Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Plettenberg, a member of The Liz McGrath Collection, is situated on a rocky headland in one of South Africa's most spectacular beach towns. Tucked neatly into the Garden Route, Plettenberg Bay boasts a year-round temperate climate, pristine beaches, and dense green forests, making it the ultimate South African seaside escape. The 5-star Small Luxury Hotels of the World property has direct beach access and showcases the most breathtaking vistas in Southern Africa, with views of the ocean, mountains, and endless stretches of golden sand. The hotel features 35 beautifully appointed guest rooms, including 12 suites and two spectacular villas. Amelia's at the Plettenberg offers a scenic dining experience, with breathtaking ocean views from both the indoor and outdoor seating areas. This acclaimed seafood restaurant showcases the freshest seasonal catches from Plettenberg Bay, alongside innovative and sustainable dishes prepared by a talented chef and team.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Green
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
40 Church Street, Plettenberg Bay 6600 South Africa
The Plettenberg
945 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Plettenberg hotel emerges as a top choice for its prime location, offering breathtaking ocean views and easy access to beaches and attractions. Many guests have called out the hotel's elegant atmosphere and luxurious rooms, despite a solitary remark about a lackluster dinner ambiance.
The hotel's amenities, including pristine rooms and exceptional food, contribute to its reputation as a tranquil retreat, complemented by the staff's highly-praised friendliness and professionalism. While the majority of travelers find the hotel's cleanliness impeccable, opinions on room size and value for money are varied.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Elegant
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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The Plettenberg Hotel is the Best hotel in Plettenberg without hesitation. The best part of The Plettenberg Hotel is the customer service that truly goes above and beyond to make the guest feel welcome and special. It is in the perfect location, right in front of the most beautiful ocean where we saw dolphins playing from our room, very secure, huge rooms with the best views of the water, and the best, most accommodating service! This hotel is a must stay while in Plettenberg. They went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. The breakfast was phenomenal. The treatment even better! A very special thank you to the most amazing Hlumela, who was beyond helpful in making our stay the best, as well as Balu (sp?) who showed phenomenal customer service and care. The care and attention provided made us want to return and stay at The Plettenberg Hotel anytime we’re in Plett. You will not regret choosing to stay at The Plettenberg Hotel! Also, we saw dolphins from our room!!! The Liz McGrath hotels were beyond phenomenal and we will look to stay at these hotels anywhere we travel in the world!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Has private parking
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.
Response from Cletous Mazarura, Other at The Plettenberg
Responded 23 Dec 2024
Dear Bombstoliv, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are truly delighted to hear that you had such a memorable stay at The Plettenberg Hotel. It warms our hearts to know that our team, especially Hlumela and Balu, made a positive impact on your experience. We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the breathtaking ocean views and even got to see dolphins from your room! Your kind words about our customer service and breakfast mean the world to us, and we appreciate your recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Plettenberg. Thank you once again for choosing us! Warm regards, The Plettenberg Hotel Team
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We received a warm welcome at The Plettenberg Hotel from Sadah Moodley, who efficiently facilitated our check-in, as we had already completed it through the hotel's app. Sadah then escorted us to our rooms, and his warm welcome, extensive knowledge of the area, and helpful recommendations were truly exceptional. The reception staff, in general, were very friendly, and the corridor staff were also consistently welcoming and wore smiles.
Mr. Cletous went above and beyond to provide us with a 5-star experience, ensuring we left with smiles on our faces.
In the restaurant, the staff radiated warmth and professionalism under the watchful eye of Mr. Aucamp. Whether it was breakfast, poolside meals, or dinner, the dining experience exceeded our expectations. Lelive Peter introduced us to delightful mocktails, and we would like to express our gratitude to Lethu for guiding us through meal choices by the pool, as well as to Bulelwa, Anelisa, and Jermaine for serving us with the most genuine and welcoming smiles. The staff's exceptional training was evident in the meticulous attention to detail, such as replacing tablecloths after every client and ensuring breakfast trays were consistently stocked with fresh food. The quality of the juices and coffee was outstanding. Security was great.
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.
