About this hotel
General information
Birkenhead House is The Royal Portfolio’s beach house, set on a clifftop above Walker Bay in Hermanus. It runs at the scale of a private seaside home rather than a hotel: just 11 rooms spread across three separate houses, with room for no more than 22 guests. Surfers ride the swell below, and in the migration season southern right and humpback whales breach only metres from the shore, close enough to watch from the terrace.
The interiors are bold and playful, from zebra-print upholstery to shell-framed mirrors, and no two rooms are alike. A boutique stocks art, clothing, jewellery and coastal lifestyle pieces. Stays are all-inclusive, covering meals, house wines, spirits and cocktails, the minibar and laundry. The hotel welcomes guests aged 10 and over and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Location
The house stands on a raised promontory between two coves, Voëlklip and Kamma Bay, in the Voëlklip area, a short drive from the centre of Hermanus, about 120 km from Cape Town along the Overberg coast — roughly a 90-minute drive from the city centre and Cape Town airport. The Hermanus cliff path runs right past, and a complimentary shuttle takes guests to and from the town centre. The Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley and the Fernkloof Nature Reserve are close by, with the Kleinrivier mountains rising behind.
Spa
Birkenhead House Spa has four treatment rooms and a menu that can be tailored to each guest: massages, aromatherapy, reflexology, body exfoliations and wraps, plus beauty and grooming treatments. A fully equipped fitness centre completes the offer.
Sports & leisure
Whales are the headline here, with the sea, wine and walking filling the rest of the day:
- whale watching by land, sea or air: southern right, humpback and Bryde’s whales from June to November, best in September and October, with dolphins seen throughout the year;
- a 14-metre catamaran trip in search of the Marine Big Five, sunset cruises, and sea kayaking from the old harbour of Hermanus;
- surf lessons with the hotel’s own local surfers;
- the 12 km cliff path along the coast, fynbos trails in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and mountain hikes;
- cycling the quiet roads of Hermanus, fatbike tours, horse riding and golf on one of two championship courses;
- pinot noir and chardonnay tastings in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley;
- mussel picking on the rocks below the house with the chefs, followed by a cooking master class;
- birdwatching from a hide at an inland estuary, the Stony Point penguin colony and the Abagold abalone farm;
- the monthly Hermanus Art Walk past 22 galleries, and visits to The Royal Portfolio Foundation’s conservation and community partners.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchen blends modern African flavours, Cape seafood and classic French technique with strong Asian and Italian influences, cooking with seasonal produce from the local shoreline and often serving dishes to share; menus are adapted to personal tastes and dietary needs. Meals are taken at tables overlooking the ocean, beside the two-level pool, in the glass-fronted dining room or privately in a guest’s room. Set in a distinctive wine region, the house pours an extensive selection of wines included in the stay, alongside a reserve list of the country’s finest bottles.
Swimming
A two-level pool sits on the front deck at the cliff’s edge, looking out over the bay, and one Luxury Room has a plunge pool of its own. Two coves, Voëlklip and Kamma Bay, lie directly below the house, and Blue Flag Grotto Beach, staffed by lifeguards, is a ten-minute walk along the cliff path. For beach days the hotel packs picnic baskets and lends beach bats and balls, surfboards and wetsuits.
Rooms
The 11 rooms fall into four categories spread across the front, middle and back houses, each looking out over Walker Bay or the Kleinrivier mountains. Amenities are the same throughout; the categories differ in size, orientation and view.
Rooms have air conditioning, a TV, Wi-Fi, a minibar, tea and coffee facilities, a safe, telephone, international adaptors, a hairdryer and an individually fitted en-suite bathroom.
Deluxe Superior Room
A room at the very front of the front house with the best sea views and a generous balcony; one of the two can be set up with twin beds. Sleeps two.
Superior Room
A light, spacious room on the side of the front house with sea and mountain views and a seating area; some can be set up with twin beds. Sleeps two.
Luxury Room
A room in the middle or back house with a king-size bed; some have partial sea views, and one has a patio with a private plunge pool. Sleeps two.
Standard Room
A mountain-facing room that still catches the sea breeze, with an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. Sleeps two.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.