Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate
4.5
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Explore Benguela Cove Wine Estate, #53 among the World's Top 100 Vineyards, with its vineyard-facing ocean, and stunning views, this is a must-visit location. The estate produces fresh classic still and sparkling wines across three ranges that express every facet of the location. Visitors can enjoy dining at Moody Lagoon, Wine Tastings and unique wine experiences, vineyard safaris, a pirate themed adventure golf and splash park. Trips on the Lady Bonnie pontoon boat as well as e-kayaking opportunities.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
311 reviews
Excellent
214
Very good
39
Average
20
Poor
13
Terrible
26
penny n
Western Cape, South Africa290 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Stunning venue with a beautiful view spoilt by an interior decorator who lost the plot. Despite having made a reservation, we were shown to a seating that could accommodate 3 times our number, making communication difficult. The table was dirty and remained so during our visit. Service was very slow. Tasting prices are ridiculous especially when compared with so many other venues in the region. The waiter visibly showed his disgust/disbelief when we only ordered one bottle of MCC!!
The most disappointing venue in Hermanus during a ten days visit.
The most disappointing venue in Hermanus during a ten days visit.
Written 25 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi 447pennyn,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We value your support.
As we strive to deliver an exceptional experience for each guest, we hope to see you again soon, in order to share the true Benguela Cove experience with you.
Written 21 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hilton Tait
Cape Town, South Africa559 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
What looks to be an excellent venue was sadly let down by poor service and an obvious lack of management.
We were greeted with a complimentary Rose, and were told that Valentine would look after us. We were told to seat ourselves and we chose an outside table overlooking the lagoon. It was pleasant but there was no service until we reminded Valentine we were waiting for him.
Then the fiasco started. We had to fill in our details for Covid purposes on a tablet but it wasn't working and wouldn't accept some of my info. We asked if we could fill in our details on a paper form but this wasn't an option. We asked if there was another tablet. By then Valentine was leaning over my shoulder unmasked and trying to tell me what to do.
We opted to forego the wine tasting then walked through the art gallery where we encountered a very disinterested attendant and finally made our feelings known in the shop on the way out. We asked to speak to management who were clearly absent so we took our patronage elsewhere
We were greeted with a complimentary Rose, and were told that Valentine would look after us. We were told to seat ourselves and we chose an outside table overlooking the lagoon. It was pleasant but there was no service until we reminded Valentine we were waiting for him.
Then the fiasco started. We had to fill in our details for Covid purposes on a tablet but it wasn't working and wouldn't accept some of my info. We asked if we could fill in our details on a paper form but this wasn't an option. We asked if there was another tablet. By then Valentine was leaning over my shoulder unmasked and trying to tell me what to do.
We opted to forego the wine tasting then walked through the art gallery where we encountered a very disinterested attendant and finally made our feelings known in the shop on the way out. We asked to speak to management who were clearly absent so we took our patronage elsewhere
Written 20 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry to hear of your experience at Benguela Cove, unfortunately we are doing all we can to ensure compliance with the regulations and ensuring that we operate a clear track and trace system is extremely important. All of our staff are required to wear masks, operate track and trace and ensure that they sanitize at all times. Clearly, on this occasion, Valentine did not follow this protocol, we have addressed this with him to ensure it does not happen again. Benguela Cove as a team prides itself on offering an extremely high level of service to ensure that our guests have a great experience. Sorry that we fell short on this occasion and we do take feedback like this seriously.
Written 3 January 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LP519
Western Cape, South Africa62 contributions
Jan 2022
We visited Benguela for the Andrew Young concert which we enjoyed, we also booked for dinner after the show for 6 of us. What a disappointment! Our portions for the main courses, fish and the gnocchi were starter size and although the food was tasty, there simply was not enough, we all felt hungry and in need of some more food. Perhaps this is a ploy to make us order dessert, we were so hungry we had to order and enjoyed our desserts which fortunately, were decent portions.
When we pointed out our disappointment to the waiter, he mumbled something about 'I'll tell them' but otherwise nobody checked to see if we were happy and there was no sign of management?
This was not the way to treat guests, particularly local residents who always try and support local during quiet times. No value for money here I'm afraid, and not the place to visit if you have an appetite. Sorry Benguela but you could do a lot better.
When we pointed out our disappointment to the waiter, he mumbled something about 'I'll tell them' but otherwise nobody checked to see if we were happy and there was no sign of management?
