Birkenhead House

Hotel · Overberg

Birkenhead House

Hotel · Overberg

119 11th St, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa

Highlights

Luxe all-inclusive, cliff-top boutique hotel offering a bay-view infinity pool & a spa, plus dining. On a cliff overlooking Walker Bay, this haute, all-inclusive boutique hotel is a 2-minute walk from Voelklip Beach. The 11 glam, uniquely styled suites have balconies, living areas, antiques, original artwork, and/or bay or mountain views, plus free Wi-Fi and minibars (no TVs). Grand bathrooms feature free-standing tubs. Room service is available. All meals and drinks (such as champagne at sunset) are included, as is a town shuttle. There's a chic restaurant, a bar, a bi-level courtyard pool and a spa, as well as a bay-view lounge, deck and infinity pool. Surfing, whale watching and wine tastings are on offer. Kids age 10 and up are welcome.

119 11th St, Hermanus, 7200, South Africa Get directions

theroyalportfolio.com

@birkenheadhouse

@cntraveler

"As you roll up to the entry, how does Birkenhead House strike you?This sprawling cream-colored villa is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the stunning vantage point is one of the hotel's finest features: Hermanus is known for its rugged natural beauty, and Birkenhead House maximizes that in all directions. Nice. So who else do you spot in the lobby?This hotel draws a sophisticated crowd of mostly couples (many on honeymoon), though there are often multigenerational families booking out several rooms or the entire house. Hermanus is a scenic two-hour drive from Cape Town, and makes for a dreamy add-on to a South Africa itinerary for all kinds of travelers. We'd like to check out the view from our room. How quickly can we get checked in and settled? Every second of the stay is seamless: It's called Birkenhead House, after all, and you really do feel like you've arrived at the beautifully appointed home of someone you (wished you) knew. Do the rooms also feel like someone's impossibly chic home?Owner and designer Liz Biden is a legend in South Africa for her dramatic flair, which she adds to every one of her properties—bold colors, gilded accents, vintage furniture—but it all somehow stops short of being over the top. Each of the 11 rooms here is unique. Room 2 has a bright-pink headboard that manages to avoid clashing with the sexy red armchairs; Room 6 has a zebra-skin mirror; the bed in Room 5 is framed by antique carved wooden buttresses from India; and Room 11 is decorated with antique Chinese vases. Sounds lovely. Tell us a little more about the details that set the rooms apart.There are lots of thoughtful touches, like the Champagne and strawberries as you settle in, the fully stocked mini-bar, and the complimentary inclusion of helpful amenities like laundry. The main perk, though, is the amazing staff—anything you can think of, they'll be sure to materialize. Please tell us there's some solid home cooking available, too.Since this is like a home, you can eat whenever you want, wherever you want—from your room to your balcony to poolside on the terrace. Everything is meticulously prepared and delicious, but you're also close to all the best restaurants and cafés of Hermanus, should you want to eat out a few times during your stay. What were some of the most memorable elements of your stay?You can spy whales from the balcony or while having a dip in the amazing infinity-edge pool—it doesn't get more magical that. Despite the boutique hotel's intimate scale, it has a wonderful spa; you can even request an outdoor treatment with a view. To conclude, can you tell us in a few words why we should make the trip?Hermanus is a lovely add-on to any South Africa trip, and this is the best hotel in the area by far. If you're a serious whale watcher, it's a no brainer: You can't beat these views." - Sarah Khan

Birkenhead House

View Postcard for Birkenhead House

@cntraveler

"This sprawling cream-colored villa is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the stunning vantage point is one of the hotel's finest features: Hermanus is known for its rugged natural beauty, and Birkenhead House maximizes that in all directions. Hermanus is a lovely add-on to any South Africa trip, and this is the best hotel in the area by far. If you're a serious whale watcher, it's a no brainer: You can't beat these views." - Sarah Khan

3 Best Day Trips From Cape Town

View Postcard for Birkenhead House

@cntraveler

"A favorite among readers, located just a two-minute walk to the beach. The area has better water availability compared to Cape Town."

What You Need to Know If You're Planning a Trip to Cape Town

View Postcard for Birkenhead House

tallmanclive

Google

a great combination of excellent food, amazing views from the veranda and personal, but relaxed service. Clive the chef made for a wonderful eating experience, very tasty, locally sourced food and wine. I'm not a 'foody' but ate fish most evenings and lapped up the puddings :-). We were full board, which I think is standard and with such a variety of dishes, we never got bored. ||||We stayed here for 6 nights and tried to keep active with walks, swimming, a marine five trip and some eMTB and a wine trip. If this is your thing then I would suggest; ||||- If driving from CT, take the coast road and stop at Pringle for a coffee and a led stretch. ||||- hiking in the Fernkloof (hills behind the hotel) lots of trials, ask the management or look on strava for recommendations. watch out of the baboons, friendly-ish, but don't entice / feed or try and scare them away....just be cool...and they wont hassle you. if they do, call the baboon hotline...yes, there is a baboon hotline. ||||- Mountain Biking at Oak Valley Wine estate - see my review if this, but go for the biking and not the food or wine - and use Joe Ride from Cape Town as a guide. ||||- The Marine Big Five - just do it. We were out of whale season and saw copper sharks, a hump back whale (yes I know right) lots of dolphins, penguins and fur seals. We didn't hang around in Gainsbaii, but seemed nice enough. ||||- Cafe at Grotto beach.||||- Walking along the coastal path and swimming in the sea. Its cold, and find out of about currents, but very refreshing.