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We were very impressed by the hotel and services provided. They went above and beyond to cater for our daughter who is under 2 with microwave sterilizing equipment, cot, bedding, mini robe, baby bathtub etc. The complimentary drinks were very welcome and overall the staff were friendly and very professional. Staying at the Plettenberg Hotel was definitely a highlight of out trip to South Africa.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Firstly I should point out I am holding The Plett to a high standard (ie that of a luxury hotel). We enjoyed our stay there but found both pro’s and con’s in describing our experience. The location is great, great aspect overlooking the bay (and a short walk uphill .. so downhill on the way back :-) … to Plett’s main street and restaurants), arrival and check in was smooth and swift and the reception, parking and bellhop staff were professional, friendly and very helpful. The decor in the hotel is light airy, has a nice African vibe in parts and is generally very well done (as you would expect in a luxury hotel). Our room was ok (but not great) … it was reasonably sized but the bathroom was small and the walk in shower allowed water to pool on the floor. The toilet was rather tightly positioned beside the door and was in the bathroom. It did have a good view out over the bay and was bright and airy (aircon was blowing over the bed though which is never great). So with all of that the Plett would still be a solid 4 star hotel in my opinion. What let it down (at least ion our visit) was the restaurant dinner experience (breakfast selection was good, even though we did have the wrong dish served one morning). The first night (we had tried to book by email from Franschhoek .. but no response from the email address on the website) … we were given the first 2 seat table the host set their eyes on right by the desk and door (never great) .. menu and food was ok (not memorable) and wine list was good. The second night was an issue (and hence the three stars on this occasion), we had booked in the morning at breakfast and specifically requested an outside table (as we know forecast was great) .. we arrived at 8 pm to be shown an inside table (right in the far corner by the kitchen door this time) of an empty inside part of the restaurant. When we asked for our booked outside table we were told it wasn’t available, the restaurant manager explained he wasn’t on duty in the morning (so not his fault) and all he had was the rather lonely two seats in the far corner. What did we do? we said no thanks and were lucky to enjoy a great evening at Nguni (see separate review) .. what should he have done? he should have have apologised (guest is always right even when wrong) on behalf of the hotel, offered us a free drink at the bar and said he would sort out for us if we were prepared to wait 30-45 mins until a table was free outside (we would have) .. just a suggestion The Plett management! So this time 3 star it is.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Cletous Mazarura, Other at The Plettenberg
Responded 4 days ago
Dear Rich D, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent stay at The Plett. We truly appreciate your insights and are glad to hear that you enjoyed our beautiful location, friendly staff, and the overall decor of the hotel. We sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you experienced during your dining experiences. Your comments regarding the seating arrangements and communication issues with our restaurant team have been noted, and we will certainly address these matters with our management to ensure a more seamless experience for our guests in the future. We strive to provide a luxury experience, and it’s clear we fell short in some areas during your visit. Your suggestions are invaluable, and we will take them into consideration as we work towards improving our service. Thank you once again for your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with an experience that meets your expectations. Kind regards, Cletous Mazarura Assistant GM
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When we arrived we were told that we had unfortunately entered the wrong date on Booking, but that we should go ahead and check in and they would change it without any problems. Hours later we were asked to pay an additional charge. (The next day the room on Booking cost the same as we had paid for it). We had already used the room, otherwise I would have left. The swimming pool was outdated, only slightly heated, too cold to swim, and it was empty. The lawn by the pool was only partly in the shade. The "white" managers were arrogant. Room service in the evening came when we were already in bed, breakfast was definitely not a 5 star hotel, service poor, we had better selection and quality in B&Bs. Conclusion: price/performance ratio is absolutely not right. Not a 5 star hotel.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Lovely hotel with fantastic reviews overlooking the bay. Choice of pools (neither of which were busy when we were there). Friendly staff, clean rooms, powerful shower, generous in room drink/snack selection. Free parking outside. We really enjoyed our stay. Breakfast food and drink choices were plentiful and tasty with generous portions. We ate out in the evenings, as there were several restaurants we discovered that we wanted to try. We had a car but always walked. The hotel is at the bottom of a hill (but atop a cliff) so the walk to the centre is uphill but not far so doable for most people. The only downside to our stay was that our room was above the front door and we could hear noisier guests coming and going late at night. Having said that, if we were in the area we would be more than happy to stay there again.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Free parking outside
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.