This was not the way to treat guests, particularly local residents who always try and support local during quiet times. No value for money here I'm afraid, and not the place to visit if you have an appetite. Sorry Benguela but you could do a lot better.
Written 23 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi LP519, trust you are well? Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback. We always try to keep our guests as happy as possible and appreciate it when you provide us with info on how we can achieve this. We are taking all your comments to the team. We hope to see you again and provide you with a lovely experience. Kind regards
Written 1 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J Cowley
Hermanus, South Africa1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Business
I'm not usually a person to come on here and write bad reviews but it honestly seems necessary this time round.
Having done a free styled shoot at Benguela Cove for their wedding marketing last year, I had nothing but high hopes and good things to say about Benguela and thus I recommended the spot to 2 girls who hired me for their matric farewell photoshoot.
I arrived an hour in advance and spoke to multiple members of the staff, making sure where I was permitted to shoot as well as finding out about one or two areas in the restaurant, I was then reassured by the staff that all was in order. I then proceeded to go to the tasting room and ordered MCC to be prepared for when my clients arrived.
Upon their arrival, we had lovely service from the tasting room and then wanted to proceed to taking photos but the light was too harsh outside and I knew that the restaurant had a function that evening so we headed to go do the indoor photos first to be out of the way before any of their guests arrive. Imagine my shock as well as embarrassment when this time we were told curtly that it costs R250 per person for photos and that now all of a sudden we were not permitted to take any photos inside the restaurant and were told that we could take photos anywhere outside.
In reply to this interaction, I simply said that it was okay and that I understood completely. Me and my group then moved outside and wanted to take family photos against a plain white wall out of direct sunlight, I moved 2 chairs out of the way (with full intention of placing them back once we were done) so that I could get a clean shot of my clients. Then a woman who was an external vendor for Benguela abruptly started to shout at us in a very disrespectful manner that we are not allowed to take photos outside either.
As someone who has now worked for 10 years in the service industry, I understand that perhaps the staff was under stress, but that has never and will never be an excuse to treat any guests in such a contemptuous or boorish manner.
It saddens me to say this but I will not be returning anytime soon and the same goes for any of the individuals in my group that were treated like this.
Having done a free styled shoot at Benguela Cove for their wedding marketing last year, I had nothing but high hopes and good things to say about Benguela and thus I recommended the spot to 2 girls who hired me for their matric farewell photoshoot.
I arrived an hour in advance and spoke to multiple members of the staff, making sure where I was permitted to shoot as well as finding out about one or two areas in the restaurant, I was then reassured by the staff that all was in order. I then proceeded to go to the tasting room and ordered MCC to be prepared for when my clients arrived.
Upon their arrival, we had lovely service from the tasting room and then wanted to proceed to taking photos but the light was too harsh outside and I knew that the restaurant had a function that evening so we headed to go do the indoor photos first to be out of the way before any of their guests arrive. Imagine my shock as well as embarrassment when this time we were told curtly that it costs R250 per person for photos and that now all of a sudden we were not permitted to take any photos inside the restaurant and were told that we could take photos anywhere outside.
In reply to this interaction, I simply said that it was okay and that I understood completely. Me and my group then moved outside and wanted to take family photos against a plain white wall out of direct sunlight, I moved 2 chairs out of the way (with full intention of placing them back once we were done) so that I could get a clean shot of my clients. Then a woman who was an external vendor for Benguela abruptly started to shout at us in a very disrespectful manner that we are not allowed to take photos outside either.
As someone who has now worked for 10 years in the service industry, I understand that perhaps the staff was under stress, but that has never and will never be an excuse to treat any guests in such a contemptuous or boorish manner.
It saddens me to say this but I will not be returning anytime soon and the same goes for any of the individuals in my group that were treated like this.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
First and foremost, please accept our sincere apologies for the distressing experience you had at Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate. Our guests’ satisfaction is paramount, and it is evident that we fell short during your recent visit. Your feedback is crucial to us, as it helps identify areas where we can and must improve.
Regarding your interaction with our staff and the unexpected photography fee, we understand the embarrassment and frustration this might have caused. It seems there was a communication breakdown, and we deeply regret that. We aim to have clear policies regarding shoots, and your experience indicates the need for better internal communication and transparency with our guests.
