Emily Moon

Review by a Bride and Groom We are reviewing Emily Moon as a bride and groom who hosted our wedding there, and chose it because of its beauty, atmosphere, and long-standing personal connection to Plettenberg Bay. Emily Moon is undeniably stunning. The location is exquisite, the bohemian aesthetic is magical, and the overall feeling of the space is truly special. The food exceeded our expectations, and the venue itself was everything we hoped for. However, the service and coordination fell well short of what we expected for a venue of this calibre. Communication leading up to the wedding was difficult, and on the day we felt blindsided by a lack of guidance and clear expectation-setting. Despite coordinators being included in the package, we often felt unsupported, particularly around logistics. In addition, small but important service touches were missing, and several guests noted inconsistent drink service despite there being more than enough available. Overall service was disappointing. Simple requests, such as asking for champagne glasses for the bridesmaids, were treated as major inconveniences. The rooms for getting ready were not serviced beforehand (so we had to clean them ourselves) and staff interactions were often curt and unwelcoming. The rooms were also not up to the standard one would expect for the price. Rates feel inflated for an international market: comparable to luxury safari lodges, but without the level of service, inclusions, or attention to detail that typically justify those prices. You are effectively paying premium rates without premium delivery. Emily Moon has all the ingredients to be exceptional, but service and value are what ultimately define the experience. Future couples should be very clear on what is and isn’t covered, and whether the pricing aligns with the level of service provided.

We stayed 3 nights here for a wedding. The place looks super nice and fancy on social media, but the reality is somewhat different. They charged us around 500€ per night and it was the most expensive but dirtiest place we stayed overall in South Africa. There’s dust everywhere, rooms are not cleaned enough, interior is super old. When you put on the chimney you have to make sure you don’t die during the night because they are open. So please make sure you don’t die of smoke inhalation. The food is decent, nothing more. The staff is slow. On our first night we waited 4 hours for a pizza. They had known one year in advance that they had to serve 70 people that night. But the worst was the white little girl at the reception who showed us to the rooms. I’ve never met a person more rude in my life. This place looks good on instagram and is ok for a day, but I recommend staying elsewhere if you come for a wedding.

Only stayed one night but we loved it here- the room was stunning, same with the bathroom. The bed was so comfy- breakfast was great and dinner in the restaurant also. Taking the kayaks out was also super fun. It’s a little of the beaten track so worth having a car to explore Plett. The pool was nice- quite a small area so not sure how this is managed if it’s busy, it was quite quiet when we went however. Definitely recommend!

We had dinner at Emily Moon in early January. If you have never been to Emily Moon or Simon's Bar , what are you doing with your life? We have been visiting for years and they absolutely never disappoint. The newly revamped Emily's Deck is lovely. Service was great, cocktails were delicious and the Lamb shanks delightful. It's truly one of the most consistent places in Plett.

What a wonderful stay. The room Was lovely and so comfortable. Everything we needed was in the room. The view from Suite 7 was magnificent! Every meal was absolutely delicious. If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind, Emily Moon is the place!

We called to book for a table for 3, they are fully booked from October, told we could try Simon's bar. When we arrived we asked of they had a table and they did, we were lucky 😄. The food was delicious, our waiter was Kiazer, he was attentive, helpful and friendly! The atmosphere and views are stunning. Well worth booking in advance and enjoying everything about Emily Moon!!

Emily Moon certainly has an enviable location. Not many postcards could replicate such panoramic views of the wetland estuary. The food is passable but certainly of secondary relevance. Between Simons bar and Emily the overcrowded and extensive car park is testimony to the popularity of the venue. Well worth a visit but good luck finding a spot at the bar frequented by Don Quixotes chasing Dutch windmills and entertained by Plett’s version of a DJ Khaled!

We loved the eclectic bohemian feel of Emily Moon. Our room was wonderful with stunning views across the river plain out to sea. We could even see the polo field.|The food was brilliant too. The Bircher muesli at breakfast and the chicken liver starter at our evening meal were particularly memorable.|Attentive, confident, and efficient staff just rounded our experience off. Go there!!