Places to eat in Barrydale
Good food and wine is as intrinsic to Barrydale as its year-round sunshine. To eat out in Barrydale is to experience the soul of the village, its vast, contrasting landscape and the fun-loving hospitality of its inhabitants. The small village harbours around 20 different restaurants and coffee shops that cater to a range of tastes and pockets, an incredible amount for such a small area.
Visitors can enjoy extensive food and wine menus and meals prepared using the freshest produce. The care and detail that has gone into creating attractive and comfortable environments to enjoy a long lazy meal is also treat for anybody. From a vintage American-style diner serving mouthwatering burgers and shakes to specially curated menus by top chefs serving traditional Karoo cuisine surrounded by beautiful art and sculptures, Barrydale brings a touch of nostalgia and excitement to the dining experience.
When people describe chefs as ‘food-artists’, you know you will be treated to something great. Expect to find hearty curries, delicious burgers and pizza, soups, freshly baked pies and most famously, various takes on the mouthwatering Karoo lamb. Vegetarians will be happy to know that their needs have been considered on most menus, where you can find anything from creamy risottos, salads, homemade quiches and even a roast vegetable roti. Some restaurants take a well-deserved rest during the weeks of winter, so be sure to enquire before heading out for a meal. If your first choice happens to be closed, there will always be plenty more to choose from!
During the day, guests can kick back for lunch in a lovely courtyard setting or enjoy afternoon tea and cake on a deck cabin at Barrydale’s very own waterfront. The dam is filled with enormous fish to look at that probably get their size from all the breadcrumbs offered to them. Don’t be surprised to see a fleet of motorcycles parked outside one of Barrydale’s eateries either as it has become a popular lunch and breakfast stop.
Great food is complemented with an abundance of great wine and beverages. Part of the Klein Karoo Wine Route, the various microclimates of the region allow winemakers to produce a diverse selection of quality wines including dry white, fortified wines and brandies. In fact, Barrydale’s world-renowned Brandy has achieved gold status at London shows. As it is in traditional countryside towns, the hotel bar in the center of town remains the social heart of the village, where the eclectic residents of farmers, artists, restaurateurs, nature-lovers and spiritualists gather for drinks and communion.
With so much to see, do and eat in Barrydale, you cannot help but spend a night or two in the village. With its unique and diverse cuisine, the warmth and good humour of its population and the mystique of its landscape, Barrydale is a jewel of a place should not be mistaken for just another thoroughfare town on the road to somewhere else.
