Ficks: the best sundowner pinchos bar in Hermanus (maybe in the Western Cape)

Pair wine, cocktails and mocktails with pinchos and a spectacular sea view

Carved into the cliffs and set over a crystal clear tidal pool is a delightful little cocktail mecca that you should not miss if you go to Hermanus. It’s called Ficks, and it has to be one of the most memorable bars in the country.

EVERY HOUR CAN BE COCKTAIL HOUR AT FICKS

Ficks is made up of a series of wooden decks that hug the cliff contours. There, broad umbrellas have been set up to provide shade for guests. The view is of shy resident dassies on the surrounding rocks, pods of dolphins beyond the tidal pool wall, or yachts in full sail tacking to the direction of the wind. 

Imagine all of that with a refreshing, limey Tom Collins (R65) in hand, or perhaps a Classic Aperol Spritz (R85), a light drink loved in Europe made up of Aperol bitters and soda water. Of course, the ultimate seaside drink that tastes like holiday is the Pina Colada (R80), with its luxurious mix of pineapple juice, coconut cream and ice cream (and rum and Malibu, of course).

FICKS SHAKES BRILLIANT MOCKTAILS

With pandemic lockdowns and alcohol often locked away, many restaurants are seeing the wisdom of perfecting their mocktails – or virgin cocktails (while some of us are seeing the wisdom of drinking them). Ficks, where the standard cocktail costs R35, is one of those. 

Try the fresh and minty Cucumber Mojito, while for something sweeter there are a number of options: a Shirley Temple with grenadine and ginger ale; or a Mangorita, a delicious mix of mango juice, lime, ginger beer, cucumber and honey.

The wine list is also excellent and celebrates winemakers of the region, from award-winning Bouchard Finlayson and Hamilton Russel, to wineries such as Gabrielskloof and Beaumont. 

THE FOOD HITS THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS

It’s worth noting that the food hits the same high standards as the drinks. Ficks serves Basque-style Pinchos de Carne, Pinchos de Mariscos and Pinchos de  Verduras – meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes – that are distinctly flavoured with a Piment Déspilet from a small region in the South West of Spain. So go for cocktails, but make an evening of your visit to Ficks Pinchos & Wine.

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While you’re in Hermanus, visit Fick’s sister restaurant Dutchies.

The coolest bar set over a tidal pool.

Cool off this summer in these other tidal pools.

Looking for more cocktail bars? These are some of the best in and around Cape Town.