Soothe your soul in the quaint West Coast fishing village of Paternoster, renowned for its crayfish and beautiful white Cape Dutch houses.
Paternoster is a relaxed, very relaxed, fishing village up the West Coast, a pretty straight forward 2,5 hour drive from Cape Town. It truly is the kind of place where you go to “get away from it all” and it is famous for its characteristic white houses of which many are in the Cape Dutch architectural style.
The Paternoster name apparently comes from a type of fishing tackle, or was the name of a Dutch merchant vessel that was wrecked in the bay three centuries ago. Possibly is simply “Our Father”. Whatever the meaning it just sounds right, this is not a town that makes big promises, rather like the soft “pitter patter” of a gentle rain it soothes your soul.
Paternoster still goes about its business the way it always has, making its livelihood from the sea. Most of the residents are employed in the fishing trade and the two restaurants here have plenty of the freshest of fish on the menu. One of the restaurants, Voorstrandt Restaurant is as the name suggests, right on the beach and very unpretentious, more like friends that have a cabin and make food for friends .The other is at the nearby Paternoster hotel.
During crayfish season you will be offered live “crawling” crayfish by the young entrepreneurial residents of the town. Due to over fishing it is illegal to buy undersized crayfish. Legend has that popular seafood wine bottle Graca is the exact minimum size required, giving you the perfect excuse to buy that extra bottle, just to measure.
The unspoiled charm make Paternoster and its surrounds perfect for a romantic rendezvous, some little soul searching, lazy beach walks or just reading at your sea side bed & breakfast in Paternoster.
In spring like all the towns along the West Coast leading up to Namaqualand, the hills surrounding Paternoster come alive with a riot of spring flowers especially at the nearby Columbine Nature Reserve, a little drive south of Paternoster. The Columbine Reserve includes Tietiesbaai cheekily named after two nearby hills (you will recognise the hills instantly).
Molo Says: If you are looking for quaint seaside accommodation and things to do in Paternoster, within a days drive from Cape Town, subscribe to our newsletter. Paternoster will be featured in detail soon with accommodation options from B&Bs to self catering holiday houses.
A unique budget accommodation option in Paternoster is the Beach Camp with A framed huts which is “rough and ready” accommodation right on the beach in the Columbine Nature Reserve. Every night you will be treated to the freshest seafood directly from the beach.
Paternoster is one of the first suggested towns on a Cape Town to Namibia self drive. For more accommodation options read more on the West Coast visit our bed and breakfasts in South Africa section.
Read about all the annual spring flower festivals in South Africa in our events section. Discover more unique places of Cape Town and South Africa in google earth , and don't miss our popular and free newsletter of CapeTownMagazine.com.