The behavior of the external vendor, as described, is entirely unacceptable. We work closely with all our vendors and partners, and we expect them to uphold the same values and service standards as we do. We will be addressing this incident with her directly to ensure such events do not repeat in the future.
Having collaborated with you in the past for our wedding marketing, we value your insights and contributions. It's particularly disheartening to hear that such an established relationship was tainted by this experience.
Please know that the issues you raised will be discussed and addressed internally, and corrective measures will be implemented. We genuinely hope you will consider revisiting us in the future. Should you decide to do so, I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss your concerns personally and ensure you have a positive experience.
Again, thank you for your feedback and for bringing these concerns to our attention. We are truly sorry and committed to making things right.
Written 19 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rowtietowers
Durham644 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We passed this wine estate on the way to our accommodation in Hermanus and commented on how impressive the setting was and that we must visit.
So next day we arrived for the wine tasting which was a choice of 3 MCC’s for ZR150 or 5 wines for ZR100. We opted for the latter and each wine was explained in detail - the samples were quite small by comparison to some wine estates we’ve visited in South Africa.
We opted for the cheese platter @ ZR460 which on the face of it sounded expensive. When it arrived, all I could say was wow - I’ve never seen such a huge platter with 6 different cheeses (all superb), fresh fruit, salad, nuts, olives & lovely fresh bread - it was definitely worth the money but our wine tasting (we were up to wine no 3 when it arrived) sort of got lost as we were munching our way through this humongous platter.
We washed it down with 2 glasses of lovely pink MCC.
The grounds and setting of this estate is stunning complete with beautiful modern art sculptures & it was lovely to sit on the terrace and while away the hours.
Definitely recommended.
So next day we arrived for the wine tasting which was a choice of 3 MCC’s for ZR150 or 5 wines for ZR100. We opted for the latter and each wine was explained in detail - the samples were quite small by comparison to some wine estates we’ve visited in South Africa.
We opted for the cheese platter @ ZR460 which on the face of it sounded expensive. When it arrived, all I could say was wow - I’ve never seen such a huge platter with 6 different cheeses (all superb), fresh fruit, salad, nuts, olives & lovely fresh bread - it was definitely worth the money but our wine tasting (we were up to wine no 3 when it arrived) sort of got lost as we were munching our way through this humongous platter.
We washed it down with 2 glasses of lovely pink MCC.
The grounds and setting of this estate is stunning complete with beautiful modern art sculptures & it was lovely to sit on the terrace and while away the hours.
Definitely recommended.
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your stellar rating and review. We're extremely delighted to learn that you had a great visit and loved the overall experience.
Written 13 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris M
Swellendam, South Africa73 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
On arrival it was obvious that too many reservations had been made, as there were six staff trying to provide service to guests in a restaurant that was bursting at the seams! There was no sign of any management!
I had reserved an outdoor table two weeks ago but there were none available but we were told that we would be given one as soon as one became available. Needless to say that never happened and we were stuck indoors on an ideal day for dining outdoors.
We waited longer than 30 minutes before we received any service.
In addition, there weren’t enough glasses, they also ran out of ice and ran out of some ingredients for dishes on the menu!
On the positive side the location is excellent with lovely views and the food, when it was finally delivered to out table, was nice and so were the wines we ordered.
Management needs to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff, that guests who reserved specific tables actually get them and that waiting staff be allocated to specific areas/tables rather than working inefficiently, constantly running from one side of the restaurant to the other!
I had reserved an outdoor table two weeks ago but there were none available but we were told that we would be given one as soon as one became available. Needless to say that never happened and we were stuck indoors on an ideal day for dining outdoors.
We waited longer than 30 minutes before we received any service.
In addition, there weren’t enough glasses, they also ran out of ice and ran out of some ingredients for dishes on the menu!
On the positive side the location is excellent with lovely views and the food, when it was finally delivered to out table, was nice and so were the wines we ordered.
Management needs to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff, that guests who reserved specific tables actually get them and that waiting staff be allocated to specific areas/tables rather than working inefficiently, constantly running from one side of the restaurant to the other!
Written 21 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi 462ChrisM, trust you are well.
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with an insight into your experience with us.
However, we are saddened to learn that your experience was not the best. We always strive to learn and improve.
We take all concerns mentioned very seriously and this has been taken up with staff and management to ensure future success.
We hope to see you again and provide you with a delightful experience.
