurants. Luckily for you, this local’s guide presents some of the best of them.
To eat out in Knysna can feel like being in a cosmopolitan city, or like a trip back in time to visit the 19th century. Many wonderful restaurants are located in the town centre, such as at Knysna’s Waterfront, while others are on the outskirts of Knysna. Though they all have their own characters, the things that the best restaurants in Knysna have in common are the availability of fresh seafood, great South African wine, and friendly owners and waitrons.
Get ready to discover where and what to eat in Knysna, as recommended by locals. With that, here are the 8 best restaurants in Knysna for 2025.
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1. Caffe Mario
Caffe Mario is a special secret in Knysna. Just off the town centre, it is conveniently located, and it has a warm, friendly atmosphere along with hospitable staff. This Italian restaurant has seating indoors and on the covered patio, and some tables outside as well. With reasonable prices and a nice variety of foods to choose from, Caffe Mario is one of the best family restaurants to visit in Knysna.
I recommend the pizzas at Caffe Mario – they have wonderfully thin crusts and tasty toppings. The restaurant also serves great pastas, including arrabbiata and various vegetarian options, and tramezzinis. There is also calamari and other seafood options available. Or, you could just come here for a relaxing cappuccino during your town outing.
2. Salt & Petal
This central Knysna restaurant is one of my favorite places to go work while enjoying something small to eat. When dining at Salt & Petal, I recommend their cappuccinos and almond croissants, savory muffins, pies and cakes. However, they also serve fabulous breakfast and lunch, with unique dishes and various vegetarian options on the menu. You can just tell their food is made with love and beautifully presented.
Salt & Petal consists of various spaces. You can choose to be seated on a small courtyard, indoors by a fireplace, at the café, or inside a small, light room especially dedicated to remote workers. There is also plenty of free parking available outside which is a bonus if you’re traveling by car.
3. Freshline Fisheries
At Freshline Fisheries, you can enjoy Knysna’s freshest seafood in a unique atmosphere. Tucked away within a nondescript business area as it is, you’d not know what to expect when you first arrive. But, when you walk in to the dining area decorated with beach sand and maritime artefacts, covered by a stretch tent, you’ll get right into the mood for spending a vibrant afternoon or evening out with great local food and drinks.
On the menu they have the most delicious grilled or battered hake and chips. You can also choose from various other local fish types, such as yellow tail, gurnard, or kingklip, depending on availability. Fish can also be served in the style of a “weskus braai”. You can eat the most delicious Mozambique prawns here, as well as calamari tubes, sushi, burgers, steak and pizzas.
For vegetarians there aren’t plenty of options available, but you can order a nice vegetarian pizza or sushi. For dessert, enjoy a traditional South African malva pudding.
Freshline Fisheries regularly hosts live music, which is just another wonderful reason for stopping by.
4. 34 Degrees South
34 Degrees South is a whole experience. The restaurant serves superb seafood and other dishes, but they also have an in-built deli shop that you absolutely can’t not explore. The restaurant is vibey, trendy, and indeed very popular – it is one of the best restaurants in Knysna according to both locals and visitors.
34 Degrees South is especially well known for their seafood, such as fresh oysters, prawns, and sushi. You can try some of their signature dishes such as Thai seared salmon or 34 South’s poke bowl. They also make wonderful pizzas.
For vegetarians and vegans there are plenty of options available, including vegetarian mezze platter or nachos with pickled jalapenos and red onions. The dishes are prepared with care and love. I once ordered what I thought was a simple toast and was then rewarded with an aesthetically pleasing experience as well as a joy to the taste buds.
At the deli shop you can find treats from various parts of the world. We recommend exploring their flavored olive oils, eastern spices, wines, and European sweets and chocolates. There are also superb fresh breads and cheeses, and you’ll find the most delicious bread pudding in the fridge section that you can heat up at home.
5. L’Opera restaurant and coffee shop
At a prime location at Knysna’s Waterfront, and right next door to 34 Degrees South, L’Opera is a fabulous breakfast and lunch spot. Their service is great, their interior decoration simple but beautiful, and their dishes are wonderfully presented and taste divine. L’Opera’s food is moderately priced.
