Bot River Hotel

The Bot River Hotel opened as an inn in 1890 and is the old social centre of Botrivier, the small Overberg village on the way to Hermanus. It predates the railway (which arrived in 1902) and got its moment of fame when the late 1970s TV series Nommer Asseblief was filmed in town. Right now it works as a pub and restaurant rather than a place to sleep, because the rooms are closed while they’re renovated.

What to expect

Most of the action is on the stoep, with casual meals and a big screen for live sport. Inside, the Wagon Road 1890 restaurant is named after the old wagon road to Cape Town that ran past the building, and the menu leans on local produce. Dogs on a lead are welcome and there’s free wifi.

The hotel is linked to PaardenKloof Estate, a nearby wine farm, and has a PaardenKloof tasting room on site. PaardenKloof makes shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, and the hotel matches them with food from the kitchen. There’s also a hall for functions.

Practical details

• Address: 14 Hoof Way, Bot River.
• Phone +27 71 877 0497, +27 82 283 9809 or +27 28 284 9809. Email info@bothot.co.za, or stay@bothot.co.za for room enquiries.
• Table reservations can be made through the website.

Good to know

The hotel’s site says the renovated rooms are coming soon but gives no date, so if you want a bed rather than a beer, phone first. Older travel write-ups describe it as a Baz Bus drop-off, which may no longer be true. Houw Hoek and the Botrivier wine farms are close by if you need somewhere to stay.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Bot River Hotel, Bot River Hotel rooms, Bot River Hotel, Wagon Road 1890 restaurant, Bot River Hotel contact, PaardenKloof Estate, SA-Venues, Botrivier.