Birkenhead House

A highly exclusive boutique hotel on the cliffs of Hermanus, where from June to December, whales can be spotted from the terrace, pool and dining room.

Part of The Royal Portfolio, Birkenhead House is arguably the finest hotel in Hermanus. Its location on the cliffs above Walker Bay is certainly hard to beat, offering total privacy and unobstructed sea views. Come in whale-watching season from June to December and you can sit on the terrace and watch humpback and southern right whales nurse their calves in the waters right in front of you.

The hotel offers 11 luxurious rooms with either mountain or sea views, all individually designed in Liz Biden’s unmistakable style, fusing modern furnishings with beautiful antiques and objects from her travels. Bathrooms are often as large as the bedrooms, with standalone bathtubs at their centre.

The food is exceptional. There’s also a good on-site spa and two pools, including one at the edge of the sea-view terrace. Two of Hermanus’s best beaches are on the doorstep, while activities include horse riding, mussel picking and – for the adventurous – cage diving with sharks.