Make Way for Mariner’s Wharf

There is an air of excitement as seagulls proudly parade along the pier and fishermen offload their morning’s catch. Crayfish trawlers bob gently in the water, their cargo of crates and nets piled high, while off in the distance a group of minstrels begin their morning of song and dance. It is a mix of all that a hot South African summer day encapsulates. Mariner’s Wharf, situated at the entrance to Hout Bay Harbour, offers visitors a truly eclectic experience.

Stanley Dorman conceptualised, created and developed Mariner’s Wharf after visiting the USA in 1974 where he was inspired by the hustle and bustle of the San Francisco harbourfront. He made the decision to use his knowledge of several decades in the fishing industry to create something similar in South Africa.

Having grown up in Hout Bay, this seemed the obvious location for his masterpiece. He started assessing waterfronts around the globe and ideas began taking shape in his mind. He wanted something very different and unique, that was memorably South African and authentically Cape and after ten years his thoughts evolved into Mariner’s Wharf, South Africa’s very first harbourfront emporium.

Mariner’s Wharf is now world-renowned and made up of an impressive complex of outlets specialising in seafood and maritime products. Far from being pretentious in its design and architecture, Mariner’s Wharf offers something completely distinct. The Wharf as a whole serves as a sort of working museum, with the antique shop crammed full of most things maritime and keeps a remarkable array of items ranging from old carved whale’s teeth through maps and bells to shipwreck artefacts.

The Wharf is also home to a fish factory, and the Fisherman’s Wharf Fish Market, where the remarkable hull of the original 1940’s trawler the ‘Kingfisher’ welcomes one inside. The Fish Market is stocked with delicious seafood delicacies, including internationally renowned Cape Coast Smoked Snoek, which is produced at the Factory’s Smokery.

Adjacent to the Fish Market is Ye Olde Wine & Liquor Locker, the first bottle store in South Africa to be licensed for Sunday trading. Stocking an extraordinary range of local wines and liqueurs, stacked in alphabetical order mind you, one can even pick up a special bottle of wine made exclusively for Mariner’s Wharf, presented in a fish-shaped bottle.

Through extensive perusing of waterfront harbours in places like Tokyo, Seattle, Sydney and Reykjavik, Dorman has acquired an unrivalled collection of maritime memorabilia, much of which he used as décor in the Wharfside Grill Restaurant. The Wharfside Grill Restaurant has a distinct historic maritime theme and a walk through the restaurant is an absolute must, as memorabilia from days gone by dangle, decorate and delight visitors plucky enough to dodge the busy tables and look around.

Divided into precincts, namely Foredeck, Chartroom, Midships and Long Room, plus six private dining cabins, the Grill also boasts a Sundeck for al fresco dining and a Crayclub Bar where speciality drinks are served. Each of the six themed and named dining cabins is individually decorated with artefacts from famous liners or pieces of maritime history.

Another feature exclusive to the Grill is its open-design kitchen, where food is prepared in full view of diners, so you can see just how that lip-smacking plate of prawns was prepared.

The Grill’s menu is extensive and extravagant, stocking a ‘cargo of goods’ ranging from Hout Bay Chowder and fresh oysters through succulent fish and exquisite desserts. The food is indulgent and utterly delicious, and Dorman takes pride in the well-developed menu, using the slower winter months to experiment with new dishes. With what is called the Winter Value Menu Dorman gives his chefs the opportunity to take their initiative and try new things, foodwise. Should these prove popular on the Winter Menu, they may become permanent features on the Summer Menu.

In season as many as 10 000 visitors a day pass through Hout Bay, and the 340-seater Restaurant hosts up to 1 800 customers a day. That’s a right cargo-load of meals!
The Wharfette Seafood Bistro is where it’s at for tasty take-outs. Be warned however, that because the Bistro’s reputation stretches as far as the ocean, so does the queue.

The Mariner’s Chest is the official stockist of Republic of Hout Bay Passports and overflows with ocean treasures, shells, and souvenirs.

In the Wharf’s Pearl Factory, visitors can harvest their own pearls by picking an oyster and cracking it open. If they so desire, the shop manager will set the shimmering sparkler in gold or silver, a dazzling reminder of the brief treasure hunt.

New developments for Mariner’s Wharf include another intriguing restaurant, this time with a contemporary theme, speciality shops and a luxury tour-boat berthing at its front door. Building is expected to commence soon and visitors can look forward to more wonderful things to do, in what is probably the most beautiful bay in the whole wide world.