8 Best Hotels in Hermanus, The Western Cape and Winelands

A 30-minute drive from Hermanus, this luxury lodging sits on 2,500 acres overlooking Walker Bay. Privacy is paramount in the soothing suites, which have fireplaces, sunken bathtubs, and private sundecks opening onto mountains as far as the eye can see. Rates include breakfast, three-course lunch, and a six-course dinner, plus activities such as horseback riding and trips to a nearby coastal cave. Children will delight in the playground, petting zoo, and treasure hunts at the reserve.

If whale-watching is on your agenda, you’re unlikely to come across a better spot than this boutique hotel. It has a magnificent location overlooking Walker Bay, where southern right and humpback whales breach just beyond the perpetual line of surfers. On the spacious stone patio, you can lounge on one of the wicker chaises while gazing at the view. The rooms are classic and spacious, peppered with colorful furnishings. The on-site restaurant is open to non-guests as long as you book ahead, meaning you can enjoy this outrageously beautiful view even if you don't stay over.

One of the southern hemisphere's most spectacular seaside properties, The Marine has an incomparable clifftop setting. Perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, the sumptuously decorated rooms provide whale-watchers with grandstand views over the ocean. All rooms keep you toasty with underfloor heating, and some have private balconies. The two restaurants tempt you with sophisticated menus. The Marine is surprisingly child-friendly.

If you want to be in the center of the village, this stylish guesthouse puts you a stone's throw from the famous whale-watching cliffs. There's a tree-shaded garden and a pretty pool in the courtyard. The rooms are comfortably decorated in French provincial style. Larger rooms with sleeper sofas are great for families or friends traveling together. Ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the bay or a suite that opens onto the pool.

On the banks of the Klein River, Blue Gum is a wonderful place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of Hermanus. The rooms are individually decorated in a style that's part English country house, part colonial outpost. Mosquito nets, crisp white linens, and handsome wood will make you feel a little like a 21st-century Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame. It's a lovely family-run place with an emphasis on escaping the bustle of city life.

Everyone who walks past this boutique hotel looks on enviously at the location; it sits on Harbour Road, affording marvelous views over False Bay, particularly from the pool. There are bright, airy rooms in the Manor House, one of which comes with a wood-fired hot tub on the deck. The new wing has studios with kitchenettes and balconies.

Decorated in restful shades of blue and white, this is a great base from which to take long whale-watching walks. Ask for a room with a view and put your feet up while you watch the Southern Right whales splashing in the bay below. Alternatively, take a stroll along the nearby whale-watching cliffs. An honor bar and tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

If you come to Hermanus anytime from July to November, consider staying at this hotel in the heart of town. It's a family-run hostelry that offers comfort but little pretense. Rooms are outdated, so the real reason to stay here is its position atop the cliffs, making it a great place to view the annual whale migration. Request one of the second-floor, sea-facing rooms, with sliding-glass doors and unbeatable views. During holidays, a games room with a pool table and table tennis is set up for older children. Breakfasts are ample.