Bernie Van Der Linde
185 on Beach Boutique Suites & Apartments in Gordon's Bay
Gordon’s Bay is known as the mini-Monte Carlo, with the ocean framed by a beautiful mountain backdrop. 185 on Beach Boutique Suites & Apartments is a luxurious ocean-side self-catering guest house in Gordon’s Bay.
Gordon’s Bay is a coastal town nestled at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains and the False Bay Coast of South Africa. It is renowned for spectacular sunsets, its blue flag (an International quality rating of the higher order) Bikini Beach with warm water and two fully operational harbours. I (Bernie) have a strong connection with this beautiful naval town as we spent many holidays here as kids, and my dad reminisced over his days as an officer in training at the South African Naval College (the reason for the giant anchor and GB emblem above the harbour on the mountainside of Gordon’s Bay) and the many times he had to run up the mountain to paint the anchor. Although many believe the GB is the abbreviation for Gordon’s Bay, it is, in fact, short for General Botha, which was the original name of the Naval station.
In this review, Petra and I will share with you our experiences of our stay at 185 on Beach and the guest house’s most noteworthy features and facilities. We’ll also suggest a wonderful place to enjoy a lovely Mediterranean meal if you don’t feel like preparing food for yourself and things to do in the area.
Overview of 185 on Beach in Gordon's Bay
Richard Loring and his wife Jeannette created seven en-suite rooms in what was once a double-story family home. The guesthouse provides a relaxed experience for holidaymakers who enjoy self-catering and mingling with other guests.
The style and character of the hotel are modern yet intimate and personal. The guesthouse has a lovely rim-flow pool with pool loungers and comfortable outdoor seating areas providing spectacular ocean views.
185 on Beach received several accolades from travel review councils, the latest being the Travelers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor in 2020.
Who will enjoy the apartments in Gordon's Bay?
This guesthouse is ideal for business people who need remote working facilities, young adults looking for a relaxed and fun setting to share with friends or couples who want a romantic getaway.
The Starlight Premier Suite
We stayed in the Starlight premier suite, a fair-sized suite, which is the first suite upstairs to the right of the pool.
Our King-size bed was super comfortable (facing the ocean). Our suite opened with a large sliding door onto a small balcony with a gas barbeque or grill and seating area.
The massive, closed bathroom had a shower and spa bath (with beautiful ocean views), double vanities and a large dressing room.
Behind our headboard was a well-equipped kitchenette with every thinkable kitchen tool or utensil you might need.
Although some people may find the kitchenette helpful, we both agreed that this is not something we like very much in our bedroom.
Our room had a sleeper couch, a café table with two chairs and an extra occasional chair.
An excellent feature for people who enjoy watching movies on those rainy days is the flat-screen television with Netflix+, premium DSTV and a CD and DVD player.
Where is 185 on Beach located?
185 on Beach is conveniently located 200m from Bikini Beach and less than 50km from Cape Town and the Stellenbosch Winelands. There is a magnificent hiking route known as The Danie Miller Hiking Trail, which provides stunning views of Gordon’s Bay, False Bay, Helderberg Area, and the harbour.
What facilities are available at 185 on Beach in Gordon's Bay?
There is a communal lounge with a pool table, a stunning rim-flow pool with a few sun loungers, a small bar area, and an 8-seater dining table. There is good Wi-Fi throughout the premises.
They provide beach towels, and secure off-road parking is available.
What we most enjoyed about 185 on Beach in Gordon's Bay
We loved waking up to the sound of the ocean and having the most magnificent view from our bedroom. The best part about staying on the sea is being able to stroll into town or walk to the harbour, restaurants and best swimming beach. All aspects of the guesthouse are very well maintained.
The staff of 185 on Beach in Gordon's bay
The staff is super friendly and helpful. They know the area extremely well and can assist you to plan great day trips around Gordon’s Bay.
The guesthouse staff is very attentive and will do anything to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Dining options at 185 on Beach in Gordon's Bay
As this is a self-catering establishment, you can bring your food and prepare it in your suite or the pool area.
However, they provide breakfast if you require it in your suite, the pool deck or the dining room.
We were delighted with their in-room breakfast experience, comprising a fruit parfait, cheese board with pickles and cold meats. They have a good selection from the night before (charged at R140 per person or 8.40€).
The review is intended to assist you in planning a trip to 185 on Beach in Gordon’s Bay.
We enjoyed this guesthouse for its warm hospitality and superb location (close to Bikini Beach and within walking distance of the old harbour).
We loved our massive bathroom with spa bath and spectacular ocean views and the fabulous rim-flow pool with ocean views.
Best Features
- Ocean-view suites with sounds of the ocean that rock you to sleep at night
- Great location, near the harbour and within walking distance of restaurants and Bikini beach
- Helpful and friendly staff
Best nearby attractions
- Blue Rock Cable Ski Resort, 5,5 km via Sir Lowry’s Pass Road
- Mooiberge Strawberry Farm, Stellenbosch, 20 km
Value for money
185 on Beach offers relatively good value for money when you consider it is a self-catering guesthouse. The Starlight Premier Suite we stayed in started from R950 (57€) per person per night (May)
Where to enjoy the best dinner in Gordon's Bay?
Our review will not be complete without mentioning our fabulous dinner in town at Zest Café. The owner, Hermien, invited us to this magnificent restaurant she runs with her chef son, Ruben. This Mediterranean-style restaurant is on the beachfront and has spectacular views over False Bay. Petra had their Grilled line fish and prawns in a coconut curry sauce with coriander (R205 or 12€), while I had the best Beer battered hake with homemade tartar sauce (R130 or 7.80€). We could taste this mother-and-son duo’s passion for food and their restaurant. Next time you’re in Gordon’s Bay, visit this fabulous mom-and-son team…you will not be disappointed.
Our reviews truly reflect our experiences during our stay at 185 on Beach. This ensures we comply with strong ethical publishing practices to ensure our reviews are fair and trustworthy. We only do reviews of hotels and guesthouses that we have personally visited. Although this was a hosted review, we were not influenced by any person/s in our opinions, views or experiences of the guesthouse.
Article last updated: 06/05/2023
