ShowMe’s Favourite Things | Hermanus Our Town
So you thought you knew everything is to know about Hermanus?
We are not talking about the whale crier, Walker Bay or about the southern right whales. No, we are talking about things that make our town unique, we are talking about things that you might not have known concerning our ‘dorpie‘.
Here they are, the top 10 things you might not have known…
Coffee
Can’t live without your morning cup of coffee? Neither can we! Did you know that Hermanus has their own own coffee bean roasting operation, Arabikaz Coffee. Mike the owner of the favourited The Beanery Coffee Bar has been creating and perfecting his hypnotic coffee blends for more than 15 years. He supplies to a long list of local restaurants here in town too, who knows you might just be sipping on a blend brewed by Mike, proudly made, right here!
Chocolate
If you are a chocolate lover than look no further than picturesque Betty’s Bay, for something truly magical is being whipped up and breaking chocolate lovers hearts across the Overberg! The Overberg has its very own Willie Wonka, Gaspard Bossut. He has been creating hand crafted Belgian chocolates for the last 13 years under his GaBoli’s Chocolates brand. Find them at The Original Deli & Wine Lab and at the Wine Village.
Beer
The craft beer revolution is upon us! With local crafters bubbling up here and there one would think that Hermanus would have its own brewery by now. Word is that by early next year we should see our very own craft beer being made in town, women hold onto your husbands! For now we can settle on visiting equally great Birkenhead and Honingklip Brewery! Cheers…
Fresh Farm Produce
We have a ton of local farms in the area but the one to watch is Camphill Farm. Did you know that they produce milk, cheese, ice-cream, bread, eggs and fresh produce including herbs, veggies and fruit. There are also freshly cut flowers sold at the Hermanus Country Market on Saturdays. The flowers grown on the farm are also used to make a selection of herbal tea’s. All proceeds go towards helping the members of the Camphill community. Locals would be pleased to know that Camphill strives in natural processes when it comes to their farming, wholesome and honest!
Arts
Hermanus is an art Mecca! We have more local artists than any town in South Africa and also far more galleries within the town centre. Our artists don’t just paint but write and act too and we have created wonderful festivals to celebrate them such as the Kalfiefees and FynArts Festival! What’s more is that you can take weekly ceramic, painting, mosaic, scrap-booking, craft, sewing and music classes. Hermanus has plenty on offer to inspire the artist in you!
Inspiring locals
Hermanus is filled with interesting people from all walks of life. Artists, foreigners and born and bred locals whose families have been here for centuries! We have a selection of jewellery designers like Helen SilverSmit and Simone Toerien from Folkloriikka.We have marvellous bakers and wine makers! We have quirky shop owners, zen yoga goers and world travellers! From photographers to wedding planners and from movers and shakers to body shapers! All call Hermanus home and we cannot be more proud!
Food Fair
Hermanus should be known as the ‘foodie’ town of South Africa. We have a wide selection of restaurants from Indian to Chinese, from French right through to Belgian and more. Did you know that Rossi’s is the oldest restaurant in town, it’s doors have been open since 1985! Burgundy Restaurant is situated in the oldest building in Hermanus, the building was built in 1875. It is where the very first wine tasting room was built by Tim Hamilton Russell.
Cheese
Klein River cheese is a small run family business with phenomenal products, some of which are knocking large company produced cheeses right off the shelf! Homemade, honest and humble are words that best describe the Lourens’s cheeses. Did you know that you can now find Klein River cheeses at Woolworths, Pick n’ Pay, Checkers, Fruit & Veg, Spar and deli’s across South Africa?
Surfing
Did you know that Hermanus has some of the best surf spots along the coast? Onrus and Voeklip beach remain popular throughout the year. In winter big swell washes into the bay creating 20 to 22 ft swell. These waves break out in front of Bay View and surfers from all over the world come and try their hand at surfing these waves. Big wave riders such as Twiggy (Grant Baker) regularly call up Louis Day (old Hermanus surf legend) to check on conditions. Photographers from Red Bull and Billabong also call the cliffs of Bay View home when the swell is ‘cooking‘.
The Tourist Trade
Farmers vacationed here in the warmer months. Holiday goers began flocking here in the early 1800’s already. By the late 1800’s the Harley Street Doctors of London had figured that the town was a great place for people suffering from TB and other ailments to recover. In the 1920’s there where 15 chronic illness centre’s in town. These then slowly turned into hotels to cater for the many doctors travelling. The Marine Hotel is the oldest hotel in Hermanus, dating back till 1902 and was even visited by the late Queen Victoria.
Not just famous for its whales!