Kind regards
Written 25 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ewa G
Hermanus, South Africa19 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We had a fantastic lunch at Moody Lagoon Benguela. Starting with the crispy oysters from West Coast and continuing with the excellent mussels in creamy bacon souce and hake with salad. The wines are fresh and well balanced. The chocolate tart for desert was delightful. Our waiter was very attentive and had good sense of humor, thank you! To improve the quality of music entertainment we'd like to suggest that you give a chance to SA jazz musicians!
Written 5 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Wow, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review and such wonderful feedback.
The team appreciate the great feedback as we consistently aim to give each guest an exceptional experience.
We hope to see you again soon :)
Written 17 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tania
Cape Town, South Africa2 contributions
Feb 2020
We had a lovely lunch at the Moody Lagoon restaurant on 14 February - the food was so great and the view and setting is amazing. Benguela is also pet friendly so our little fur child could also join us. Had a lovely stroll around after lunch to enjoy the sculptures. The staff were really welcoming and friendly and a big bonus is that it is very LGBTQ friendly.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Tania,
Wow, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review and such wonderful feedback.
The team appreciate the great feedback as we consistently aim to give each guest an exceptional experience.
We hope to see you again soon :)
Written 19 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James
Dublin, Ireland56 contributions
Feb 2020
Really beautiful place on waters edge. Very much a trophy project with lots of money being pumped into it. Dropped in for a wine tasting. Very pleasant attendant. Wines decent but not spectacular. Beautiful facilities. Not many people around so you certainly feel like you’re in an exclusive environment.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Wow, thank you for your wonderful 5-star review.
The team appreciate the great feedback as we consistently aim to give each guest an exceptional experience.
We hope to see you again soon :)
Written 26 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonathan
Switzerland4 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
When we arrived we were looking forward to the wine tasting, since we heard some good reviews about the place. The location at the water is very lovely and provides a great view of the bay and mountains.
We sat down and the waiter brought us the wine tasting menu. He gave us three different menus and didn't really care to explain what to do with them or how the tasting works. After some time we ordered the 'normal' tasting of five different wines. After some time he arrived with glasses for everyone. Some of those glasses weren't suitable for the wine we ordered since they were too small. We didn't bother and thought that they ran out of glasses...
Later, the waiter came with the bottles and poured the wine in our glasses. He just told us what wine it was and went on about what a specialty the wine is, but nothing else. While the neighbouring table (that was waited by another waitress) got some information about their wines and were asked how they liked them, we were left alone with our glasses. While we were tasting the wine, the waiter talked with some other people and didn't seem to care about us at all. The wine itself tasted very watery and not as good as expected.
He only returned after we were finished and asked if we wanted something else. After we have ordered the bill the waiter just asked how much to put so he could get a tip. I was quite shocked about the audacity and put some insignificant amount (still too much for the service though).
I would not recommend the wine tasting to anyone. Judging from the other reviews, the service at the wine tasting is a major problem which has to be changed. As said, the location is very nice and we enjoyed it far more than the tasting. We won't come back to Benguela Cove.
We sat down and the waiter brought us the wine tasting menu. He gave us three different menus and didn't really care to explain what to do with them or how the tasting works. After some time we ordered the 'normal' tasting of five different wines. After some time he arrived with glasses for everyone. Some of those glasses weren't suitable for the wine we ordered since they were too small. We didn't bother and thought that they ran out of glasses...
Later, the waiter came with the bottles and poured the wine in our glasses. He just told us what wine it was and went on about what a specialty the wine is, but nothing else. While the neighbouring table (that was waited by another waitress) got some information about their wines and were asked how they liked them, we were left alone with our glasses. While we were tasting the wine, the waiter talked with some other people and didn't seem to care about us at all. The wine itself tasted very watery and not as good as expected.
He only returned after we were finished and asked if we wanted something else. After we have ordered the bill the waiter just asked how much to put so he could get a tip. I was quite shocked about the audacity and put some insignificant amount (still too much for the service though).
I would not recommend the wine tasting to anyone. Judging from the other reviews, the service at the wine tasting is a major problem which has to be changed. As said, the location is very nice and we enjoyed it far more than the tasting. We won't come back to Benguela Cove.
Written 11 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Jonathan, hope you are well. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback. We are sorry to hear your experience with us was not up to standard. We take pride in providing our guests with exceptional service. This have been escalated to management and I assure you is not taken lightly. Kind regards.
Written 28 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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