If you had not yet heard of Knysna's île de paďn, it would only be a matter of time before someone told you to go there. It is famous for serving delectable dishes combined with the freshest, local ingredients and hand-shaped, wholesome sourdough loaves made from stone-ground flour and baked in a wood-fired oven.

Liezie Mulder, the chef/owner of île de paďn, does not like to speak about the awards she and her team have received over the years but simply explains: "We serve what we love to eat and the café is our dining room ".

"We make everything that we use here and use fresh, local ingredients as much as possible", explains Liezie, "one exception is the "Grand Cru" chocolate that is used for the most luxurious hot chocolate you will ever taste. It is also used in the chocolate mousse for after lunch or in the chocolate chip cookies which can be taken out as a pick-me-up".

The interior of the café is also unique. The menu is written on large blackboards and printed plastic sheets are the only separation between the kitchen and the dining area. Large clusters of light bulbs hang from the ceiling and decoration is minimal. The environment as rustic, comfortable and unpretentious. The layout is simple, the large wood-fired oven is part of the décor, and the ambience is created by the people. ""There are people who come and eat here every day and it has become one big family."

"It is the people that make a place happen. We want to create an environment where good food can be shared. Good food has life. Love life. This is what keeps the people coming back for more!"

Zachary's - Pezula
Zachary's is a contemporary classic restaurant that embodies all of my philosophies on food. With our own organic gardens and the bounty of products available in this area along the Garden Route, we are busy developing a clean honest approach to food with a unique style of its own.

Fire Fly
A hidden gem of a restaurant in this neck of the woods is FIREFLY EATING HOUSE where hip mother-and-daughter team Dell and Sanchia Hadlow wow pilgrims with their unique offering of glorious spice-inspired food in an intoxicating setting. A little cottage on the hillside is home to this teeny restaurant. Step through the fairylit gate into a world of Edith Piaf, a garden of twinkling lights and squashy sofas on the veranda. Pre-dinner cocktails are served on silver trays decorated with just-picked blooms and set the scene for a decadent evening of flavour exquisite presentation all round.

Cruise Cafe
The Cruise Café offers the best selection of cocktails and is the perfect venue to enjoy an evening drink with someone special while watching the sun set over the Lagoon. Our menu is contemporary and carefully selected and is accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Our friendly staff will ensure that your evening is a memorable one.

Sirocco
The restaurant is housed in a dramatic double-storey building, with exposed red brick and corrugated iron creating interesting interior spaces through the use of curved walls and large expanses of glass that maximise the stunning views across the lagoon to the Heads. German born, executive chef Michael Hebel's menu is a contemporary but unpretentious mélange of Mediterranean influences with a touch of the East. Sirocco also has an extensive cocktail menu.