Pär Sundberg

Google

We had a superb stay at a truly fantastic place. Wonderful staff, an excellent location and world-class service. The interior is splendid and the views are amazing. Staying here feels like being at home. An extra star for the professional handling of our food allergies. We will for sure come back and can recommend this place for anyone looking for something special.

Lara muster

Google

A Perfect Stay at Birkenhead House – Luxury, Warmth, and Unmatched Hospitality Our stay at Birkenhead House in Hermanus was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and genuine hospitality that set the tone for an unforgettable experience. Every detail of this stunning property, perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, exudes luxury while maintaining an intimate, relaxed atmosphere. The staff at Birkenhead House went above and beyond in every possible way. Personable, attentive, and always ensuring that we felt comfortable and well cared for, they made our honeymoon truly special. From the front desk team to the expert drivers who made exploring the area effortless and enjoyable, the service was seamless and deeply personal. We felt incredibly safe and at home, which is something we deeply appreciated. The all-inclusive experience at Birkenhead House is another standout feature. Every meal was a masterpiece—fresh, locally sourced, and the menu changed daily. Whether enjoying breakfast with a breathtaking ocean view or indulging in a perfectly crafted cocktail by the pool, every moment felt curated to perfection. Hermanus itself is a dream destination, with stunning coastal walks, and the charming town just a short ride away. However, the magic of Birkenhead House made it difficult to leave the property at all! Our experience was so phenomenal that now that we’re in Cape Town, we are actively trying to switch our stay to another Royal Portfolio hotel—because if it’s anything like Birkenhead House, we know we’re in for an incredible time. If you’re looking for a luxury getaway that combines impeccable service, breathtaking surroundings, and a truly welcoming atmosphere, Birkenhead House is the perfect choice. We can’t wait to return!

RamblingRambler

Google

Birkenhead is one of those rare places which is so much more awesome in person than it looks in photos. I confess to having been only medium excited about the stop from looking online - I very nearly decided to skip Hermanus and I’m so glad I didn’t! The only downside to visiting in April is missing out on whale-watching season from June to November, which is what Hermanus is famous for. ||The hotel has an amazing location and great vibe to it. It’s a 1 hour brisk walk along the cliff path to the main town, and behind the hotel there’s also an hour hike up to a viewpoint which I’d highly recommend making the effort for. ||BY FAR my favourite thing about the hotel is the jacuzzi overlooking the sea. There are big, beautiful, crashing waves at all time of day here, and just spacing out, and looking out at the horizon while listening to that wonderful sound was one of the highlights of my entire trip. It’s also fantastic that the hotel allows guests to use it at any time of day - I enjoyed it most at night, when I also got to see a cute little genet cat scurrying across the terrace. ||My only complaint is that my room (8) didn’t have much privacy unless you closed a few shutters, and if you’re light sensitive like me expect to wake up early, because the shutters really don’t do a good job of keeping the room dark. Some blackout blinds would be nice!

andyc787

Google

Wow what a fabulous hotel. Beautifully put together and perfectly situated. A little expensive but worth every penny. The room was fantastic as was the food and wine which if you stuck to the local producers was all included in the price. The view onto the surf beaches was perfect and we sat in the sun. The only downside was the free shuttle into Hermanus. They let us down on the return journey as we had to wait an hour twiddling our thumbs until the car came. Don’t trust their whatsup system it fell down

carolyn shepherd

Google

Fabulous stay here. The staff were so friendly and made everyone feel at home. The interior design is stunning, everything is colourful and bright. Perfectly suits the beach side location The food is fabulous , beautifully presented. We were also able to see the whales on an excursion booked for us by the hotel. Fabulous walks along the cliffs. Also great surfing from the lovely beaches. We will definitely be going back!

Evan Foster

Google

Wonderful experience here from the moment that you are greeted at the front door until the moment you leave. Staff are so attentive and pleasant, everything is personalised and the food and drinks are incredible (try the whiskey sour!). Highly recommended.

GMK5

Google

Birkenhead House is a fantastic property. The location above a gorgeous beach is to die for, and we spent many happy hours around the small plunge pool taking in the views while our kids played safely in the surf below (using complimentary boogie boards from the hotel). Service is outstanding - very friendly and everyone genuinely seeming to want the guests to have the best time. The hotel is "all inclusive" so all drinks and food (and mini bar - stocked with vast amounts of food and drink) are complimentary, and are of very high quality. The rooms are very bright and well appointed, and meticulously cleaned. We were very surprised to find that one of our two rooms had its own pool that was not much smaller than the hotel plunge pool on the terrace! We enjoyed our stay very much, but there were a couple of small niggles. We thought the food was excellent, but one meal was not quite in keeping with the hotel's 5 star rating (the curry we had one was average), and at breakfast one day the staff member's very long hair fell into my plate of fruit as she put it on the table - she noticed, said nothing, and I left the fruit as it had lost its appeal! But, these are minor points and we would return in a heartbeat.