Response from Cletous Mazarura, Other at The Plettenberg
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Winsonmelosesome2014, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Iam thrilled to hear that you appreciated the views, staff, our pools, clean rooms, and breakfast offerings. We’re also glad you found the nearby restaurants appealing! I apologize for the noise disturbance from guests coming and going; we understand how that can impact your experience. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will certainly take it into consideration as we strive to improve our guest experience. We would love to welcome you back anytime you're in the country! Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us. Safe travels! Kind regards, Cletous Mazarura Assistant GM
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The hotel is located above Plettenberg Bay with scenic views of the ocean from the two pool terraces. It's about a 3-minute walk to the beach, but it's recommended to only use one of the paths as there have been attacks on tourists. The rooms, the library as well as the lobby and restaurant have been newly renovated and decorated in maritime blue and white. Staff in all areas were extremely friendly and accommodating. The restaurant impresses with fish and meat dishes and selected wines. Overall a wonderful stay with 180 degree views of the beach, surf and cliffs. Pure sea feeling.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
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 really enjoyed our three night stay at The Plettenberg.
The hotel could not be situated in a most beautiful spot with excellent views over the ocean and bay. We were glad we waked early for breakfast, as we managed to eat in their terrace with the most wonderful sunrise ever. Just for that the hotel is a must.
The hotel is beautifully decorated and laid out, especially the communal areas. The hotel has two infinity pools overlooking the ocean, one which is not heated and the other one heated. Although winter, I had a lovely swim. We did not use it, but despite its small size, The Plettenberg also manages to pack a well appointed gym. As all the places we stayed in South Africa, the hotel was immaculately clean, both communal areas and our room.
Although our room was not an ocean view room, when we went out to the balcony, which had direct access to one of the pools, we could see all of the bay and ocean, so that was a really nice surprise. As the rest of the hotel, the room was beautifully decorated. We also had full use of the mini-bar, which was full of drinks, nibbles and a bottle of wine. All was complimentary, but any refills were chargeable, which is pointed to guests at check-in and also noted in the room.
Staff were polite and friendly, and security were always extremely helpful.
This place could really have been a 5, and this might seem a bit over critical, but after all the wonderful places we stayed and ate, I thought it would be unfair to give them full marks…
1) We had dinner on our first night there after a long drive from Cape Town. To be fair with them, we were more than an hour late, and they were most accommodating. However, we did find the food to be a bit of a let down, and compared to other places not that good value for money.
2) Although staff were generally great, and I would never expect to have a farewell party, on the day we left, the lady in reception was so flat that it literally left us with a slight bitter taste.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Incredible few days staying at the Plettenberg. We absolutely loved it and its a truly unique and special place. Starting firstly with the location - phenomenal views out onto Lookout and Central beaches with two infinity pools and views that you could stare at for days, plus making it easy to pop down to the beach as and when you wanted to. The interiors of the hotel are also absolutely stunning - each room oozes with class and colour - really stunning. Breakfast and lunch were delicious and the hotel also has a small gym with everything that you might need. The staff were also really wonderful and always on hand for recommendations or advice for the local area. We absolutely loved our stay here, cannot recommend it enough and would love to return.
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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 had an amazing stay at the Plettenberg in February 2024. We were staying for our honeymoon and the staff made it very special for us with a lovely dessert platter, bubbly and balloon when arriving to our room. The room was comfortable and spotlessly clean, with plenty of space for our 4 night stay. Next time we would choose a room with a sea view but we were still happy with our choice. The hotel is in a perfect location with beautiful views and easy to access the Lookout Beach but also the centre of Plett. Breakfast was one of the highlights for us - served on the terrace overlooking the ocean, with wide ranging buffet including fresh juices, and great selection of hot options. We enjoyed the bar for a drink or two pre dinner, and also ate dinner in the restaurant one night which was excellent. Staff are all lovely and welcoming and we found service to be excellent. We would definitely stay again on our next visit to SA.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Dear Marc C,
We unfortunately do not have a gym at the hotel but we can offer you our "gym in a bag" which you are more than welcome to use in the privacy of your room or out on the lawn next to one of the swimming pools.
We are 5 minutes walk from two beautiful beaches for running and the is Robberg Nature Reserve if you would like to do some trail running.
There are more places to choose from in the Plettenberg Bay area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 4,946 - RÂ 9,194 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapePlettenberg Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
37
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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