On their breakfast menu they have the more traditional omelets or English breakfast, or you could go for a toast and chips or a tramezzini. For lunch, they serve fantastic burgers and wraps, and some especially South African dishes such as West Coast calamari or ostrich & apple de chou.
The reason I personally keep going back to L’Opera, though, are their lovely pancakes. They are tasty, filling, and indeed beautifully presented. We can recommend their savory chicken & mushroom pancake, or the sweet banana pancake or berry delight.
L’Opera is cozy and intimate, and yet it has a sophisticated air and it shows lovely attention to detail. Perhaps, like us, you’ll fall in love and visit again and again.
6. East Head Café
Few things embody the spirit of Knysna and its history better than the swathes of indigenous forest surrounding the city, and the Knysna Heads. The Heads refers to the high opposing rocks that overlook the meeting point of the Indian ocean and Knysna lagoon.
This is where boats and ships entered and left Knysna all throughout its colorful history over the last two hundred years. Thus, the Heads is an important natural and cultural landmark in Knysna. One wonderful place to appreciate the Heads is East Head Café, on the eastern shore of the Heads.
East Head Café is committed to supporting local and to offering visitors an experience to remember. It is a special treat, enjoying fresh seafood with views towards the blue lagoon and sandstone cliffs of the Heads.
On the menu you’ll find specialties such as Cape Malay Seafood Curry with a taste of coconut, or Saldanha Bay mussels steamed in white wine. You could also have a more traditional fish and chips or grilled prawns, and the restaurant makes lovely salads and burgers. Their wine list features gifts of many South African vineyards.
7. The Bell Tavern
One of my all-time favorites and definitely one of the best restaurants in Knysna is the characterful Bell Tavern at Belvidere Manor. This small restaurant on the outskirts of Knysna has a cozy atmosphere and the most charming waitrons. The tables outside are lovely, with views towards the surrounding gardens and the chance to enjoy some sun and warmth. The indoor space is decorated in a style of an old English pub. You can peek into their basement wine cellar through a glass window on the floor.
On the menu you’ll find pub-style meals such as burgers, fish and chips, and a delicious chicken pot pie. There are also special chef’s meals such as Belvidere’s famous bobotie, a South African dish. In the way of vegetarian foods, you can choose a salad or a tomato & mozzarella toast. Or, ask the chef for a vegetarian option of their local dishes. The Bell has tasty local craft beer, wines, and gin and cider on tap, and for dessert, I can recommend their Amarula crème brûlée.
The Bell Manor also offers accommodation in a peaceful setting, close to Knysna lagoon.
Travel tip: If you’d like to explore a bit further, The Bell Tavern is located close to Brenton on Sea, where you can take a lovely walk on a long, white beach.
8. Portland Manor Country Estate (and restaurant)
Another place where you can experience a bit of Knysna’s history, while enjoying something delicious to eat, is Portland Manor. This grand estate lies 20 kilometres outside of Knysna, in Rheenendahl. Built in 1842, it was one of the first major farms ever established in the area. Currently, Portland Manor is an accommodation and events venue, and Cowshed Eatery is its farm-style restaurant. You can also book the extra atmospheric Chef’s Table for special occasions.
We recommend for you to take a small tour on their premises to view the beautiful gardens and a large pond, with glimpses towards the Outeniqua mountains. At Cowshed Eatery, the tasteful decorations bring with them a sense of history, and of comfort. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all made largely with local ingredients. Pricing is moderate to moderately expensive. Options for mains include meat dishes such as rump steak and chicken grilled on fire. We can also especially recommend their wood-fired artisanal pizzas.
Local tip: Portland Manor is close to a well loved forest walk called Circles in the Forest, managed and maintained by SanParks. Here you will get a feel of what inspired Dalene Matthee to write her famous novels, filled with colorful characters and stories about woodcutters and Knysna elephants. One of these elephants, by the way, is still roaming these vast forests. You might be lucky enough to spot its footprints during your visit.
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