Bar & Kitchen
Beach House Bar & Kitchen is the pub and wood-fired pizza kitchen at Beach House Wilderness Backpackers, on the hillside above Wilderness Beach on the Garden Route. It is a small bar with a big view: a deck looking straight out over the Indian Ocean, about 100 metres from the sand. You do not have to be staying with us to eat here. Most nights the room is a mix of guests, locals and people who pulled off the N2 and stayed longer than they planned.
- Wood-fired oven from 11:00 daily
- Walk-in, no reservations
- Ocean-view deck
- Dogs welcome on the deck
- Free parking
- 4.5 stars from 791 Google reviews
Wood-fired pizza in Wilderness
The oven is the centre of the kitchen and it is a proper wood-fired one, not a pizza tray in a domestic oven. The pizza list is deliberately short: a vegetarian garlic and herb focaccia at R75, a Margarita at R100, and a build-your-own three topping pizza at R145, with extra toppings at R20 each. The topping list runs bacon, banana, pineapple, mushroom, ham, tomato, smoked chicken, green pepper, feta, caramelised onion and avo, so a vegetarian pizza is straightforward rather than a special request.
Beyond pizza the kitchen does burgers, wraps, salads, tapas and a breakfast list, and there is a dessert menu including malva pudding and custard. You can read the full Bar & Kitchen menu with prices, which is the same list the kitchen works from.
The bar
The bar runs local and imported beer by the dumpie and the quart, cider, wine by the glass and the bottle, spirits, a short cocktail list and a full alcohol-free range. There is George Brewery on tap. Corkage is R45 if you bring your own wine. There is a pool table, and the deck is where most people end up at sunset.
Live music, open mic and pool nights
Live acts play the deck every Sunday from 15:00 to 18:00. Open mic runs every Thursday from 18:00 to 22:00 with One Two Sound Solutions, and Friday is pool and darts from 18:00. Entry is free unless a show is specifically ticketed. See what is on at Beach House for the dated gig list.
Where to find us
We are on Western Road in Wilderness, Western Cape, walkable from the village centre and roughly 15 km east of George and 20 km west of Sedgefield on the N2. Parking is free, with limited space on site and street parking that is usually easy outside a busy Saturday evening. It is about a two minute walk down to the beach. Get in touch on WhatsApp or open us in Google Maps.
Eating your way around the village? We keep a local guide to restaurants in Wilderness that covers more than just our own kitchen.
Stay the night
The bar and the backpackers are the same property, so you can eat, catch a set and walk to your bed. See our rooms and rates, from ocean-view dorm beds to en-suite rooms and garden tents.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the kitchen open at Beach House Bar and Kitchen?
The wood-fired oven runs from 11:00 daily, which is when pizza starts coming out. Bar and kitchen service beyond that shifts with the season and the day of the week, and our Sunday live music runs 15:00 to 18:00 with Thursday open mic from 18:00 to 22:00. If you are travelling specifically to eat with us, send a quick WhatsApp to 071 495 1814 and we will tell you what is running that day.
Do I need to book a table?
No. The Bar and Kitchen is walk-in only and we do not hold tables. On a busy evening, and particularly on a Sunday when there is live music, arrive before sunset if you want a seat on the deck. On quieter weeknights you can usually walk in late and still find a spot. Accommodation is different and does get booked up in advance.
Do you have vegetarian options?
Yes, and they are on the standing menu rather than a special request. The garlic and herb focaccia is vegetarian, the veggie burger comes with hummus, and there is a falafel platter, a Greek salad, and hummus or baba ghanoush as sides. Because pizzas are built from a topping list, a vegetarian three topping pizza is easy. For any other dietary requirement, ask at the bar.
Can non-guests eat at Beach House?
Yes. You do not need to be staying with us. The bar and kitchen are open to the public and a good share of the room on any given night is locals and day visitors. There is free parking on site and on the street, and we are an easy walk from Wilderness village.
Are dogs allowed?
Friendly dogs are welcome on the deck, which is where most people eat anyway. Please keep them with you and under control, especially on live music nights when the deck gets busy. If you are bringing a dog and staying the night as well, mention it when you book so we can put you somewhere sensible.