Port Elizabeth - There is something about Port Elizabeth that underlines its reputation as the Friendly City; whether it’s the service, the can-do attitude at every turn or the natural beauty that envelopes the city.
The city is often seen as the gateway to aspects of the Garden Route or, for that matter, the arrival port for onward adventures.
However, Nelson Mandela Bay offers visitors some exceptional experiences within its city limits.
Land late afternoon
Sunsets are always the perfect moment to allow an introduction to any city’s heart. In Port Elizabeth, nothing is more welcoming than sundowners at Cubana on King’s Beach or, for something slightly more Parkhurst-like – head to Stanley Street where pavement-bistro culture is vibrant and delicious. Dine at one of the many options Stanley Street holds or head to The Coachman for some of the best steaks this side of the equator with service to match.
Staying Over
Guest Houses often afford far greater insight into the soul of a city than blanding it in a hotel. Summerstrand, an affluent and beautifully appointed suburb, holds one of the highest concentrations of guest houses and bed-and-breakfast establishments in the country with just over 200 noted in a couple of square kilometres.
Highly recommended is Marren House (www.marrenhouse.co.za) where proprietor René Coetzee’s motto echoes the city’s hospitality sentiment – a “home away from home”. There is also a great selection of alternative places to stay at www.pembba.co.za.
Sunrise and Breakfast
Head toward King’s Beachor Hobie Beach and watch the sun rise on the pier set between the two beaches – a pedestrian walkway that stretches well over a hundred metres into the Indian Ocean. Take in the view and have breakfast at Angelo’s – delicious fare and right on the seafront with prices not seen in Jozi since the late 1990s.
Exploring the City
Mastertons is one of South Africa’s oldest and most celebrated coffee houses. Here coffee aficionados are able to spend hours enjoying the aromas of a thousand beans. Do not leave Port Elizabeth sans a good number of specialty coffees to liven up drab Gauteng mornings with full roast flavours and warm memories.
It’s lunchtime. Go retro and visit the Something Good Roadhouse on Marine Drive for lunch where afterwards, the 5km Donkin Heritage Trail will help rid overachievers of midday excess. The trail is a self-guided walking tour that comprises 51 sites of historical and cultural interest and includes architecture dating from the 1820 settlers through to more modern times.
Spoil Yourself For Dinner
Ginger, at the Beach Hotel on the seafront, is possibly the best restaurant in Port Elizabeth. Reasonably priced for a fine-dining experience – the romance of the place burns in every table candle, with exceptional cuisine ranging from the sublime to more traditional fare.
The Day After A Great Meal
Nothing beats sleeping in but what’s even better is to hit the road and head in the general direction of Grahamstown.
En route, there is a dorpie called Bathhurst, home to the giant pineapple and the legendary Pig and Whistle pub. Toast South Africa’s diversity and include in your day trip visits to Grahamstown, Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea. It’s a two-hour drive back to the Friendly City so make sure that the visit is brief and be home in time to take a long walk on King’s Beach and make a final turn at the pier.
There is always entertainment at the Boardwalk Casino – make sure you check the property’s events guide. Central to the venue is a large man-made body of water where almost every night a musical fountain – one of the few remaining in South Africa – washes all thoughts away with synchronised and spectacular fountains.
The Final Morning
Visit the Air Force Museum on the opposite side of the Port Elizabeth Airport terminal before departure and marvel at aspects of aviation’s history in the Eastern Cape. Alternatively, immerse yourself into culture and enjoy a traditional Xhosa meal while visiting the Red Location Aparthei dMuseum where home-brewed beers and culture are presented along with historically fascinating insights.
Port Elizabeth is one of the country’s best kept secrets. And yes, it’s a cliché, but doesn’t it hold true that fact becomes cliché given the substance of the statement?
The city has some of the best beaches in the country with Hobie Beach one of two in Nelson Mandela Bay receiving Blue Flag status recently.
It’s not a sleepy town, but rather a relaxed and friendly place with so much more to offer than expectations permit.
Saturday Star