Café 1904

Welcome to Cafè 1904
Restaurant

the pure art of food

Not just a little cafe!

Sublime seafood, succulent steaks and traditional slow cooking done just right are just a taster of the epicurean delights awaiting you at Cafe 1904.

OUR JOURNEY

Business hours

We are serving Lunch and Dinner 

We are open Tuesday to Sunday
*Mondays closed

Main Menu
TUES + WED: 17:00 till 22:30 (kitchen closes 21:15)
THURS – SUN: 12:00 till  15:00 and 17:00 till 22:30 (kitchen closes 21:15)

*hours subject to curfew

Events

We have three separate dining rooms that can be booked individually, or the entire venue can be reserved for larger groups.

Bespoke menus are available on request.

A little Special surprise will always be on the table for an anniversary or birthday etc. Endria can be contacted with a special request.

Bookings

As Cafe 1904 is as much a local favourite as it is a destination for epicurean tourists, booking is essential to secure one of our cozy tables. 

Take-aways

Have a hankering for some soul food at home or in your holiday space? 

We offer take-aways for pick up. 

Our Story

A dream came true

“One day we decided to make a change in our lives and instead of living life we started to live our dreams….”

A dream came true for Johan and Endria when Café 1904 Restaurant opened its doors on the 1st of April 2017. 

Their motto is: the pure art of food, and it shines through in every dish that is lovingly and meticulously created. 

Situated 100m from ocean & outlook point in the famous whale town of Hermanus this quaint eatery showcases dedication, heart and soul, from preparation to plate.

Our History

Cafe 1904, which now belongs to the Old Harbour Museum,  was originally a house in the 18th Century fisherman’s village. 

The giant spider gum eucalyptus was a sapling when the house was built, and now provides a welcoming shade for lunch and dinner guests.

Our Name: In 1904 the breakwater in the harbour was raised, replacing the earlier, low wall which had not stopped the fierce waves in the region from damaging boats.

 Cafe 1904 took its symbolic inspiration from that growth, expanding from a tiny 16-seater venue to one that can host 55 guests inside and 20 outside on the shaded terrace.

Awards &

Testimonials

5/5
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HAPPY CLIENTS
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AMAZING DISHES
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WORK HOURS
Restaurant Guru

Best Cafe 2019

“The Whale House Museum is worth visiting after tasty meals at this restaurant. The Fusion cuisine is on the menu at Cafe 1904. Many reviewers have noticed that you can try perfectly cooked rump steaks, prawns and hake here. It’s time to degustate delicious house wine. You will be offered great coffee.

The cosy atmosphere of this place makes customers feel relaxed and have a good time. The staff is gracious that’s what makes this spot so nice. Fabulous service is something guests like here. You will pay adequate prices for dishes. As a number of visitors say, this restaurant has the divine decor. On TripAdvisor, clients note that Cafe 1904 deserves the 4.5 star rating.”

Dashenka Naidoo
Dashenka Naidoo
December 23, 2020.
Verified
Not just a little cafe... This little gem is definitely a force to be reckoned with...Coming from Cape Town, after a long day of exploring, all we wanted was good food and a warm restaurant and boy were we surprised. John and Endria and the ladies of this amazing establishment took the time out of their evening to come have a chat with us and chat about our lives and our holiday and even chatting to my daughter about unicorns and fairies. From us, we would like to say thank you to the amazing staff of Cafe 1904. This was definitely a perfect end to our day with amazing food and amazing service. We most definitely will be back.
kadJhb
kadJhb
December 15, 2020.
Verified
Fantastic little restaurant We were in hermanus for four nights and chose to eat here twice. Exceptionally good staff and charming owner. Food is great as well.
Sightsee49637301969
Sightsee49637301969
December 1, 2020.
Verified
Lovely dinner out Found this quaint little spot by accident but had a lovely evening with family. Warm and attentive service and all meals well prepared with attention to detail. We had seafood curry, steaks and oysters to start. Great wine by the glass - will definitely be back. Not pretentious or overpriced - a refreshing change from some of the water front tourist traps
Karl B
Karl B
November 9, 2020.
Verified
A hidden gem Been living in Hermanus for ages and stumbled upon this gem by accident. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable. My steak was succulent, cooked as ordered and melted in my mouth. Will definitely be back.
TanyaD
TanyaD
November 8, 2020.
Verified
What a pleasure!!! An unforgettable experience😍😍 Thank you to the hostess for her absolute friendliness and the level of detail she provided when I phoned to enquire about the latest specials. She made me feel like he most important person in the world! And wow... The quality of the food (in fact the entire experience! ), including the ambiance, and warmness with which we were served, was absolutely priceless. Visiting Cafe 1904 is an absolute MUST for all food lovers! Looking at all the other reviews and adding my personal experience, I have to agree that this restaurant is an absolute gem!!!!
Nacumisa Ntombi
Nacumisa Ntombi
January 3, 2021.
Excellent personlised service. Awesome food.
Uusitalo Mirjam
Uusitalo Mirjam
December 26, 2020.
Simply delicious dishes in this restaurant. Walked in on first evening in Hermanus without knowing much of the places around and this meal turned out to be one of very best ones in our SA trip. Super tasty grilled line fish and tuna - paired with perfectly matching sauces and spiced rice and some veggies. The very warm lady owning the restaurant came to greet us, personnel was very friendly and all in all a great restaurant experience!
Dashenka Moodley
Dashenka Moodley
December 23, 2020.
This little gem is definitely a force to be reckoned with...Coming from Cape Town, after a long day of exploring, all we wanted was good food and a warm restaurant and boy were we surprised. John and Endria and the ladies of this amazing establishment took the time out of their evening to come have a chat with us and chat about our lives and our holiday and even chatting to my daughter about unicorns and fairies. From us, we would like to say thank you to the amazing staff of Cafe 1904. This was definitely a perfect end to our day with amazing food and great service. We most definitely will be back.
MICHELLE VAN WYK
MICHELLE VAN WYK
December 19, 2020.
Perfect setting. Cosy, artistic ambience. Superb food. Personal service and attention from the hostess who went out of her way to accommodate a big group of us (15 people) on fairly short notice. Knowledgeable waitresses. Excellent choice of wine. The extra touches from the interior decoration, to the host and hostess, the presentation and flavours of the food makes this restaurant by far the best restaurant in Hermanus. We will be back to try all the other truly amazing dishes on your menu. Thank you for making our evening such a special one. Michelle van Wyk and family.
Bryce Ramgovind
Bryce Ramgovind
November 13, 2020.
Would recommend checking out if you are I. Hermanus. Very gracious and attentive staff. Food was delicious, fresh fish!
MEET OUR OWNERS

Johan

Johan takes centre stage in the kitchen. He loves to cook and his passion is obvious in every dish that he and his team send out of the kitchen.

Johan spent years being a business advisor for the retail sector, in his heart was a love of modern home cooking, which is evident in his scrumptious creations. 

Johan loves reviews. They fulfill him, and drive his quest for the perfect dish, so if you have had the opportunity to dine at Cafe 1904, please do leave a review. 

Endria

Having spent years creating lush landscapes, Endria loved the creativity of being a landscaper, but always had a yearning for hospitality in her heart. A gracious host with a keen eye for detail, her passion is evident from the décor to the wait staff and everything in between.

One of  the most frequent comments your will find among guests, is that they love the personal contact from the owners on the floor. Endria, makes each guest feel right at home.